Right ventricular and pulmonary artery pulse pressure variation and systolic pressure variation for the prediction of fluid responsiveness: an interventional study in coronary artery bypass surgery patients.

Purpose: Predicting fluid responsiveness is essential when treating surgical or critically ill patients. When using a pulmonary artery catheter, pulse pressure variation and systolic pressure variation can be calculated from right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressure waveforms.

Methods: We conducted a prospective interventional study investigating the ability of right ventricular pulse pressure variation (PPV) and systolic pressure variation (SPV) as well as pulmonary artery pulse pressure variation (PPV) and systolic pressure variation (SPV) to predict fluid responsiveness in coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery patients.

Factors which influence the complications of external ventricular cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

Background: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in emergencies. This study aims to find out which factors influence the occurrence of EVD-related complications in a comparative investigation of metal needles and polyurethane catheters. This is the first clinical study comparing these two systems.

Understanding how the motivational dimension of learning is influenced by clinical teaching in medical education: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Many changes of medical curricula have been conducted in the past years. Based on learning psychology, three dimensions of learning have to be covered, in order to create the best possible curricula: Cognitive, metacognitive and motivational. The metacognitive and cognitive dimension (what/how to teach) have always been considered and the motivational dimension has been neglected, although the importance and benefits of motivation in learning have been emphasized repeatedly.

Implementation of Basic Life Support training in schools: a randomised controlled trial evaluating self-regulated learning as alternative training concept.

Background: The Kids save lives statement recommends annual Basic Life Support (BLS) training for school children but the implementation is challenging. Trainings should be easy to realise and every BLS training should be as effective as possible to prepare learners for lifesaving actions. Preparedness implies skills and positive beliefs in the own capability (high self-efficacy).

Basic life support training using shared mental models improves team performance of first responders on normal wards: A randomised controlled simulation trial.

Introduction: Survival of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) depends on fast and effective action of the first responding team. Not only technical skills, but professional teamwork is required. Observational studies and theoretical models suggest that shared mental models of members improve teamwork.

Anaesthesiology students' Non-Technical skills: development and evaluation of a behavioural marker system for students (AS-NTS).

Background: Non-Technical Skills (NTS) are becoming more important in medical education. A lack of NTS was identified as a major reason for unsafe patient care, favouring adverse events and team breakdown. Therefore, the training of NTS should already be implemented in undergraduate teaching.

Inhalative and intravenous stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase reduces pulmonary vascular resistance and increases cardiac output in experimental septic shock.

The effects of inhaled and intravenous application of a guanylate cyclase stimulator (BAY 41-8543) on pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and cardiac output (CO) were investigated in an experimental model of septic shock. Following induction of septic shock, anaesthetized pigs (n=31) were randomly place into two groups receiving different interventions. Animals in the first group received intravenous BAY 41-8543 (0.

Teaching school children basic life support improves teaching and basic life support skills of medical students: A randomised, controlled trial.

Background: The "kids save lives" joint-statement highlights the effectiveness of training all school children worldwide in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to improve survival after cardiac arrest. The personnel requirement to implement this statement is high. Until now, no randomised controlled trial investigated if medical students benefit from their engagement in the BLS-education of school children regarding their later roles as physicians.

Positive end-expiratory pressure does not compromise myocardial contractility in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.

Therapy for severe myocardial ischemia/reperfusion sometimes necessitates intermittent positive pressure ventilation, which may impair left ventricular function by reduction of ventricular loading. It is unknown today whether positive airway pressure also affects contractile force after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. The authors tested whether positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) impairs myocardial contractility in acute ischemic heart failure.