Blood pressure variability as an indicator of sepsis severity in adult emergency department patients.

Study Objective: Quantify the correlation between blood pressure variability (BPV) and markers of illness severity: serum lactate (LAC) or Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a prospective, observational study evaluating fluid resuscitation on adult, septic, ED patients. Vital signs and fluid infusion volumes were recorded every 15min during the 3h following ED arrival.

The Clinical Significance of Patient Specimen Transport Modality: Pneumatic Tube System Impact on Blood Gas Analytes.

Introduction: A pneumatic tube system (PTS) is a cost-effective, rapid transport modality that utilizes induced pressure changes. We evaluated the clinical importance of 2 transport modalities, human courier and PTS, for blood gas specimens.

Methods: Following open heart surgery, 35 simultaneous pairs of arterial and venous blood gas specimens were analyzed from 20 subjects.

Overestimation of mortality risk and preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective general surgery procedures: a propensity matched analysis.

Background: Deficiencies in risk communication have been identified in perioperative medicine. Objective measurement of risk overestimation by general surgery patients has not been performed. In addition, it is unknown if surgical risk overestimation is associated with the development of preoperative anxiety.