Health Technology Assessment of Intensive Care Ventilators for Pediatric Patients.

This paper is aimed at addressing all the critical aspects linked to the implementation of intensive care ventilators in a pediatric setting, highlighting the most relevant technical features and describing the methodology to conduct health technology assessment (HTA) for supporting the decision-making process. Four ventilator models were included in the assessment process. A decision-making support tool (DoHTA method) was applied.

[Exposure to hand-arm vibrations in orthopaedic plaster room: risk management].

Background: In hospitals, the use of vibrating tools, such as oscillating saws to cut plaster, can expose the staff to hand-arm vibrations.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the exposure of workers to vibrations in the plaster room and then  identify the most appropriate  intervention for  prevention and protection to be implemented in order to minimize  exposure and  protect  workers' health, considering different individual hyper-susceptibility conditions.

Methods: Four different models of plaster saws were examined for the evaluation.

Semiautomated external defibrillators for in-hospital early defibrillation: a comparative study.

Objectives: Semiautomated external defibrillators (AEDs) should be considered as a means to facilitate in-hospital early defibrillation (IHED) in areas where advanced life support rescuers are not readily available. In this study, we aimed to develop a checklist and a measurement protocol to evaluate and compare AEDs by assessing factors that may affect IHED.

Methods: A clinical and technical comparison of six AEDs was performed.