Variation in perioperative cerebral and hemodynamic monitoring during carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic disturbances cause half of the perioperative strokes following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Guidelines strongly recommend strict pre- and postoperative blood pressure (BP) monitoring in CEA patients, but do not provide firm practical recommendations. Although in the Netherlands 50 centres perform CEA, no national protocol on perioperative hemodynamic, and cerebral monitoring exists. To assess current monitoring policies of all Dutch CEA-centres, a national survey was conducted. METHODS: Between May and July 2017 all 50 Dutch CEA-centres were invited to complete a 42-question survey addressing perioperative hemodynamic and cerebral monitoring during CEA. Nonresponders received a reminder after 1 and 2 months. By November 2017 the survey was completed by all centres. RESULTS: Preoperative baseline BP was based on a single bilateral BP-measurement at the outpatient-clinic in the majority of centres (n = 28). In 43 centres (86%) pre-operative monitoring (transcranial Doppler (TCD, n = 6), electroencephalography (EEG, n = 11), or TCD + EEG (n = 26)) was performed as a baseline reference. Intraoperatively, large diversity for type of anaesthesia (general: 45 vs. local [LA]:5) and target systolic BP (>100 mm hg - 160 mm hg [n = 12], based on preoperative outpatient-clinic or admission BP [n = 18], other [n = 20]) was reported. Intraoperative cerebral monitoring included EEG + TCD (n = 28), EEG alone (n = 13), clinical neurological examination with LA (n = 5), near-infrared spectroscopy with stump pressure (n = 1), and none due to standard shunting (n = 3). Postoperatively, significant variation was reported in standard duration of admission at a recovery or high-care unit (range 3-48 hr, mean:12 hr), maximum accepted systolic BP (range >100 mm hg - 180 mm Hg [n = 32]), postoperative cerebral monitoring (standard TCD [n = 16], TCD on indication [n = 5] or none [n = 24]) and in timing of postoperative cerebral monitoring (range directly postoperative - 24 hr postoperative; median 3 hr). CONCLUSIONS: In Dutch centres performing CEA the perioperative hemodynamic and cerebral monitoring policies are widely diverse. Diverse policies may theoretically lead to over- or under treatment. The results of this national audit may serve as the baseline dataset for development of a standardized and detailed (inter)national protocol on perioperative hemodynamic and cerebral monitoring during CEA.

Clinical characteristics and prevalence of adrenal insufficiency in hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis.

It is well known that adrenal insufficiency is common in septic shock or hemodynamically unstable patients. But, there is as yet no sufficient clinically significant data about the exact prevalence or differences in the cause of cirrhosis with adrenal insufficiency. To investigate adrenal insufficiency prevalence in hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis and determine differences based on cirrhosis severity or etiology.From July 2011 to December 2012, 69 hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis without infection admitted at Hallym University Medical Center were enrolled. Adrenal insufficiency was defined as a peak cortisol level < 18 µg/dL, 30 or 60 minutes after 250 µg Synacthen injection.The study included 55 male patients (79.7%), and the mean age was 57.9 ±â€Š12.9 years. Cirrhosis etiology was alcohol consumption, HBV, HCV, both viral and alcohol related, and cryptogenic in 49, 15, 7, 11, 9 patients, respectively. Adrenal insufficiency occurred in 24 patients (34.8%). No differences were found in age, sex, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, HDL, cirrhosis etiology, degree of alcohol consumption, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding history, or hepatocellular carcinoma between patients with or without adrenal insufficiency. Serum albumin level was lower (P < .05), and INR was higher (P < .05) in patients with than in those without adrenal insufficiency. However, multivariate analysis revealed no independent adrenal insufficiency predictor. Significant negative correlations were found between Child-Pugh score and peak cortisol levels (γ=-0.365, P = .008).Adrenal insufficiency was frequent even in hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis and tended to be associated with only liver disease severity, being unrelated to cirrhosis etiology.

Construção e validação de um objeto virtual de aprendizagem para o ensino da semiologia vascular venosa periférica / Construction and validation of a virtual learning object for the teaching of peripheral venous vascular semiology

Objective: To construct and evaluate the SEMIOVAPE - a Virtual Learning Object for teaching of peripheral venous vascular semiology - based on ergonomic, pedagogical and usability criteria. Method: Methodological study, whose participants were experts in Nursing, Computer Science and Nurse undergraduate student. For the construction and validation of the Object, six steps were followed: educational design; computational modeling; environment implementation; ergonomic, pedagogical, and usability evaluation. Results: The Object was built having the characteristic of valuing student's autonomy and approached contents of anatomy and physiology, clinical reasoning and clinical examination. Concerning the ergonomic and pedagogical evaluations, the Object obtained high acceptance rates (66.70% and 70.12%, respectively), as for usability, all participants considered it very useful and were certainly satisfied (95%). Conclusions and implications: The Object is suitable to be used as an alternative source of teaching peripheral venous semiology.

Objetivo: Construir y evaluar, en cuanto a criterios ergonómicos, pedagógicos y de usabilidad, un Objeto Virtual de Aprendizaje para la enseñanza de la semiología vascular venosa periférica, el SEMIOVAPE. Método: Estudio metodológico, cuyos participantes fueron expertos en Enfermería, Informática y estudiantes de pregrado de Enfermería. Para la construcción y validación del objeto, se siguieron seis pasos: diseño educativo; modelado computacional; implementación del ambiente; evaluación ergonómica; evaluación pedagógica y evaluación de la usabilidad. Resultados: El Objeto fue construido teniendo la característica de valorización de la autonomía del alumno y abordó contenidos de anatomía y fisiología, raciocinio clínico y examen clínico. En relación a las evaluaciones ergonómica y pedagógica, el Objeto obtuvo altas tasas de aceptación (66.70% y 70.12%, respectivamente), en cuanto a la usabilidad, todos los participantes lo consideraron muy útil y sin duda alguna estaban satisfechos (95%). Conclusiones e implicaciones: El Objeto es adecuado para ser utilizado como un método alternativo de enseñanza de la semiología venosa periférica.

Objetivo: Construir e avaliar quanto a critérios ergonômicos, pedagógicos e de usabilidade um Objeto Virtual de Aprendizagem para o ensino da semiologia vascular venosa periférica, o SEMIOVAPE. Método: Estudo metodológico, cujos participantes foram peritos da enfermagem, da informática e graduandos de enfermagem. Para construção e validação do Objeto foram seguidas seis etapas: design educacional, modelagem computacional, implementação do ambiente, avaliação ergonômica, avaliação pedagógica e avaliação da usabilidade. Resultados: O Objeto foi construído tendo a característica de valorização da autonomia do aluno e abordou conteúdos de anatomia e fisiologia, raciocínio clínico e exame clínico. Quanto às avaliações ergonômica e pedagógica, o Objeto obteve elevados índices de aceitação (66,70% e 70,12%, respectivamente), quanto à usabilidade, todos os participantes consideraram-no muito útil e ficaram certamente satisfeitos (95%). Conclusões e implicações: O Objeto é adequado para ser utilizado como método alternativo do ensino da semiologia venosa periférica.