Anesthesiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anesthesiology, including details on clinical anesthesiology, evidence based practice, techniques.

An assessment of a point-of-care information system for the anesthesia provider in simulated malignant hyperthermia crisis.

Berkenstadt H, Yusim Y, Ziv A, Ezri T, Perel A

The Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care and M.S.R-The Israel Center for Medical Simulation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. berken@netvision.net.il

In this prospective, controlled study we compared the ability of anesthesia residents to diagnose and treat a simulated malignant hyperthermia (MH) scenario with and without the ability to use the On-Line Electronic Help (OLEH) information system or any other written guidelines. The OLEH is a point-of-care information system for the anesthesia provider in the operating room. The score for MH treatment after diagnosis based on clinical actions was significantly higher (P = 0.018) in the OLEH-user group (21.5 +/- 4.9) compared with a control group (15.5 +/- 7.6). This study demonstrates the possible value of a point-of-care information system in patient care; however, the significance of the results may be limited by the participants' anticipation of an acute event during training requiring the use of the OLEH.

Published 23 January 2006 in Anesth Analg, 102(2): 530-2.
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