Assessment of three minimally invasive continuous cardiac output measurement methods in critically ill patients and a review of the literature.

Background: In this study we compared the accuracy of three continuous cardiac output (CCO) measurement methods, with intermittent transcardiopulmonary thermodilution (TPTD-CO) as the gold standard. The three studied CCO measurement methods were: uncalibrated peripheral pulse contour measurement (FCCO), calibrated central pulse contour measurement (PCCO), and CCO obtained by indirect Fick principle (NCCO).

Methods: We performed an observational study in 23 critically ill patients.

Goal-directed fluid therapy using stroke volume variation does not result in pulmonary fluid overload in thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation.

Background. Goal-directed fluid therapy (GDT) guided by functional parameters of preload, such as stroke volume variation (SVV), seems to optimize hemodynamics and possibly improves clinical outcome. However, this strategy is believed to be rather fluid aggressive, and, furthermore, during surgery requiring thoracotomy, the ability of SVV to predict volume responsiveness has raised some controversy.

Hemodynamic effects of orally administered delta-ALA during radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: We investigated hemodynamics in patients receiving delta-Aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) to visualize tumor margins prior to radical retro pubic prostatectomy.

Patients: Twenty patients undergoing elective open radical retro pubic prostatectomy (RRP).

Methods: Cohort observational study.

Thermodilution-derived indices for assessment of left and right ventricular cardiac function in normal and impaired cardiac function.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether thermodilution-derived parameters of right and left ventricular cardiac function (right ventricular ejection fraction, global ejection fraction, cardiac function index) are able to track changes of cardiac contractile function and whether they are influenced by substantial preload reduction.

Design: Prospective animal study.

Setting: University-affiliated animal research laboratory.

The wolf is crying in the operating room: patient monitor and anesthesia workstation alarming patterns during cardiac surgery.

Background: Vital sign monitors and ventilator/anesthesia workstations are equipped with multiple alarms to improve patient safety. A high number of false alarms can lead to a "crying wolf" phenomenon with consecutively ignored critical situations. Systematic data on alarm patterns and density in the perioperative phase are missing.

Standardizing care and monitoring for anesthesia or procedural sedation delivered outside the operating room.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to summarize recommendations for the safe and efficient conductance of sedation and anesthesia at remote locations; and to define safety standards, monitoring techniques, quality of care and procedural eligibility.

Recent Findings: Anesthesia outside of the operating room is rapidly increasing in numbers, which has seen a growth of older and sicker patients. These circumstances have created a need for guidelines, for both specialist anesthesia providers and nonanesthesia-trained practitioners, that define patient selection, minimum monitoring (hemodynamics and respiration), facility design and equipment, policy framework, recovery facilities and policies.