The HemoScreen, a novel haematology analyser for the point of care.

Background And Aims: A haematology analyser, based on a new technology, is presented herein. The analyser that provides a complete blood count (CBC) and five-part differential accepts disposable cartridges containing all required reagents, making it maintenance-free and ideal for point-of-care (POC) settings. The test reproducibility and imperviousness to analytical errors are attributed to the imaging-based analysis employed.

Monitoring the respiratory rate by miniature motion sensors in premature infants: a comparative study.

Objective: Existing respiratory rate (RR) monitors suffer from inaccuracy. The study assesses the accuracy of a novel modality that monitors lung ventilation with miniature motion sensors.

Study Design: RR was measured by three methods: impedance technology, motion sensors and visual count, in babies (n=9) that breathed spontaneously or with respiratory support and babies (n=12) that received high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).

Emergence behaviour in children: defining the incidence of excitement and agitation following anaesthesia.

Background: Children display a variety of behaviour during anaesthetic recovery. The purpose of this study was to study the frequency and duration of emergence behaviour in children following anaesthesia and the factors that alter the incidence of various emergence behaviour following anaesthesia.

Methods: A prospective study of children who required outpatient lower abdominal surgery was designed to determine an incidence and duration of emergence agitation.

Regional anaesthesia decreases the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation in very low birth weight infants undergoing herniorrhaphy.

Background: We were interested to know whether regional anaesthesia allowed improved respiratory function postoperatively in very low birth weight babies.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study to examine the association between regional anaesthesia and postoperative ventilation after herniorrhaphy in very low birth weight infants. Thirty-four prematurely born infants underwent herniorrhaphy from 1995 to 1997 at St Louis Children Hospital.