Anaesthetists' attitudes towards attending the funerals of their patients: A cross-sectional study among Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists.

A patient's death can pose significant stress on the family and the treating anaesthetist. Anaesthetists' attitudes about the benefits of and barriers to attending a patient's funeral are unknown. Therefore, we performed a prospective, cross-sectional study to ascertain the frequency of anaesthetists' attendance at a patient's funeral and their perceptions about the benefits and barriers. The primary aim was to investigate the attitudes of anaesthetists towards attending the funeral of a patient. The secondary aims were to examine the perceived benefits of and barriers to attending the funeral and to explore the rate of bonds being formed between anaesthetists, patients and families. Of the 424 anaesthetists who completed the survey (response rate 21.2%), 25 (5.9%) had attended a patient's funeral. Of the participants, 364 (85.9%) rarely formed special bonds with patients or their families; 233 (55%) believed that forming a special bond would increase the likelihood of their attendance. Showing respect to patients or their families was the most commonly perceived benefit of attending a funeral. Participants found expression of personal grief and caring for the patient at the end-of-life and beyond beneficial to themselves and the family. Fear of their attendance being misinterpreted or perceived as not warranted by the family as well as time restraints were barriers for their attendance. Most anaesthetists had never attended a patient's funeral. Few anaesthetists form close relationships with patients or their families. Respect, expression of grief and caring beyond life were perceived benefits of attendance. Families misinterpreting the purpose of attendance or not expecting their attendance and time restraints were commonly perceived barriers. Trial registration: ACTRN 12618000503224.

Evaluation of tricuspid and pulmonary valves using epicardial and transesophageal echocardiography--a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare measurements obtained by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and epicardial echocardiography (EE) for evaluation of the tricuspid valve (TV) and pulmonary valve (PV). DESIGN: Prospective observational. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting with or without aortic valve replacement. INTERVENTIONS: After routine intraoperative TEE, EE was performed to compare measurements obtained by the 2 methods. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After institutional review board approval, 25 patients >18 years old were recruited. Biases with EE versus TEE for E and A waves were 11.9 cm/second (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.2 to -24.4) and 6.8 cm/second (95% CI, 28 to -15), respectively, and for E/A ratio was 0.08 (95% CI, 1.2 to -1). Pulmonary velocity bias was 57.94 cm/second (95% CI, 192.9 to -76.98), with higher values using EE. Bias for pulmonary trunk diameter was -0.31 cm (95% CI, 1.5 to -2.1). For quality of images, means were 2.4 (standard deviation [SD], 1.0) for EE and 2.3 (SD, 0.57) with TEE for TV and 2.4 (SD, 1.0) with EE and 2.5 (SD, 1.0) with TEE for PV. For the number of leaflets visualized, means were 2.2 (SD, 1.0) with EE and 2.5 (SD, 0.5) with TEE for TV and 2.5 (SD, 0.5) for EE and 1.3 (SD, 1.1) with TEE for PV. CONCLUSIONS: There was good agreement for Doppler measurements across TVs; however, measurements across PVs were significantly higher with EE versus TEE. TV Doppler measurements were difficult to acquire even for surgeons experienced in epiaortic scanning.

Black Saturday: the immediate impact of the February 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the response of the Victorian State Trauma System to the February 2009 bushfires. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective review of the strategic response required to treat patients with bushfire-related injury in the first 72 hours of the Victorian bushfires that began on 7 February 2009. Emergency department (ED) presentations and initial management of patients presenting to the state's adult burns centre (The Alfred Hospital [The Alfred]) were analysed, as well as injuries and deaths associated with the fires. RESULTS: There were 414 patients who presented to hospital EDs as a result of the bushfires. Patients were triaged at the emergency scene, at treatment centres and in hospital. National and statewide burns disaster plans were activated. Twenty-two patients with burns presented to the state's burns referral centres, of whom 18 were adults. Adult burns patients at The Alfred spent 48.7 hours in theatre in the first 72 hours. There were a further 390 bushfire-related ED presentations across the state in the first 72 hours. Most patients with serious burns were triaged to and managed at burns referral centres. Throughout the disaster, burns referral centres continued to have substantial surge capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Most bushfire victims either died, or survived with minor injuries. As a result of good prehospital triage and planning, the small number of patients with serious burns did not overload the acute health care system.