Evaluation of the surgical apgar score in patients undergoing Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

Background: The Surgical Apgar Score is a simple outcome score based on intraoperative parameters. The scoring system is recently validated in patients undergoing esophagectomy but without comparable results. This study evaluated the ability of the original and modified Surgical Apgar Scores to predict major complications in a patient population undergoing Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

ADRB2 gly16gly Genotype, Cardiac Output, and Cerebral Oxygenation in Patients Undergoing Anesthesia for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery.

Background: Gly16arg polymorphism of the adrenergic β2-receptor is associated with the elevated cardiac output (Q) in healthy gly16-homozygotic subjects. We questioned whether this polymorphism also affects Q and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (SCO2) during anesthesia in vascular surgical patients.

Methods: One hundred sixty-eight patients (age 71 ± 6 years) admitted for elective surgery were included.

One-week postoperative patency of lower extremity in situ bypass graft comparing epidural and general anesthesia: retrospective study of 822 patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether anesthesia affects graft patency after lower extremity arterial in situ bypass surgery.

Methods: This investigation was a retrospective study using a national database on vascular surgical patients at a single medical institution. We assessed a total of 822 patients exposed to infrainguinal in situ bypass vascular surgery over the period of January 2000 to September 2010.

Effect of head rotation on cerebral blood velocity in the prone position.

Background. The prone position is applied to facilitate surgery of the back and to improve oxygenation in the respirator-treated patient. In particular, with positive pressure ventilation the prone position reduces venous return to the heart and in turn cardiac output (CO) with consequences for cerebral blood flow.

Nurse-administered propofol sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures: first Nordic results from implementation of a structured training program.

Introduction: Proper training to improve safety of NAPS (nurse-administered propofol sedation) is essential.

Objective: To communicate our experience with a training program of NAPS.

Materials And Methods: In 2007, a training program was introduced for endoscopists and endoscopy nurses in collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesiology.

[Ketorolac as a possible cause of reversible renal dysfunction in a 5-year-old child].

This case report describes postoperative, reversible renal dysfunction and hypertension in a 5-year-old healthy boy after administration of relevant doses of ketorolac during anaesthesia. Two days postoperatively, the boy presented with polyuria, polydipsia, proteinuria, microscopic haematuria, and hypertension. He was treated with nifedipine.

Voluntary respiratory control and cerebral blood flow velocity upon ice-water immersion.

Introduction: In non-habituated subjects, cold-shock response to cold-water immersion causes rapid reduction in cerebral blood flow velocity (approximately 50%) due to hyperventilation, increasing risk of syncope, aspiration, and drowning. Adaptation to the response is possible, but requires several cold immersions. This study examines whether thorough instruction enables non-habituated persons to attenuate the ventilatory component of cold-shock response.

The Procalcitonin And Survival Study (PASS) - a randomised multi-center investigator-initiated trial to investigate whether daily measurements biomarker Procalcitonin and pro-active diagnostic and therapeutic responses to abnormal Procalcitonin levels, can improve survival in intensive care unit patients. Calculated sample size (target population): 1000 patients.

Background: Sepsis and complications to sepsis are major causes of mortality in critically ill patients. Rapid treatment of sepsis is of crucial importance for survival of patients. The infectious status of the critically ill patient is often difficult to assess because symptoms cannot be expressed and signs may present atypically.

[Pathophysiology in accidental hypothermia. Hypothermia is not only a cold body].

Knowledge of the pathophysiology in accidental hypothermia is essential for clinical decision-making. The prognosis should be favourable provided the condition is recognized and treated accordingly. Progressive organ dysfunction is associated with a declining core temperature which is reversible on rewarming.

Reduced cerebral perfusion on sudden immersion in ice water: a possible cause of drowning.

Introduction: Near-drowning incidents and drowning deaths after accidental immersion in open waters have been linked to cold shock response. It consists of inspiratory gasps, hyperventilation, tachycardia, and hypertension in the first 2-3 min of cold-water immersion. This study explored the immediate changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (Vmean) during cold-water immersion since cold shock induced hyperventilation may diminish Vmean and lead to syncope and drowning.

Long-term survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term survival after OHCA.

Methods: All OHCA-calls where the Copenhagen Mobile Emergency Care Unit (MECU) was involved from 1994 to1998 are included in this study. Data were collected prospectively.

[Postoperative urinary retention. Clinical assessment versus ultrasound examination].

Introduction: Postoperative urinary retention can cause serious complications. An ultrasound bladderscanner has been shown to be useful in distinguishing between patients who need catheterisation and patients who do not. We wished to investigate if clinical assessment including inspection, percussion and palpation of the bladder is of any use in this perspective.

[Prolonged survival after accidental immersion in cold water].

In a recent boat accident, a 25-year-old yachting enthusiast fell overboard and survived for 24 hours in 17 degrees C water. Existing survival models are discussed in this case report. There is a discrepancy regarding survival probability amongst the various models.

[Survival in cold water. Physiological consequences of accidental immersion in cold water].

This survey addresses the immediate physiological reactions to immersion in cold water: cold shock response, diving reflex, cardiac arrhythmias and hypothermia. Cold shock response is the initial sympathetic reaction to immersion in cold water. The diving reflex is elicited by submersion of the face.