Implications: Quantitative assessment of prosthetic aortic valvearea can be performed on-line by using transesophageal echocardiographyusing the double envelope technique.
Implications: Thoracic aortic occlusion-reperfusion decreasedhemostatic function in rabbits primarily by decreasing the coagulationfactor-dependent, platelet-independent contribution to clotting.This decrease in hemostatic function may contribute to hemorrhagiccomplications associated with major vascular surgery.
Implications: Inflation of the lungs at a pressure of 10 cmH2O as compared with leaving the lungs deflated during cardiopulmonarybypass was examined. Lung inflation during bypass resulted insignificantly improved postoperative gas exchange.
Implications: Heparin, given in the dosage required for cardiopulmonarybypass, caused release of phospholipase A2 into the splanchniccirculation.
Implications: The ACT II anti-Xa-unfractionated heparin assayallows for reliable monitoring of large concentrations of UFHover a wide range of hematocrit, platelet, and coagulation factorlevels. Further evaluation of this point-of-care device is indicated.
Implications: A theoretical model for blood viscosity predictedindependent effects of temperature, shear rate, and hemodilutionon viscosity over a wide range of physiologic conditions, includingthermal extremes of deep hypothermia in an experimental setting.Moderate hemodilution to a hematocrit of 22% decreased bloodviscosity by 30%-50% at a blood temperature of 15{degrees}C,suggesting the potential to improve microcirculatory perfusionduring deep hypothermia.
Implications: In this study, pancuronium inhibited norepinephrineuptake and was the most potent of the neuromuscular blockingdrugs we tested, including pancuronium, vecuronium, d-tubocurarine,and succinylcholine. Pancuronium may affect the sympatheticnervous system by inhibiting the activity of the presynapticnorepinephrine transporter at clinically relevant concentrations.
Implications: The relationship of intraabdominal pressure changesto blood loss were examined with a rectal balloon pressure catheterduring spinal surgery. Blood loss tended to increase with anincrease in intraabdominal pressure in the narrow pad supportwidth of the Wilson frame.
Implications: Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographycan be useful to diagnose pulmonary venous anastomotic stenosesduring lung transplantation.
Implications: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a very commonsurgical procedure, and vascular injuries account for one thirdof major complications during this surgery. We describe an unusualpresentation of an abdominal aorta injury.
Implications: In this cross-over study, we observed the incidenceof emergence agitation with sevoflurane (38%) was significantlygreater than with propofol (0%) in premedicated, preschool-agedchildren undergoing minor noninvasive surgery.
Implications: To determine if an epidurally administered localanesthetic has been unintentionally injected into a blood vessel,a small dose of epinephrine or isoproterenol may be added toa local anesthetic. We found that an increase in heart rate>=10 bpm and an increase in T wave amplitude of lead II >=25% areuseful indicators for detecting accidental intravascular injectionof an epinephrine-containing test dose in sevoflurane-anesthetizedchildren, whereas only a heart rate change is a reliable diagnostictool if an isoproterenol-containing test dose is used.
Implications: Parent-/nurse-controled analgesia provided effectivepain relief in most children <6 yr of age experiencing nonsurgicalor postoperative pain. The observed incidence of vomiting andpruritis was similar to that seen in older patients treatedwith patient-controlled analgesia. However, significant respiratorydepression, although uncommon, did occur, thus reinforcing theneed for close patient monitoring.
Implications: We evaluated the anesthetic and recovery profilesof 60- and 80-mg doses of plain mepivacaine for ambulatory spinalanesthesia. Both doses produced comparable sensory and motorblock. Sensory and motor regression and ambulatory milestoneswere 20-30 min longer with the 80-mg dose. Side effectswere negligible and transient neurological symptoms were notreported during a 24-h follow-up.
Implications: We investigated the effects of morphine on postoperativepain in patients undergoing intraocular surgery using a newindwelling catheter. Although morphine produced central analgesiceffects, there was no evidence for the involvement of peripheralopioid receptors in the modulation of ocular pain.
Implications: The greater magnitude of carbon dioxide absorptionduring total extraperitoneal hernioplasty puts an additionalload on the lungs and could pose a risk for patients with chroniclung disease who might be unable to eliminate excess carbondixoide.
Implications: When administered for laparoscopic surgery, theduration of action of an intubating dose of rapacuronium wasprolonged 40%-50% by desflurane and sevoflurane, respectively,(versus propofol). Monitoring recovery of neuromuscular blockadeproduced by rapacuronium is particularly important when desfluraneor sevoflurane is administered to ensure that an adequate recovery(train-of-four >= 0.8) is achieved by the end of anesthesia.
Implications: Small doses of intrathecal nalbuphine producefewer adverse effects, such as pruritus and postoperative nauseaand vomiting, compared with intrathecal morphine. This may allowearlier discharge of patients from the recovery room.
Implications: In this preliminary investigation, we evaluatedthe safety and analgesic efficacy of IV remifentanil for laborpain. Four women were studied, and then the trial was terminatedbecause administration of this novel synthetic opioid producedsignificant maternal side effects in the absence of effectivepain control.
Implications: Visual strokes can occur after prolonged hypotensionor as a complication of preeclampsia-eclampsia. This case describesthe diagnostic dilemma posed by a patient who developed transientblindness after a hypotensive episode during cesarean deliveryfor severe preeclampsia-eclampsia.
Implications: The discrepancies between handwritten and computerizedanesthesia records suggest that some of the data in handwrittenrecords are inaccurate. The potential for inaccuracy shouldbe considered when handwritten records are used as source materialfor research, quality assurance, and medicolegal purposes.
Implications: The chances of surviving cardiac arrest in hemorrhagicshock are considered dismal without adequate fluid replacement.However, treatment of hypovolemic cardiac arrest with vasopressin,but not with large-dose epinephrine or saline placebo, resultedin sustained vital organ perfusion and prolonged survival inan animal model of suspended infusion therapy.
Implications: We report the successful use of the laryngealmask airway for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in an adultpatient with a known difficult airway and severe cerebral palsy.
Implications: We evaluated the ability of oxygen ventilationto increase brain tissue oxygen pressure in dogs anesthetizedwith 1.5% and 3% isoflurane and propofol. Increases in tissueoxygen were significantly greater during 3% isoflurane comparedwith 1.5% isoflurane and propofol.
Implications: During deliberate hypotension induced by nicardipine,the cerebral dynamic autoregulatory response is impaired innormal adult patients.
Implications: Two methods of nerve localization were comparedwhen performing an axillary brachial plexus block by the multiple-injectiontechnique. Nerve stimulation provided a faster onset and a greaterincidence of complete block, related to a better success ratefor anesthetizing the radial and the musculocutaneous nerves,than paresthesia elicitation.
Implications: When patients have severe pain even when receivingepidural morphine, adding bupivacaine might be more effectivethan increasing the dose of epidural morphine.
Implications: To determine whether an epidurally administeredlocal anesthetic has been unintentionally injected into a bloodvessel, a small dose of epinephrine is often added to a localanesthetic. We found that an increase in systolic blood pressure>= 15 mm Hg is a more useful indicator than an increase in heartrate >= 10 bpm in the patients >= 60 yr old during stable sevofluraneanesthesia administration.
Implications: In this observational study, we evaluated coretemperatures and intraoperative thermal management in patientsundergoing spinal or epidural anesthesia. Hypothermia was common,however, rarely detected either by temperature monitoring orestimates by anesthesiologists. In addition, it was not treatedwith active warming. Consequently, temperature monitoring andmanagement have to be done during neuraxial anesthesia.
Implications: The combination of bupivacaine and meperidinedelivered to the intraperitoneal cavity proved superior to equivalentdoses of intraperitoneal bupivacaine and IM meperidine for postoperativepain relief in patients undergoing laparoscopic tubal ligation.Intraperitoneal delivery of analgesia proved effective in thisstudy and merits further study and more widespread use.
Implications: Levobupivacaine produced fatal cardiac toxicityat doses significantly greater than those found in previousstudies with bupivacaine. As the two drugs have similar potencyfor producing clinical nerve blocks, the data imply that levobupivacaineshould provide a safer alternative to bupivacaine in practice.
Implications: The performance of regional blockade on a patientwith a preexisting neurologic condition or a history of neurologiccomplications after regional anesthesia is controversial. Wepresent a case of recurring brachial plexus neuropathy in adiabetic patient after two shoulder procedures performed 4 moapart. In both cases, the patient underwent intensive physicaltherapy with continuous postoperative interscalene analgesia.
Implications: This case documents a patient who developed dizzinesswith downbeating nystagmus while receiving a relatively largedose of IV patient-controlled analgesia morphine. Although therehave been case reports of epidural morphine with these symptomsand signs, this has not been previously documented with IV orpatient-controlled analgesia morphine.
Implications: Reprocessing of single-use medical devices offersthe opportunity of significant savings and is already performedwith some devices. Microbiological, microstructure, and materialscience examinations proved that reprocessing of multiple reusedCombitubesTM (Kendall-Sheridan, Argyll, NY), mainly used foremergency airway management, is possible and safe.
Implications: Thermosoftening treatment of a nasotracheal tubewith warm saline before intubation can effectively reduce epistaxisand nasal damage. This technique is safe, easy, and suitablefor all types of tubes and does not require additional implements.
Implications: This study demonstrates in an animal model thatinflating the lung once or repeatedly to the vital capacityis a safe procedure. This maneuver, also called the vital capacitymaneuver, can be used to relieve lung collapse which occursin all patients during general anesthesia.
Implications: Nitrous oxide (N2O) diffuses into the cuff, equilibratingat a smaller concentration than the gas mixture with which patientsare ventilated. Our data indicate that inflation of the cuffwith 40% N2O is recommended to prevent both excessive endotrachealcuff pressure and air leaks during anesthesia with 67% N2O,reducing postoperative sore throats.
Implications: In morbidly obese patients, postoperative immediateand intermediate recoveries are more rapid and consistent afterdesflurane than after propofol or isoflurane anesthesia.
Implications: Laboratory mouse strains differ significantlyin susceptibility to anesthetics. These phenotypic differencesmay be exploited to help determine the genetic basis of anesthetic-inducedimmobility.
Implications: The clinical effects of tourniquet applicationwere evaluated in 10 young men undergoing knee surgery. Ourdata indicate that tourniquet application causes hemodynamicand metabolic changes which may become clinically relevant aftera long period of tourniquet inflation, particularly in patientswith concomitant cardiovascular diseases.
Implications: Using the isolated-arm technique, we suggest thatpancuronium potentiation of the neuromuscular blocking effectsof mivacurium is more likely attributable to an increase inthe effective plasma concentration of mivacurium than to occupancyof postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors.
Implications: Because clinically marketed thiamylal is a racemiccompound, a pharmacokinetic study of each enantiomer may bebeneficial. We found that the enantioselectivity of thiamylalexisted in protein binding and metabolism. This may be causedby the differences in the affinities of enantiomers for albuminand cytochrome P-450 isoform.
Implications: We found that inhibition of neuronal nicotinicacetylcholine receptors by ketamine is not stereoselective inPC12 cells. The result suggests that this effect does not directlycorrelate with the anesthetic action of ketamine.
Implications: Breath-holding time is significantly prolongedin hyperbaric air than it is in hyperbaric oxygen. The mechanisminvolves the anesthetic effect of nitrogen suppressing the suffocatingfeeling during breath-holding.
Implications: We experienced a case of unanticipated difficultintubation with direct laryngoscopy because of narrowing ofthe retropharyngeal air apace and laryngeal vestibulum. It issuggested that three-dimensional computed tomography is usefulfor evaluating both the abnormality of an airway and its relationshipto surrounding tissue.
Implications: We report a patient with human T-cell lymphotropicvirus type I-associated myelopathy. Although muscle strengthin both of the upper extremities was normal in this patient,evoked electromyogram of the adductor pollicis was depressedby propofol at the induction of anesthesia.
Implications: Amphetamines are powerful, sympathomimetic aminesthat, when used chronically, can profoundly effect a patient'scardiovascular stability during anesthesia and surgery. Amphetaminesare the third most widely abused class of drugs in the UnitedStates. They also have legitimate medical use for attentiondeficit disorder with hyperactivity, exogenous obesity, andnarcolepsy. We report a case of a patient with a 40-yr historyof chronic amphetamine use having undergone two general anesthesiaswithout complication.
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