Comparison of lactate or BE during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to determine metabolic acidosis.

During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pH and base excess (BE) decrease to a variable degree due to metabolic acidosis. The main cause has been shown to be lactate, which cannot be eliminated sufficiently because of low perfusion during cardiac massage. Both BE and lactate can be measured in the prehospital phase.

Can ASA grade or Goldman's cardiac risk index predict peri-operative mortality? A study of 16,227 patients.

This trial was designed to study the correlation between peri-operative mortality in patients undergoing elective surgery and the physical status classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Goldman multifactorial cardiac risk index or the two indices combined. All patients scheduled for elective surgery over a 5-year period were evaluated pre-operatively and were scored according to both indices. Of 16,227 patients studied, 215 died within 4 weeks of operation.