Lessons learned from a randomised controlled study of perioperative beta blockade in high risk patients undergoing emergency surgery.

Background: Perioperative beta blockade has been shown to reduce mortality after major elective surgery. The aim of this study was to determine whether it could reduce the rate of death and morbidity from cardiac complications in high risk patients undergoing emergency surgery.

Methods: Over a one-year interval all patients undergoing major non-elective orthopaedic or general surgery were screened to identify those at high risk of cardiac complications.

Regional anaesthesia and propofol sedation for carotid endarterectomy.

Background: Many surgeons now perform carotid endarterectomy under regional anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to review a sedation technique using a computer-controlled infusion of propofol.

Methods: A consecutive series of 84 carotid endarterectomies done by a single surgeon and commenced under regional anaesthesia with sedation was studied.

A comparison of post mortem findings with post hoc estimated clinical diagnoses of patients who die in a United Kingdom intensive care unit.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of clinical diagnosis compared to post mortem findings in intensive care patients.

Design: A retrospective and blinded review of medical records.

Setting: A nine-bed combined high dependency and intensive care unit in a district general hospital in Gloucester, England.