Preliminary experience with continuous right ventricular pressure and transesophageal echocardiography monitoring in orthotopic liver transplantation.

Background: Despite increasing attention in the cardiac anesthesiology literature, continuous measurement of right ventricular pressure using a pulmonary artery catheter has not been described in orthotopic liver transplantation, despite similarities in the anesthetic approach to the two populations. We describe our preliminary experience with this technique in orthotopic liver transplantation, and by combining various derived measures with trans-esophageal echocardiography, make some early observations regarding the response of these measures of right ventricular function during the procedure.

Methods: In this case series, ten patients (five men and five women) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation in our institution had their surgeries performed while monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter with continuous right ventricular port transduction and trans-esophageal echocardiography.

Obstructive Shock Because of the Incorrect Setup of a Digital Drainage System After Pulmonary Lobectomy.

We report a case of life-threatening obstructive shock from extreme negative intrapleural pressure that occurred because of the incorrect setup of a digital drainage system after video-assisted thoracic surgery. These devices are increasingly prevalent because of their precision and portability. Those using such devices should be cognizant of their potential pitfalls.

Coolsense® EMLA® for peripheral venous cannulation in adult volunteers: A randomised crossover trial.

Peripheral venous cannulation (PVC) is a commonly performed invasive medical procedure. Topical treatments such as the eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®, Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd, St Leonards, NSW) attenuate the associated pain, but are limited by requiring up to one hour of application before becoming effective. The Coolsense® (Coolsense Medical Ltd.

CT pulmonary angiography and pulmonary embolism following 5809 primary joint arthroplasties.

Aim: Controversy surrounds prevention, detection and clinical relevance of pulmonary embolism (PE) following arthroplasty in orthopaedic patients. We aimed to review the rates of computer tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), PE and fatal PE following total joint replacement.

Method: Mixed retrospective/prospective review of CTPA requests and PE incidence amongst patients undergoing primary knee and hip arthroplasty.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenia.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive and painless way of stimulating the neural tissue (cerebral cortex, spinal roots, and cranial and peripheral nerves). The first attempts at stimulating the neural tissue date back to 1896 by d'Arsonval; however, it was successfully carried out by Barker and colleagues in Sheffield, UK, in 1985. It soon became a useful tool in neuroscience for neurophysiologists and neurologists and psychiatrists.