[Validity of the V/Q index in the monitoring of critical patients]. / Validità dell'indice V/Q nel monitoraggio dei pazienti critici.

The Authors have controlled the validity of VQI to quantify pulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt). The survey involved (group A) patients who had undergone major surgery and (group B) patients hospitalized in ICU for cardiorespiratory failure. Four subgroups were identified in both the groups according to different values of SaO2. A good correlation, already described by Räsänen, was comproved in the groups and subgroups. However a progressive reduction of the coefficient of correlation from the lower to the higher values of SaO2 was noted. Finally the differences observed between group A and group B, are supposed to be dependent on a greater variability of haemoglobin, in the surgical group, in relation to the time of evaluation.

[Preliminary verification of a mathematical model for evaluating the operative risk in a personal caseload]. / Prime verifiche di un modello matematico di valutazione del rischio operatorio effettuate su una casistica personale.

The authors applied a mathematical model of evaluation of operative risk to a group of patients undergoing general and obstetric-gynecologic surgery. They verified that all risk factors identified by this mathematical model really influenced operative morbidity and mortality in the present study too. In this univariate analysis, anesthetic technique was found to influence patients' outcome, so it must be included in multivariate analysis protocols. Therefore, this mathematical model showed to be of value in assessing operative risk factors.