The effect of various doses of infusion solutions on the endothelial glycocalyx layer in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.

Background: The endothelial glycocalyx is located on the luminal side of blood vessels and maintains vessel integrity. This study analysed how various dosages of infusion affected the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and potential glycocalyx damage in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We hypothesised that the liberal administration of Ringer's solution during the operation can cause iatrogenic hypervolemia with releasing of ANP and glycocalyx damage.

General versus spinal anaesthesia in proximal femoral fracture surgery - treatment outcomes.

Background: Proximal femoral fractures are a major public health problem because of the increasing proportion of elderly individuals in the general population. The mode of choice for anaesthesia in surgical treatment of these fractures is still debated in terms of better postoperative outcome. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of general over spinal anaesthesia on mortality in proximal femoral fracture surgery.

PRACTICAL CHRONIC PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE.

The aim of the study was to show the role of tools in the evaluation of chronic pain (CP) in general practitioner (GP) everyday clinical practice. The study was done by analyzing electronic database of the first visits of 1090 CP patients referred to the Pain Clinic of the Karlovac General Hospital, Karlovac, Croatia, by their GPs. All patient records were analyzed according to the cause of CP, strongest pain a week before the examination, quality of sleep, and the Patients' Global Impression of Change scale.

[Performance Assessment Tool for Quality Improvement in Hospitals (PATH): first experiences in Croatia].

PATH (Performance Assessment Tool for Quality Improvement in Hospitals), a project of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe offers hospitals a comprehensive and standardized tool (a set of indicators) to evaluate their own performance and development of measures for quality improvement. PATH Program was launched in Croatia in 2008, and it was conducted in 2009 in hospitals that have voluntarily decided to be involved. Here we present the results of the first phase of pilot experience of establishing the program, based on data collected in 22 Croatian hospitals.

Resuscitation of a polytraumatized patient with large volume crystalloid-colloid infusions--correlation between global and regional hemodynamics: case report.

Aggressive large volume resuscitation is obligatory to achieve necessary tissue oxygenation. An adequate venous preload normalizes global hemodynamics and avoids multiorgan failure (MOF) and death in patients with multiple injuries. Large volume resuscitation is associated with complications in minimally monitored patients.