Development of a Novel Intraperitoneal Icodextrin/Dextrose Solution for Enhanced Sodium Removal.

Rationale & Objective: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions provide both clearance of uremic toxins and sodium and water. An intraperitoneal (IP) solution of icodextrin and glucose designed without the requirement for uremic toxin clearance could provide substantially greater sodium and water removal than PD solutions.

Study Design: We examined varying concentrations of icodextrin and dextrose IP solutions in rats.

Noninvasive continuous beat-to-beat radial artery pressure via TL-200 applanation tonometry.

The Tensys TL-200(®) noninvasive beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) monitor displays continuous radial artery waveform as well as systolic, mean and diastolic BP from a pressure sensor directly over the radial artery at the wrist. It locates the site of maximal radial pulse signal, determines mean BP from maximal pulse waveform amplitude at optimal artery compression and then derives systolic and diastolic BP. We performed a cross-sectional study of TL-200 BP comparisons with contralateral invasive radial artery (A-Line) BP values in 19 subjects during an average 2.

Accuracy of a novel approach to measuring arterial thermodilution cardiac output during intra-aortic counterpulsation.

Objective: To assess the agreement between a novel approach of arterial and the pulmonary artery bolus thermodilution for measuring cardiac output in critically ill patients during aortic counterpulsation.

Methods: Eighteen male patients aged 37-80 years, undergoing preoperative insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and elective coronary artery bypass grafting. A thin 1.

Platelet activation markers in patients with heart assist device.

Clinical use of heart assist devices is often associated with thromboembolic complications. We hypothesized that platelets may be activated in patients receiving assist devices and examined expression of the platelet activation markers CD62, CD63, and thrombospondin using flow cytometry in eight patients with Novacor left ventricular assist system (LVAS) or Berlin Heart. Patients with end-stage heart failure had elevated expression of platelet activation markers before insertion of the assist device.

Comparison of pulmonary arterial thermodilution and arterial pulse contour analysis: evaluation of a new algorithm.

Study Objective: To compare cardiac index (CI) measurement by arterial pulse contour analysis using two different algorithms (CI(PC), CI(PCnew)) with pulmonary arterial thermodilution values (CI(PA)) so as to evaluate the difference between the conventional algorithm, CI(PC), and a new algorithm, CI(PCnew), that accounts for patients' individual aortic compliance.

Design: Prospective, clinical study.

Setting: Intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Stroke volume variations for assessment of cardiac responsiveness to volume loading in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery.

Objective: We hypothesized that measuring stroke volume variation (SVV) during mechanical ventilation by continuous arterial pulse contour analysis allows the accurate prediction and monitoring of changes in cardiac index (CI) in response to volume administration.

Design And Setting: Prospective study in an university hospital.

Patients: Twenty mechanically ventilated patients following cardiac surgery.

Hemodynamic monitoring by double-indicator dilution technique in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Study Objectives: A transpulmonary thermal-dye dilution (TDD) technique using cold indocyanine green dye was utilized to monitor cardiac index (CI) and preload in patients after heart transplantation. Preload, determined by intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) and global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), was compared to central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) and was correlated with stroke volume index (SVI).

Design: Prospective study.

Continuous cardiac output by femoral arterial thermodilution calibrated pulse contour analysis: comparison with pulmonary arterial thermodilution.

Objective: To compare two thermodilution methods for the determination of cardiac output (CO)-thermodilution in the pulmonary artery (COpa) and thermodilution in the femoral artery (COa)-with each other and with CO determined by continuous pulse contour analysis (COpc) in terms of reproducibility, bias, and correlation among the different methods. Good agreement between the methods would indicate the potential of pulse contour analysis to monitor CO continuously and at reduced invasiveness.

Design: Prospective criterion standard study.

Improvement of heart-, lung-, and liver-performance during mechanical circulatory support by the Novacor-system.

Objective: Since its clinical introduction, the Novacor left ventricular assist system (LVAS) has proved to be a reliable and safe method for bridging to cardiac transplantation. To find out whether univentricular assistance is sufficient in patients with severe global heart failure, multi organ monitoring using the COLD system was performed.

Methods: In seven patients (mean age 38.