A cross-sectional study of the relationship between iron deficiency anaemia and chronic pain.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are frequently under-recognised in chronic conditions with non-specific symptoms, including fatigue. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency with or without anaemia in chronic pain patients, and the association between iron deficiency status, fatigue and health-related quality of life. Eighty-two patients attending chronic pain outpatient appointments were recruited into this cross-sectional study.

Greenhouse gas reduction in anaesthesia practice: a departmental environmental strategy.

Sustainability interventions were implemented at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) following identification of inhaled anaesthetic gases as a target for reducing medical carbon emissions. This quality improvement study assessed and evaluated the impact of sustainability interventions on the environmental and financial cost of inhaled anaesthetic gas use in order to guide future initiatives and research in reducing carbon emissions from healthcare practice.Ethical exemption was granted from the RBWH Research Ethics Committee (EX/2021/QRBW/76078).

Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ) in gestational diabetes mellitus and coagulation in healthy term pregnancy: A prospective observational study in Australia.

Background: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ) is a point-of-care test of coagulation. ROTEM -defined hypercoagulability has been identified in pregnant women and in non-pregnant patients with diabetes mellitus. Pregnancy is known to be a hypercoagulable state, but the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on coagulation is unknown.

Focused educational intervention improves intern knowledge of perioperative patient blood management principles.

A perioperative patient blood management (PBM) educational intervention was implemented for first year postgraduate doctors (interns) at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) following identification of a perioperative PBM training requirement. This quality improvement activity evaluated the effectiveness of this educational intervention in improving intern knowledge of perioperative PBM principles.A 15-question perioperative PBM focused multiple choice questionnaire developed from information attained from comprehensive, evidence and consensus-based guidelines regarding PBM practice was distributed to interns immediately before a compulsory perioperative PBM educational intervention and then again 5 weeks later.

The effect of transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilator exchange (THRIVE) versus nasal prongs on safe apnoea time in paralysed obese patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Evidence is lacking regarding the efficacy of Optiflow transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilator exchange (THRIVE™) in obese patients. We compared the impact of this technique at 70 L min with 4 L min oxygen via nasal prongs on safe apnoea times of paralysed obese patients.

Methods: We randomised adults with a BMI >35 kg m undergoing elective bariatric surgery.

ClearSight™ finger cuff versus invasive arterial pressure measurement in patients with body mass index above 45 kg/m.

Background: Measuring blood pressure in patients with obesity is challenging. The ClearSight™ finger cuff (FC) uses the vascular unloading technique to provide continuous non-invasive blood pressure measurements. We aimed to test the agreement of the FC with invasive radial arterial monitoring (INV) in patients with obesity.

Sustained Clinical Improvement in a Subset of Patients With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Epstein-Barr Virus-Specific T Cell Therapy.

Increasing evidence indicates a role for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). EBV-infected autoreactive B cells might accumulate in the central nervous system because of defective cytotoxic CD8 T cell immunity. We have previously reported results of a phase I clinical trial of autologous EBV-specific T cell therapy in MS 6 months after treatment.

Intraoperative Cell Salvage as an Alternative to Allogeneic (Donated) Blood Transfusion: A Prospective Observational Evaluation of the Immune Response Profile.

Allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) is associated with transfusion-related immune modulation (TRIM) and subsequent poorer patient outcomes including perioperative infection, multiple organ failure, and mortality. The precise mechanism(s) underlying TRIM remain largely unknown. During intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) a patient's own (autologous) blood is collected, anticoagulated, processed, and reinfused.

The influence of obesity on coagulation in healthy term pregnancy as assessed by rotational thromboelastometry.

Background: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ) is a point-of-care coagulation test which has been used to demonstrate hypercoagulability in pregnant populations and obese populations.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of pregnancy and obesity on coagulation using ROTEM in healthy pregnant women of varying body mass indices (BMIs) presenting for elective caesarean delivery.

Materials And Methods: Ethics approval was granted for recruitment of women presenting for elective caesarean delivery.

Baseline parameters for rotational thromboelastometry in healthy labouring women: a prospective observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ) baseline parameters in labouring women at term gestation. The secondary aim was to compare these reference ranges with those from previous studies on labouring women and from the manufacturer.

Design: A prospective, observational study.

Baseline parameters for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in healthy pregnant Australian women: a comparison of labouring and non-labouring women at term.

Background: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) is a point-of-care coagulation test. Reference ranges in non-labouring women have recently been established from a cohort of women presenting for elective caesarean delivery using the recommended minimum sample size of 120. This study aimed to present baseline parameters for labouring and non-labouring women and to compare the mean values of these ROTEM® parameters.

A prospective randomized comparison of airway seal using the novel vision-guided insertion of LMA-Supreme® and LMA-Protector®.

The laryngeal mask airways supreme (LMA-Supreme™) and protector (LMA-Protector™) are generally placed blindly, often resulting in a less than optimal position and vision-guided placement has been recommended. This prospective, randomized controlled study compared the efficacy of airway seal by measuring the oropharyngeal leak pressure in 100 surgical patients who underwent a variety of non-thoracic surgery under general anaesthesia, suitable with a supraglottic airway device. Patients were allocated to either the LMA-Supreme (n = 50) or LMA-Protector (n = 50) group.

Baseline parameters for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in healthy women undergoing elective caesarean delivery: a prospective observational study in Australia.

Background: Formal reference ranges for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in pregnancy have not been obtained in the recommended minimum sample size of 120. This prospective observational study aimed to establish baseline parameters in an Australian population of women undergoing elective caesarean delivery. The secondary aim was to compare these reference ranges with those from prior studies and the manufacturer.

Operating room greening initiatives - the old, the new, and the way forward: A narrative review.

Healthcare waste is a rampant issue in Australian hospitals. The operating room (OR) contributes disproportionately to total hospital waste. There has been considerable research in the literature concentrating on strategies to improve OR and hospital waste accumulation, in an attempt to provide guidance and direction on how to reduce the healthcare ecological footprint.