The Henderson–Hasselbalch equation describes the relationship between pH, PaCO2, and serum bicarbonate. The Henderson equation defines the previous relationship but substitutes hydrogen concentration for pH. The pathophysiology of metabolic alkalosis…
The inadequate relief of postoperative pain has adverse physiologic effects that can contribute to significant morbidity and mortality, resulting in the delay of patient recovery and return to daily activities….
When treating myocardial ischemia, decreasing O2 demand is more important than modifying O2 supply. Intraoperative ischemia is usually silent and is not usually accompanied by hemodynamic changes. Slow rate, small…
Perioperative blood component therapy accounts for at least 23% of transfusions. Blood must not only be maintained as a fluid in normal circulation, but also be capable of forming a…
The most crucial component of infection prevention is frequent and effective hand hygiene. The ideal hand hygiene agent kills a broad spectrum of microbes, has antimicrobial activity that persists for…
The goals of a preoperative evaluation are to reduce patient risk and morbidity associated with surgery and coexisting diseases, promote efficiency and reduce costs, as well as to prepare the…
The cytoskeleton of the muscle membrane in patients with muscular dystrophy is abnormal and susceptible to damage. Massive release of intracellular contents, including potassium, may occur after exposure to succinylcholine…
As oxygen consumption increases during pregnancy, the maternal cardiovascular system adapts to meet the metabolic demands of a growing fetus. Airway edema may be particularly severe in women with preeclampsia,…
In a person with normal lungs, breathing can be performed exclusively by the diaphragm. In the adult, the tip of an orotracheal tube moves an average of 3.8 cm with…
The mechanical capabilities of the heart are determined by its cartilaginous skeleton, myocardial fiber orientation, valves, coronary blood supply, and conduction system. The cardiac myocyte is engineered for contraction and…
