[Nitrous oxide as a party drug].

In recent years, reports of health problems associated with nitrous oxide consumption have significantly increased. In Germany, nitrous oxide (NO) is easily available in cartridges without legal restrictions. The main reason for its popularity in the party scene are the euphoric, psychedelic effects of the gas.

Base excess (BE): reloaded.

The base excess value (BE, mmol/L), not standard base excess (SBE), correctly calculated including pH, pCO (mmHg), sO (%) and cHb (g/dl) is a diagnostic tool for several in vivo events, e.g., mortality after multiple trauma or shock, acidosis, bleeding, clotting, artificial ventilation.

The impact of modified fluid gelatin 4% in a balanced electrolyte solution on plasma osmolality in children-A noninterventional observational study.

Background: Intravenous fluids for perioperative infusion therapy should be isotonic to maintain the body fluid homeostasis in children. Modified fluid gelatin 4% in a balanced electrolyte solution has a theoretical osmolarity of 284 mosmol L , and a real osmolality of 264 mosmol kg H O . Because both values are lower than those of 0.

[Perioperative Infusion Therapy in Children].

The composition and type of intravenous fluids during paediatric anaesthesia have been subjects of debates for decades. Errors in perioperative infusion therapy in children may lead to serious complications and a negative outcome. Therefore, in this review historical and recent developments and recommendations for perioperative fluid management in children are presented, based on physiology and focused on safety and efficacy.

Perioperative fluid management in children: can we sum it all up now?

Purpose Of Review: The composition and type of intravenous fluids during paediatric anaesthesia have been subjects of debates for decades. Errors in perioperative fluid management in children may lead to serious complications and a negative outcome. Therefore, in this review, historical and recent developments and recommendations for perioperative fluid management in children are presented, based on physiology and focused on safety and efficacy.

Pure oxygen ventilation during general anaesthesia does not result in increased postoperative respiratory morbidity but decreases surgical site infection. An observational clinical study.

Background. Pure oxygen ventilation during anaesthesia is debatable, as it may lead to development of atelectasis. Rationale of the study was to demonstrate the harmlessness of ventilation with pure oxygen.

Evaluation of 36 formulas for calculating plasma osmolality.

Purpose: Measuring or calculating plasma osmolality is of interest in critical care medicine. Moreover, the osmolal gap (i.e.

Accurate and continuous measurement of oxygen deficit during haemorrhage in pigs.

Objective: Haemorrhagic shock can cause organ failure and high mortality. Uncontrolled bleeding, a predetermined bleeding volume or blood pressure controlled bleeding are traditionally used to study haemorrhagic shock. These models are influenced by compensatory mechanisms preventing accurate knowledge about the severity of cellular insult.

Use of an inspiratory impedance threshold valve during chest compressions without assisted ventilation may result in hypoxaemia.

Introduction: Although the concept of intermittent airway occlusion with the inspiratory impedance threshold valve (ITV) is a well-recognised strategy for improving efficiency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), little is known about possible pulmonary side effects.

Methods: After a baseline chest CT-scan, 24 pigs with beating hearts undergoing apnoeic oxygenation received an injection of a contrast medium and were then assigned randomly to either active compression-decompression CPR with ITV (ACD ITV CPR), ACD CPR alone, or standard-CPR with ITV (standard-ITV CPR), or standard-CPR alone. After a maximum of 5 min of chest compressions or if oxygen saturation dropped below 70%, the experiment was stopped, haemodynamic variables and blood gas values were measured, and another CT-scan was performed; all animals underwent a 30 min recovery-period and a third subsequent CT-scan.

Prediction of dilutional acidosis based on the revised classical dilution concept for bicarbonate.

Due to the controversy surrounding the term dilutional acidosis, the classical dilution concept for bicarbonate has been rigorously revised for the prediction of pH, actual bicarbonate concentration, and base excess. In the algorithms derived for buffer solutions, blood, and whole body (1-, 2-, and 3-fluid compartment), only bicarbonate is considered. On dilution at constant Pco(2), the final concentration of bicarbonate is the sum in terms of pH, due to the following processes: dilution, formation from chemical reaction with the nonbicarbonate buffers phosphate, hemoglobin, and plasma proteins, and transfer from erythrocytes and interstitial fluid to plasma.

The accuracy of calculated base excess in blood.

Most equations used for calculation of the base excess (BE, mmol/l) in human blood are based on the fundamental equation derived by Siggaard-Andersen and called the Van Slyke equation: BE = Z x [[cHCO3-(P) - C7.4 HCO3-(P)] + beta x (pH -7.4)].