Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness in Prone Neurosurgical Patients Undergoing Protective Ventilation: Role of Dynamic Indices, Tidal Volume Challenge, and End-Expiratory Occlusion Test.

Background: In patients in the prone position, the reliability of pulse pressure variation and stroke volume variation (PPV and SVV) and the use of functional hemodynamic tests to predict fluid responsiveness have not previously been established. Perioperatively, in this setting, optimizing fluid management can be challenging, and fluid overload is associated with both intraoperative and postoperative complications. We designed this study to assess the sensitivity and specificity of baseline PPV and SVV, the tidal volume (VT) challenge (VTC) and the end-expiratory occlusion test (EEOT) in predicting fluid responsiveness during elective spinal surgery.

Threat Perception and Public Preparedness for Earthquakes in Italy.

Introduction: Italy is prone to major earthquakes and has experienced several devastating earthquakes in the far and recent past. The objectives of this study were to assess the level of Italian households' preparedness for earthquakes and to measure the public's perception of the risk and its impact on preparedness behavior.

Hypothesis: Italian households' preparedness for earthquakes is insufficient and is influenced by different threat perception components that were assessed.

Tidal volume challenge to predict fluid responsiveness in the operating room: An observational study.

Background: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) and stroke volume variation (SVV) do not predict fluid responsiveness when using a protective ventilation strategy: the use of functional haemodynamic tests can be useful to overcome this limitation.

Objectives: We tested the use of a tidal volume challenge (VTC), during 6 ml kg [predicted body weight (PBW)] ventilation, and the end-expiratory occlusion test (EEOT) for prediction of fluid responsiveness.

Design: An interventional prospective study.