Locking nail versus locking plate for proximal humeral fracture fixation in an elderly population: a prospective randomised controlled trial.

Background: Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are the third most common fracture in older patients. The purpose of the study was to prospectively evaluate the outcomes of PHF fixation with a locking blade nail (LBN) or locking plate (PHILOS) osteosynthesis in a homogeneous elderly patient population.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were an age > 60 years and the capacity to give informed consent.

Hemodynamic monitoring by double-indicator dilution technique in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Study Objectives: A transpulmonary thermal-dye dilution (TDD) technique using cold indocyanine green dye was utilized to monitor cardiac index (CI) and preload in patients after heart transplantation. Preload, determined by intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) and global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), was compared to central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) and was correlated with stroke volume index (SVI).

Design: Prospective study.

Central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and intrathoracic blood volumes as preload indicators in cardiac surgery patients.

Objective: Monitoring of cardiac preload is mainly performed by measurement of central venous and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in combination with assessment of cardiac output, applying the pulmonary arterial thermal dilution technique. However, the filling pressures are negatively influenced by mechanical ventilation and the pulmonary artery catheter is criticized because of its inherent risks. Measurement of right atria, right ventricular, global end diastolic and intrathoracic blood volume index by arterial thermal dye dilution utilizing the COLD-system may represent an alternative.

Reproducibility of double indicator dilution measurements of intrathoracic blood volume compartments, extravascular lung water, and liver function.

Study Objective: Arterial thermal dye dilution (TDDart) with the COLD system (Munich, Germany) allows measurement of cardiac index (CI), partial blood volumes, lung water, and liver function. The aim of the study was to determine agreement of TDDart measurements with pulmonary artery thermal dilution measurements (TDpa) and to assess the reproducibility of TDDart parameters.

Design: Prospective study.