[Storage at room temperature does not change cisatracurium onset time: a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled study].

Objective: Storage of cisatracurium at room temperature seems to have no effect on its degradation in vitro contrary to the recommendations of storage at +4°C. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of cisatracurium' s storage temperature on its onset time.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind trial study.

Respiratory variations of R-wave amplitude in lead II are correlated with stroke volume variations evaluated by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography.

Objective: The authors hypothesized that variations in electrocardiographically derived R-wave amplitude might be correlated with mechanical ventilation-induced variations in stroke volume as determined by transesophageal echocardiography.

Design: Observational prospective study.

Setting: Single university hospital.

Assessing fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients: False-positive pulse pressure variation is detected by Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle.

Objectives: To determine whether peak systolic velocity of tricuspid annular motion assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography (Sta), a right ventricular function parameter, can discriminate patients with true- and false-positive pulse pressure variation. Pulse pressure variation is used to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. However, this parameter has been reported to be falsely positive, especially in patients with right ventricular dysfunction.