Pre-admission interventions (prehabilitation) to improve outcome after major elective surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the benefits and harms of pre-admission interventions (prehabilitation) on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing major elective surgery.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (published or unpublished). We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, DARE, HTA and NHS EED, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsychINFO and ISI Web of Science (June 2020).

Finding a solution: Heparinised saline versus normal saline in the maintenance of invasive arterial lines in intensive care.

Background: We assessed the impact of heparinised saline versus 0.9% normal saline on arterial line patency. Maintaining the patency of arterial lines is essential for obtaining accurate physiological measurements, enabling blood sampling and minimising line replacement.

Severity of Hypoxemia and Effect of High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Rationale: High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is theoretically beneficial for lung protection, but the results of clinical trials are inconsistent, with study-level meta-analyses suggesting no significant effect on mortality.

Objectives: The aim of this individual patient data meta-analysis was to identify acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patient subgroups with differential outcomes from HFOV.

Methods: After a comprehensive search for trials, two reviewers independently identified randomized trials comparing HFOV with conventional ventilation for adults with ARDS.

Pre-admission interventions to improve outcome after elective surgery-protocol for a systematic review.

Background: Poor physical health and fitness increases the risk of death and complications after major elective surgery. Pre-admission interventions to improve patients' health and fitness (referred to as prehabilitation) may reduce postoperative complications, decrease the length of hospital stay and facilitate the patient's recovery. We will conduct a systematic review of RCTs to examine the effectiveness of different types of prehabilitation interventions in improving the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing elective surgery.

A randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness analysis of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation against conventional artificial ventilation for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The OSCAR (OSCillation in ARDS) study.

Background: Patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) require artificial ventilation but this treatment may produce secondary lung damage. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) may reduce this damage.

Objectives: To determine the clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of HFOV in patients with ARDS compared with standard mechanical ventilation.

The effect of intravenous interferon-beta-1a (FP-1201) on lung CD73 expression and on acute respiratory distress syndrome mortality: an open-label study.

Background: Pulmonary vascular leakage occurs early in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Mortality is high (35-45%), but no effective pharmacotherapy exists. Production of anti-inflammatory adenosine by ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) helps maintain endothelial barrier function.

High-frequency oscillation for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) require mechanical ventilation to maintain arterial oxygenation, but this treatment may produce secondary lung injury. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) may reduce this secondary damage.

Methods: In a multicenter study, we randomly assigned adults requiring mechanical ventilation for ARDS to undergo either HFOV with a Novalung R100 ventilator (Metran) or usual ventilatory care.

TLR activation enhances C5a-induced pro-inflammatory responses by negatively modulating the second C5a receptor, C5L2.

TLR and complement activation ensures efficient clearance of infection. Previous studies documented synergism between TLRs and the receptor for the pro-inflammatory complement peptide C5a (C5aR/CD88), and regulation of TLR-induced pro-inflammatory responses by C5aR, suggesting crosstalk between TLRs and C5aR. However, it is unclear whether and how TLRs modulate C5a-induced pro-inflammatory responses.

High frequency oscillatory ventilation compared with conventional mechanical ventilation in adult respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN24242669].

Introduction: To compare the safety and efficacy of high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) with conventional mechanical ventilation (CV) for early intervention in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a multi-centre randomized trial in four intensive care units was conducted.

Methods: Patients with ARDS were randomized to receive either HFOV or CV. In both treatment arms a priority was given to maintain lung volume while minimizing peak pressures.

Clinically practical blood volume assessment with fluorescein-labeled HES.

Background: Standard techniques for measuring blood volume (BV) entail administering radioactivity and human albumin. This is laborious, expensive, and impractical in acute settings. An alternative method suitable for widespread routine application was assessed.

Percutaneous dilation tracheostomy during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

Objective: To ascertain the feasibility and the safety of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

Design: Case series.

Setting: Tertiary adult intensive care unit in a university teaching hospital.