BACKGROUND: Dopamine is an inotropic agent that is often selected for continuous infusion. For hemodynamic stability, the rate of infusion is controlled in the range of 5-15 µg/kg/min. This study aimed to compare the time intervals from the administration of dopamine to the onset of its hemodynamic effects when dopamine was administered through three different peripheral veins (the cephalic vein [CV], the great saphenous vein [GSV], and the external jugular vein [EJV]). METHODS: Patients in group 1, group 2, and group 3 received dopamine infusions in the CV, GSV, and EJV, respectively. A noninvasive continuous cardiac output monitor (NICCOMO™, Medis, Ilmenau, Germany) was used to assess cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Six minutes after intubation, baseline heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), CO, and SVR values were recorded and dopamine infusion was initiated at a dose of 10 µg/kg/min. Hemodynamic changes at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 minutes postinfusion were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups with respect to the rate of hemodynamic change. In all groups, systolic BP, diastolic BP, MAP, and SVR tended to increase after decreasing for the first 4 minutes; in contrast, HR and CO decreased until 8 minutes, after which they tended to reach a plateau. CONCLUSIONS: For patients under general anesthesia receiving dopamine at 10 µg/kg/min, there were no clinical differences in the effect of dopamine administered through three different peripheral veins.
Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dopamine* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Jugular Veins ; Saphenous Vein ; Vascular Resistance ; Veins*

Purpose: Nursing students are susceptible to medication safety incidents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) related to a lack of communication experience. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of a NICU medication safety simulation (NMSS) focusing on communication clarity, patient hand-off confidence, and patient safety competency in senior-year nursing students. Methods: The study utilized a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. In total, 60 nursing students were assigned to two groups. The experimental group participated in the NMSS, which included three medication error scenarios. Pairs of students completed the scenarios together in 10 to 20 minutes. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test, independent t test, and ANCOVA. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in communication clarity (p=.015), and patient safety competency (p<.001) compared to the control group. Using the pretest values as covariates, patient hand-off confidence scores significantly increased (p=.027). Conclusion Implementing the NMSS focusing on communication in the pediatric nursing curriculum helped students to communicate clearly and concisely about medication errors, and its use is recommended to promote patient safety competency in the NICU.

BACKGROUND: In general, pregnancy is considered a hypercoagulable state, and an increased incidence of thromboembolic phenomena have been reported in pregnant women. A thrombelastography (TEG) measures whole blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, and has been used to manage coagulation defects in patients. The purpose of this study was to establish the physiologic changes in the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in a normal term pregnancy using a TEG. METHODS: A TEG was performed in 31 nonpregnant women and 31 healthy pregnant women using native whole blood. The TEG variables included reaction time (R), clot formation time (K), maximum amplitude (MA), alpha angle, TEG coagulation index and percentage of reduction in MA at 30 minutes (LY30) and 60 minutes (LY60). Other laboratory tests such as hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), platelet count (PC) and routine coagulation tests such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and bleeding time (BT) were measured in all women. RESULTS: The R and K were significantly decreased in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women (P < 0.05). The MA, alpha angle, LY30 and LY60 were significantly increased in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women (P < 0.05). The TEG coagulation index was significantly greater in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the TEG showed that term pregnant women were in a hypercoagulable state and had increased fibrinolysis.
Bleeding Time ; Blood Coagulation ; Female ; Fibrinolysis ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Incidence ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prothrombin Time ; Reaction Time ; Thrombelastography*

No abstract available.
Piperidines

The original article contained an error in Figure and Figure legend.

BACKGROUND: Caudal epidural injections have been commonly performed in patients with low back pain and radiculopathy. Although caudal injection has generally been accepted as a safe procedure, serious complications such as inadvertent intravascular injection and dural puncture can occur. The present prospective study was designed to investigate the influence of the depth of the inserted needle on the success rate of caudal epidural blocks. METHODS: A total of 49 adults scheduled to receive caudal epidural injections were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group 1 to receive the caudal injection through a conventional method, i.e., caudal injection after advancement of the needle 1 cm into the sacral canal (n = 25), and Group 2 to receive the injection through a new method, i.e., injection right after penetrating the sacrococcygeal ligament (n = 24). Ultrasound was used to identify the sacral hiatus and to achieve accurate needle placement according to the allocated groups. Contrast dyed fluoroscopy was obtained to evaluate the epidural spread of injected materials and to monitor the possible complications. RESULTS: The success rates of the caudal injections were 68.0% in Group 1 and 95.8% in Group 2 (P = 0.023). The incidences of intravascular injections were 24.0% in Group 1 and 0% in Group 2 (P = 0.022). No intrathecal injection was found in either of the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The new caudal epidural injection technique tested in this study is a reliable alternative, with a higher success rate and lower risk of accidental intravascular injection than the conventional technique.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Caudal ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Epidural ; Injections, Spinal ; Ligaments ; Low Back Pain ; Needles* ; Prospective Studies ; Punctures ; Radiculopathy ; Ultrasonography

Central venous catheterization is often necessary to manage critically ill patients in the intensive care unit and some surgical patients in the operating room. However, this procedure can lead to various complications. We experienced a case of subclavian venous catheterization that was complicated by looping, kinking, knotting, and entrapment of the guidewire. We were able to identify the extravascular looping and knotting of the guidewire under fluoroscopy and consequently removed it successfully. We suggest that a guidewire should be confirmed by fluoroscopic imaging if it has become entrapped.
Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Critical Illness ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Operating Rooms

BACKGROUND: Many studys on Cesarean section patients have reported that a pregnant women's coagulatory function are elevated during the postoperative period than preoperative period. But, changes in coagulatory function between the preoperative and postoperative periods has been demonstrated only in pregnant women. Therefore, we measured the coagulatory function of pregnant and nonpregnant women pre- and post-operatively by thromboelastography (TEG) and compared the results obtained. METHODS: TEG was performed in 31 pregnant women that underwent Cesarean section delivery and 25 nonpregnant women that underwent total abdominal hysterectomy using native whole blood. The TEG variables included; reaction time (R), clot formation time (K), maximum amplitude (MA), alpha angle, TEG coagulation index the percentage reductions in MA at 30 minutes (LY30) and 60 minutes (LY60). Other laboratory tests and routine coagulation tests were measured in all women. RESULTS: R and K were significantly lower in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women (P<0.05) during the preoperative and postoperative periods. MA, alpha angle and TEG index were significantly higher in pregnant women (P<0.05) pre- and post-operatively. Preoperative and postoperative data were significantly different in the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Term pregnant women showed a hypercoagulable state preoperatively and this was enhanced postoperatively. But the changes in coagulatory function pre- to post-operation were similar in both patient groups.
Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fibrinolysis ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Postoperative Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Preoperative Period ; Reaction Time ; Thrombelastography

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the color stability, water sorption and cytotoxicity of thermoplastic acrylic resin for the non-metal clasp dentures to those of thermoplastic polyamide and conventional heat-polymerized denture base resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of denture base resin, which are conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Paladent 20), thermoplastic polyamide resin (Bio Tone), thermoplastic acrylic resin (Acrytone) were used as materials for this study. One hundred five specimens were fabricated. For the color stability test, specimens were immersed in the coffee and green tee for 1 and 8 weeks. Color change was measured by spectrometer. Water sorption was tested after 1 and 8 weeks immersion in the water. For the test of cytotoxicity, cell viability assay was measured and cell attachment was analyzed by FE-SEM. RESULTS: All types of denture base resin showed color changes after 1 and 8 weeks immersion. However, there was no significant difference between denture base resins. All specimens showed significant color changes in the coffee than green tee. In water sorption test, thermoplastic acrylic resin showed lower values than conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin and thermoplastic polyamide resin. Three types of denture base showed low cytotoxicity in cell viability assay. Thermoplastic acrylic resin showed the similar cell attachment but more stable attachment than conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin. CONCLUSION: Thermoplastic acrylic resin for the non-metal clasp denture showed acceptable color stability, water sorption and cytotoxicity. To verify the long stability in the mouth, additional in vitro studies are needed.
Cell Survival ; Coffee ; Denture Bases ; Dentures* ; Immersion ; Mouth ; Nylons ; Water*

BACKGROUND: Most morphometric studies of the airway have relied on plain radiographs or CT scan with their attendant limitations. We evaluated the length from vocal cord to carina and diameter of the trachea in adults who had no abnormality of the airway using three-dimensional chest CT scan and compared with demographic data. METHODS: We performed a multiplane reconstruction of the airway using axial, sagittal, and coronal slices (aged 18-87, 100 men, 100 women). We measured that the lengths from vocal cord to carina and the diameters (AP, anteroposterior; TR, transverse) of 50 mm above carina of the trachea. RESULTS: The lengths from vocal cord to carina was 130.2 +/- 11.4 mm in men and 119.5 +/- 10.5 mm in women. The AP and TR diameters of the trachea at 50 mm above carina were men; 18.0 +/- 2.4 mm, 17.2 +/- 2.6 mm, women; 14.4 +/- 2.0 mm, 14.4 +/- 1.9 mm, respectively. The correlation between airway length and age and height was statically significant in men and women but less clinically significant. The correlation between diameter of trachea and height was only statically significant in men but less clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that these measured data are helpful for the endotracheal intubation and endotracheal tube placement in airway management.
Adult ; Airway Management ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Thorax ; Trachea ; Vocal Cords