Inter-rater agreement in pPOSSUM scores of geriatric trauma patients: a prospective evaluation.

Purpose: Risk prediction models are widely used in the perioperative setting to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from additional care and to aid clinical decision-making. pPOSSUM is such a prediction model, however, little is known about the inter-rater agreement when scoring subjective parameters. This study assessed the inter-rater agreement between clinicians of different specialties and work-level when scoring 30 clinical case reports of geriatric hip fracture patients with pPOSSUM.

The impact of loco-regional anaesthesia on postoperative opioid use in elderly hip fracture patients: an observational study.

Purpose: Hip fractures are a common health problem among the elderly with an increasing incidence. They are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Optimal pain management remains challenging and inadequate pain control is known for negatively affecting outcomes.

Does preoperative hemodynamic preconditioning improve morbidity and mortality after traumatic hip fracture in geriatric patients? A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Dehydration is a major problem in the older population with traumatic hip fractures (THF). A preoperative hemodynamic preconditioning (PHP) protocol may help in achieving hemodynamic stability to ensure adequate perfusion and oxygenation using only clinical parameters to assess cardiovascular performance.

Materials And Methods: A single-centre retrospective study in geriatric trauma patients was conducted in a Level 1 Trauma Centre in Switzerland.

The implementation of a Geriatric Fracture Centre for hip fractures to reduce mortality and morbidity: an observational study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an orthogeriatric treatment model on elderly patients with traumatic hip fractures (THF). The Geriatric Fracture Centre (GFC) is a multidisciplinary care pathway with attention for possible age-related diseases, discharge management and out-of-hospital treatment.

Materials And Methods: A prospective cohort study with a historical cohort group was conducted at a level I trauma centre in Switzerland.

Predicting Acute Pain After Surgery: A Multivariate Analysis.

Objectives: To identify perioperative practice patterns that predictably impact postoperative pain.

Background: Despite significant advances in perioperative medicine, a significant portion of patients still experience severe pain after major surgery. Postoperative pain is associated with serious adverse outcomes that are costly to patients and society.

How current transfusion practices in geriatric patients with hip fracture still differ from current guidelines and the effects on outcome: A retrospective observational study.

Background: Transfusion guidelines have become increasingly restrictive. We investigated actual transfusion practices in geriatric hip fracture patients, why they differ from current guidelines and how this affects outcome.

Objectives: The primary aim was to examine transfusion timing, evaluate how many red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are in keeping with guidelines and how this affects morbidity (infection, cardiac events and delirium), mortality and length of stay (LOS).

Power structure in Chilean news media.

Even democracies endowed with the most active free press struggle to maintain diversity of news coverage. Consolidation and market forces may cause only a few dominant players to control the news cycle. Editorial policies may be biased by corporate ownership relations, narrowing news coverage and focus.

Prediction and Characterization of High-Activity Events in Social Media Triggered by Real-World News.

On-line social networks publish information on a high volume of real-world events almost instantly, becoming a primary source for breaking news. Some of these real-world events can end up having a very strong impact on on-line social networks. The effect of such events can be analyzed from several perspectives, one of them being the intensity and characteristics of the collective activity that it produces in the social platform.

Intrathecal morphine analgesia after cervical and thoracic spinal cord tumor surgery.

Object: The aim of this study was to provide evidence for the effect of intrathecal morphine application after spinal cord tumor resection.

Methods: Twenty patients participated in a prospective open proof-of-concept study. During dural closure, morphine (7 μg/kg) was injected into the subarachnoid space.

The effects of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass on Doppler cerebral blood flow during the first 24 postoperative hours.

To provide understanding of influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on cerebral blood flow (CBF), we investigated the effect of CPB on patients' cerebral haemodynamic parameters. Twenty-three patients were prospectively enrolled. CBF was estimated by transcranial Doppler (TCD) to measure blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MVMCA), preoperatively T(0) and at four postoperative times (T(1), T(2), T(3), T(4)).

Efficacy of three test doses to detect epidural catheter misplacement.

Purpose: To determine among three currently used epidural test doses which is the most reliable for the detection of accidental intrathecal misplacement of an epidural catheter, and which clinical sign is to be used as a marker.

Methods: Ninety orthopedic patients were allocated to either the continuous epidural or the continuous spinal group according to age, < or > 70 yr. They received, in a randomized, double-blind fashion, one of the three solutions: 60 mg lidocaine 2% (L2%), 7.

Metabolic effects of i.v. propacetamol, metamizol or external cooling in critically ill febrile sedated patients.

We have measured the metabolic response to sequential administration of propacetamol, metamizol and/or external cooling in 20 febrile patients under sedation and analgesia and during mechanical ventilation. There was no change in temperature (T degree) after propacetamol therapy, whereas after metamizol only a small decrease was noted (from 38.9 (SEM 0.