Critical incident reports in adults: an analytical study in a teaching hospital.

Unlabelled: Self-auditing is important to improve the standard of care. In a previous study (1991--1997), we reported human error and equipment factor as the two major causes leading to critical incidents. This study analyzes the computerized database and the medical records of 71 critical incidents reported in the Department morbidity and mortality meeting between 1998--2002, in an attempt to identify factors that have led to critical incidents and compare them with our previous report.

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy: endobronchial anesthesia vs endotracheal anesthesia with intrathoracic CO2 insufflation.

Purpose: To compare clinical advantages and hemodynamic and respiratory changes during one lung-collapsed ventilation (OLCV) using a double-lumen tube (DLT) or a single-lumen tube (SLT) with intrathoracic CO(2) insufflation, in patients undergoing thoracic sympathectomy (TS) under general anesthesia.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-five patients (94 men and 31 women) undergoing TS for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) were randomly allocated to two groups: group A (68 patients; age, 29 +/- 6 years) in whom DLT was used, and group B (57 patients; age, 32 +/- 3 years) in whom SLT with intrathoracic CO(2) insufflation at a rate of 0.5-1 l.