Autonomous Multi-Platform Observations During the Salinity Processes in the Upper-ocean Regional Study.

The Salinity Processes in the Upper-ocean Regional Study (SPURS) aims to understand the patterns and variability of sea surface salinity. In order to capture the wide range of spatial and temporal scales associated with processes controlling salinity in the upper ocean, research vessels delivered autonomous instruments to remote sites, one in the North Atlantic and one in the Eastern Pacific. Instruments sampled for one complete annual cycle at each of these two sites, which are subject to contrasting atmospheric forcing. The SPURS field programs coordinated sampling from many different platforms, using a mix of Lagrangian and Eulerian approaches. This article discusses the motivations, implementation, and first results of the SPURS-1 and SPURS-2 programs.

Novel Use of Clevidipine for Intraoperative Blood Pressure Management in Patients With Pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that produce excessive epinephrine and norepinephrine, leading to multiple manifestations of catecholamine surges. Acute intraoperative hypertension during pheochromocytoma resection requires prompt control to avoid major and potentially lethal cardiac and neurologic complications. This article reports the planned and successful use of clevidipine (Cleviprex) as the "sole agent" for intraoperative blood pressure management in 2 adult patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma undergoing elective open adrenalectomy. Clevidipine effectively and promptly provided predictable blood pressure control in both patients.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution in a Jehovah's Witness patient: a case report.

Patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions and blood products as a matter of faith. For surgical procedures during which substantial blood loss is possible, their refusal presents a challenge. 'Anesthetists must generally respect the requests of adults not to receive blood and thus should have a clear understanding of how they will respond in the event of bleeding. Several blood conservation techniques are available for consideration, including acute normovolemic hemodilution. This technique entails the preoperative phlebotomy of whole blood that contains a high concentration of red blood cells and coagulation Patiefactors, while replacing the lost volume with a crystalloid and/or colloid infusion. The procured whole blood can then be transfused back during or after the procedure as a treatment of hypovolemia. Leaving the procured blood continuously attached to the patient through the collection tubing makes the procedure acceptable to most Jehovah's Witness patients. Current literature is unclear when this technique should be used. In this particular case, acute normovolemic hemodilution contributed to the successful outcome of an anemic Jehovah's Witness who was undergoing major surgery.