Prognostic Implications of Changes in Albumin Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in Patients With Severe Heart Failure.

Mechanical assist devices have emerged as an established therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure. Because preimplant hypoalbuminemia is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes, we hypothesized that change in albumin may be a prognostic indicator in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (cfLVADs). This is a retrospective single-center study of patients who underwent cfLVAD implantation (HeartMate II and HeartWare HVAD) at an academic center from 2008 to 2014.

Comparison of plastic and metallic single-use and metallic reusable laryngoscope blades: a randomised controlled trial.

Context: Plastic single-use laryngoscope blades have been found to increase the difficulty of intubation. Metallic single-use blades may represent an alternative.

Objective: To compare the rates of intubation failure at first laryngoscopy using metallic single-use, plastic single-use and metallic reusable laryngoscope blades.

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus infection in the sputum of tuberculosis patients in South India.

Setting: A DOTS clinic in an academic tertiary referral hospital in South India.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of two rapid enzyme-linked immunoassays (EIAs) for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in sputum samples of patients with tuberculosis (TB).

Design: We prospectively recruited 522 consecutive out-patients presenting to the DOTS clinic with confirmed TB of any type to undergo HIV testing using reference serum EIA and index-blinded parallel sputum HIV testing with two rapid EIAs designed for oral mucosal transudate.

Multiple injection axillary brachial plexus block: influence of obesity on failure rate and incidence of acute complications.

Background: Obesity has been associated with an increased failure rate in regional anesthesia, but specific block techniques have not been evaluated. We hypothesized that obesity decreases the success rate of axillary brachial plexus block.

Methods: We prospectively studied axillary brachial plexus blocks performed by experienced anesthesiologists in patients scheduled for upper limb surgery.

Deaths at Red Cross Children's Hospital, Cape Town 1999-2003--a study of death notification forms.

Objectives: The availability of cause-specific mortality data for children in South Africa is limited. Hospital-based data have the potential to contribute to understanding of the causation of childhood death in South Africa. The objectives of the study were to gain insights into the causes of death in a South African children's hospital.