Prediction of postoperative patient deterioration and unanticipated intensive care unit admission using perioperative factors.

Background And Objectives: Currently, no evidence-based criteria exist for decision making in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). This could be valuable for the allocation of postoperative patients to the appropriate level of care and beneficial for patient outcomes such as unanticipated intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. The aim is to assess whether the inclusion of intra- and postoperative factors improves the prediction of postoperative patient deterioration and unanticipated ICU admissions.

Quality Improvement in the Preoperative Evaluation: Accuracy of an Automated Clinical Decision Support System to Calculate CHADS-VASc Scores.

: Clinical decision support systems are advocated to improve the quality and efficiency in healthcare. However, before implementation, validation of these systems needs to be performed. In this evaluation we tested our hypothesis that a computerized clinical decision support system can calculate the CHADS-VASc score just as well compared to manual calculation, or even better and more efficiently than manual calculation in patients with atrial rhythm disturbances.

On the value of MRI for improved understanding of cuff-based oscillometric measurements.

Blood pressure (BP) is a key parameter in critical care and in cardiovascular disease management. BP is typically measured via cuff-based oscillometry. This method is highly inaccurate in hypo- and hypertensive patients.

The learning curve for ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation in adults: a multicenter study.

Aims: To lower the threshold for applying ultrasound (US) guidance during peripheral intravenous cannulation, nurses need to be trained and gain experience in using this technique. The primary outcome was to quantify the number of procedures novices require to perform before competency in US-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation was achieved.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study, divided into two phases after a theoretical training session: a hands-on training session and a supervised life-case training session.

Validation of Heart Rate Extracted From Wrist-Based Photoplethysmography in the Perioperative Setting: Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Measurement of heart rate (HR) through an unobtrusive, wrist-worn optical HR monitor (OHRM) could enable earlier recognition of patient deterioration in low acuity settings and enable timely intervention.

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the agreement between the HR extracted from the OHRM and the gold standard 5-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) connected to a patient monitor during surgery and in the recovery period.

Methods: In patients undergoing surgery requiring anesthesia, the HR reported by the patient monitor's ECG module was recorded and stored simultaneously with the photopletysmography (PPG) from the OHRM attached to the patient's wrist.