Fluid challenges in intensive care: the FENICE study A global inception cohort study

Fluid challenges (FCs) are one of the most commonly used therapies in critically ill patients and represent the cornerstone of hemodynamic management in intensive care units. There are clear benefits and harms from fluid therapy. Limited data on the indication, type, amount and rate of an FC in critically ill patients exist in the literature. The primary aim was to evaluate how physicians conduct FCs in terms of type, volume, and rate of given fluid; the secondary aim was to evaluate variables used to trigger an FC and to compare the proportion of patients receiving further fluid administration based on the response to the FC.This was an observational study conducted in ICUs around the world. Each participating unit entered a maximum of 20 patients with one FC.2213 patients were enrolled and analyzed in the study. The median [interquartile range] amount of fluid given during an FC was 500 ml (500-1000). The median time was 24 min (40-60 min), and the median rate of FC was 1000 [500-1333] ml/h. The main indication for FC was hypotension in 1211 (59 %, CI 57-61 %). In 43 % (CI 41-45 %) of the cases no hemodynamic variable was used. Static markers of preload were used in 785 of 2213 cases (36 %, CI 34-37 %). Dynamic indices of preload responsiveness were used in 483 of 2213 cases (22 %, CI 20-24 %). No safety variable for the FC was used in 72 % (CI 70-74 %) of the cases. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients who received further fluids after the FC between those with a positive, with an uncertain or with a negatively judged response.The current practice and evaluation of FC in critically ill patients are highly variable. Prediction of fluid responsiveness is not used routinely, safety limits are rarely used, and information from previous failed FCs is not always taken into account

Human and organisational aspects of adoption of gis technology in botswana

A major characteristic of the diffusion and adoption of GIS technology in Botswana is localised arrangement of resources in different government agencies. After the first enthusiasm shown in late 80’s, and practical results achieved in the middle 90’s, the utilization of GIS systems at national level has been substantially reduced. GIS has not been utilized in decision -making process. Advances in information technology evolved faster than the institutional and organisational capacities of different GIS users and the ability to absorb them. In the absence of critical user mass, an efficient institutional and organisational setting is for the future implementation of GIS technology is under serious threat. Current efforts to establish the National Spatial Data Infrastructure will also be highly dependent on “human factors” in the stage of its implementation. This article gives a brief guideline for GIS decision makers on how to improve GIS diffusion based on human and organisational factors.Keywords: Geographical Information Systems - GIS, Human, Organizational, information technology – IT, GIS diffusio