Sunday, October 21, 2012

Rebuttal to APC a False Sense of Security



Image 1: Laparoscopic surgery.
In a previous post "Adaptive Pressure Control Ventilation during Anesthesia: a False Sense of Security", I argue that the anesthesia provider should use this mode with caution and described how the mode reacts during changes in pulmonary mechanics. 

After reading the post one could assume that I'm against using this mode of ventilation.

However, I believe this mode has many advantages. 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Flu season not for me!: Surveillance screening for scheduling.



I have always believed in the motto "work smarter, not harder". 

As a respiratory therapist one is paid hourly and it does not matter how much work you do in that hour. You will not receive a bonus if you administer 100 more breathing treatments then your coworker. 

So what are the optimal times to be at work versus being on vacation, in regards to working smarter?

Monday, October 15, 2012

Publication Bias: Evidence Based Medicine Dirty Secret


Dr. Ben Goldacre presents the topic of research misconduct in medicine and how unreported negative trials may mislead practitioners to the actual safety of a pharmaceutical agent. 

Goldacre, states that positive results are two times as likely to be published than the negative results and believes that all human trials should be published regardless of outcomes. 




Monday, October 1, 2012

Determinants and Limits of the Bellows: The Katz Study

Image 1: Draeger Narkomed 2c Anesthesia Delivery System.


In a previous post "Determinants and Limits or the Draeger Narkomed Anesthesia Machine in Regards to Ventilating the Morbidly Obese Patient", I tried to calculate the largest patient a bellows system could ventilate safely. 

I concluded that if you wanted to deliver a minute ventilation greater than 9 liters per minute, using conventional ventilator settings (tidal volume of 10 ml/kg/IDBW) that the operator would run into issues.