Flurbiprofen in the subglottic space to prevent postoperative sore throat after cardiac surgery: A randomized double-blind study.

Study Objective: Postoperative sore throat (POST) and hoarseness are common complications of tracheal intubation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of flurbiprofen administered through the subglottic port of tracheal tubes to prevent POST after cardiac surgery.

Design: Single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Single shot of intravenous iron in cardiac surgery: The ICARUS study.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID), with or without anemia, is commonly observed among patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. We investigated if screening ID in the immediate preoperative period and treating ID patients regardless of anemia could reduce perioperative transfusion requirements.

Methods: This is an observational single-center propensity score-matched study including candidates to elective cardiac surgery prospectively and retrospectively enrolled.

Postoperative Intensive Care Management of Aortic Repair.

Vascular surgery patients have multiple comorbidities and are at high risk for perioperative complications. Aortic repair surgery has greatly evolved in recent years, with an increasing predominance of endovascular techniques (EVAR). The incidence of cardiac complications is significantly reduced with endovascular repair, but high-risk patients require postoperative ST-segment monitoring.

Do changes in pulse pressure variation and inferior vena cava distensibility during passive leg raising and tidal volume challenge detect preload responsiveness in case of low tidal volume ventilation?

Background: In patients ventilated with tidal volume (Vt) < 8 mL/kg, pulse pressure variation (PPV) and, likely, the variation of distensibility of the inferior vena cava diameter (IVCDV) are unable to detect preload responsiveness. In this condition, passive leg raising (PLR) could be used, but it requires a measurement of cardiac output. The tidal volume (Vt) challenge (PPV changes induced by a 1-min increase in Vt from 6 to 8 mL/kg) is another alternative, but it requires an arterial line.

The Role of Ranolazine for the Treatment of Residual Angina beyond the Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization.

Introduction: Despite a successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), several studies reported that the recurrence of angina after revascularization, even complete, is a particularly frequent occurrence in the first year after PCI.

Methods: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with ranolazine in addition to conventional anti-ischemic therapy in patients who underwent coronary angiography for persistent/recurrent angina after PCI and residual ischemia only due to small branches not suitable for further revascularization. Forty-nine consecutive patients were included in our registry, adding the ranolazine (375 mg b.

Transpulmonary thermodilution detects rapid and reversible increases in lung water induced by positive end-expiratory pressure in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Purpose: It has been suggested that, by recruiting lung regions and enlarging the distribution volume of the cold indicator, increasing the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may lead to an artefactual overestimation of extravascular lung water (EVLW) by transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD).

Methods: In 60 ARDS patients, we measured EVLW (PiCCO2 device) at a PEEP level set to reach a plateau pressure of 30 cmHO (HighPEEP) and 15 and 45 min after decreasing PEEP to 5 cmHO (LowPEEP and LowPEEP, respectively). Then, we increased PEEP back to the baseline level (HighPEEP).

Effects of Ivabradine on Residual Myocardial Ischemia after PCI Evaluated by Stress Echocardiography.

Background: Residual angina after PCI is a frequently occurring disease. Ivabradine improves symptoms but its role in patients without left ventricular systolic dysfunction is still unclear. The aim was to quantify the effects of ivabradine in terms of MVO indicators and diastolic function.

Risk factors for mortality and cost implications of complicated intra-abdominal infections in critically ill patients.

Purpose: To assess risk factors for 28-day mortality and cost implications in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs).

Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data analysing ICU patients with a microbiologically confirmed complicated intra-abdominal infections.

Results: 137 complicated intra-abdominal infections were included and stratified according to the adequacy of antimicrobial therapy (initial inadequate antimicrobial therapy [IIAT], n = 44; initial adequate antimicrobial therapy [IAAT], n = 93).