What patients and relatives expect from an intensivist--the Swiss side of a European survey.

Until recently, patients' and families' expectations of specialists in intensive care medicine were largely unknown. This paper reports the results from the Swiss subgroup of a recently performed European multicentre study addressing this question. Purposeful sample of adult ICUs in Switzerland. A questionnaire was distributed to ICU patients and relatives. It included 21 statements in the domains "medical knowledge", "communication with patients", "communication with relatives". Statements were rated for importance on a four-point Likert scale. All addressed ICUs participated; there were two from the French and eight from the German speaking part of Switzerland. 197 questionnaires were returned (46%). Overall, the majority of characteristics were rated as important. As in the other participating countries, patients and relatives ranked, "medical knowledge" as most essential, followed by, "communication with patients" and, "communication with relatives". This remained unchanged when analysed for German or French language, female or male, age >65 years. Female responders rated "communication" as more important than male responders. For French speaking participants "treating patients as individuals" was the most important statement. In accordance to respondents from other countries, Swiss patients and their families with experience of intensive care rate medical knowledge as most essential for specialists in intensive care medicine. However, communication with patients and with relatives is considered important, too. Accordingly, developing and ensuring medical knowledge and skills, as well as competence in communication must remain top priorities for the institutions responsible for training ICU physicians

Efeitos de diferentes frações inspiradas de oxigênio no índice biespectral em cães submetidos à infusão contínua de propofol Effects of several inspired oxygen fractions on the bispectral index in dogs submitted to continuous infusion of propofol

Avaliaram-se os efeitos do fornecimento de diferentes frações inspiradas de oxigênio (FiO2) sobre o índice biespectral (BIS) em cães submetidos a infusão contínua de propofol e mantidos em ventilação espontânea. Oito cães foram submetidos a cinco anestesias, diferenciando-se uma da outra pela FiO2 fornecida. Formaram-se cinco grupos denominados G100 (FiO2 = 1); G80 (FiO2 = 0,8); G60 (FiO2 = 0,6); G40 (FiO2 = 0,4) e G20 (FiO2 = 0,21). Os animais foram induzidos à anestesia com propofol na dose necessária para intubação, e, ato contínuo, iniciaram-se a infusão do fármaco e o fornecimento de oxigênio, conforme a FiO2 determinada para cada grupo. As primeiras mensurações (M0) foram efetuadas 30 minutos após o início da infusão do anestésico e, depois, em intervalos de 15 minutos (M15, M30, M45 e M60). A pressão parcial de oxigênio no sangue arterial (PaO2) variou conforme a FiO2, ou seja, quanto maior a FiO2, maior foi a PaO2. Para a pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono no sangue arterial (PaCO2), foram registradas diferenças em M30, no qual G100 foi maior que G20. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas nas variáveis estudadas do BIS. Os intervalos de médias registrados para o BIS foram, para G100, de 68 a 62; G80, de 71 a 58; G60, de 72 a 62; G40, de 76 a 68; e G20, de 77 a 68. Conclui-se que as variáveis relacionadas ao BIS não são afetadas pelo emprego de diferentes FiO2, e sugere-se que o monitoramento pelo BIS foi capaz de detectar alterações no equilíbrio do fluxo sangüíneo cerebral, oriundas das alterações ocasionadas na dinâmica respiratória pelo emprego de diferentes frações inspiradas de oxigênio.<br>The effects of several inspired oxygen fractions (FiO2) on the bispectral index in spontaneously breathing dogs submitted to continuous infusion of propofol were evaluated. Eight adult mongrel dogs were used. Each animal was submitted to five anesthesias. In each procedure, the patient was allowed to breathe a different FiO2, thereby resulting in five groups, namely: G100 (FiO2 = 1), G80 (FiO2 = 0.8), G60 (FiO2 =0.6), G40 (FiO2 = 0.4), and G20 (FiO2 = 0.21). To induce anesthesia, propofol was given until the animals allowed orotracheal intubation, followed by immediate continuous infusion of drug. The initial measurement (M0) was recorded 30 minutes after the infusion of propofol onset. Additional recordings were performed at 15-minute intervals during 60 minutes (M15, M30, M45, and M60). No significant differences on BIS parameters were recorded. Regarding arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), the mean of G100 was greater than G20 at M30, whereas arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) varied according to the changes in oxygen. The mean intervals of BIS were: for G100, from 68 to 62; for G80, from 71 to 58; for G60, from 72 to 62; for G40 from 76 to 68; and for G20, from 77 to 68. In conclusion, different FiO2 does not impair BIS parameters. However, it is suggested that BIS was able to detect changes in the balance of cerebral blood flow, which was a result of changes in respiratory dynamic by the use of several inspired fractions