Solid organ transplantation is the therapy of choice for patients with end-organ failure. Despite numerous advances in the field, the number of individuals awaiting solid organ transplantation continues to exceed the supply of organs. One approach to increasing the supply of organs is to maximize donation rates of eligible patients. Family consent rates for donation […]
When a patient returns from the operating room following spinal surgery it is important to establish with the surgical team any spine instability as well as the integrity of the dura. This information is critical should the patient need to be reintubated, vomit, or elevate the head of bed. There would be no greater catastrophe
Electrical burn continue to be clinically and surgically challenging for surgeons and critical care physicians worldwide. Gross underestimation of the initial injury has repeatedly proven to increase morbidity and detrimental to the overall outcome. To briefly review, electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor via the force of voltage. Voltage is categorized into
The capacity of deliberate Brain Hypothermia to protect the brain and other vital organs during periods of decreased oxygen delivery is used during cardiac surgery. The beneficial effects of Brain Hypothermia were empirically attributed to its ability to decrease cellular metabolism and thus delay the processes leading to irreversible cell death. Based on this, it
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA Act) was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to prevent hospitals from rejecting, refusing, or transferring patients because they are unable to pay or because they have public health insurance. The main purpose of EMTALA Act is to ensure nondiscriminatory patient access to emergency medical
Most common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS cause a clinical condition called as ARDS first described by Ashbaugh in 1967, to describe a group of patients with acute inflammation of the lungs resulting in severe hypoxia that is not amenable for correction by oxygen therapy. The reported incidence of ARDS is about 1.5—13.5% per 100,000
Most common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS Read More »
Colloids are the type on intravenous fluids with high osmolarity that are ideal to transfuse in conditions like decreased intravascular volume. A Few Colloids Examples are: Dextrans (Lomodex) Albumins Gelatins (Haemaccel) Hydroxyethyl Starch Perflurocarbon Emulsions Blood Hextend The Colloids Examples are explained in a bit detail below. 1. Dextrans (Lomodex) For more on Dextrans read
In adult with normal hemoglobin and hematocrit blood losses more than 20% of their blood volume (or hematocrit falls below 30%) are to be replaced with blood (while in western countries replacement may be required on loss more than 25 to 30%). A few important indications of transfusion of blood are mentioned below. • Losses
The components of blood are frequently used for transfusion, separately in different medical conditions. Many times whole blood may not be indicated and one component is sufficient for treating the patient. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) Among the components of blood, Packed Cell Volume is the most important and commonly transfused component. These are used when
Clinical Causes of Hypoxia During Anesthesia Every doctor should know the answer to the basic question What causes Hypoxia . Factors responsible: 1. Preanaesthesia factors • Poor physiological status • Drug intake • Premedication with narcotics and sedatives depress the respiration • Decreased compensatory mechanism due to any cause 2. Decreased partial pressure and concentration of the inspired oxygen in
