IMPLICATIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with excessive thrombin generation and fibrinolytic activity immediately after surgery compared with off-pump procedures. However, after off-pump coronary surgery, patients demonstrated a delayed postoperative response that became equal in magnitude to that of those having on-pump procedures in the later (20-96 h) postoperative period.
IMPLICATIONS: Cerebral hyperthermia during rewarming from cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with increased neurological injury. In this randomized, controlled study, we have shown that limiting the target rewarming temperature on bypass to 35{degrees}C, combined with continuous surface warming, can prevent cerebral hyperthermia without risking prolonged postoperative hypothermia.
IMPLICATIONS: To assess the left ventricular contractile reserve during reperfusion in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, we measured the response of left ventricular regional wall motion and thickening by using dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) after myocardial revascularization, with validation by postoperative thallium-201 myocardial perfusion to assess myocardial viability. Our results demonstrate that a normal response to DSE (improvement in function) is highly specific for viable myocardium; however, a positive response to DSE has a low sensitivity in predicting nonviable myocardium. The majority of new postbypass regional wall motion abnormalities appear to be related to stunned myocardium.
IMPLICATIONS: Inhalational administration of 75 vol% xenon provides cardiovascular stability and improves recovery from myocardial stunning in chronically instrumented dogs under fentanyl/midazolam anesthesia. This suggests that xenon may be a safe anesthetic for patients at high risk of perioperative myocardial ischemia.
IMPLICATIONS: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are widely used for fluid replacement in patients undergoing surgery, but they may compromise platelet function. The present study demonstrates that novel high molecular weight HES solutions differ from previous preparations in respect to side effects on platelet reactivity.
IMPLICATIONS: Pulmonary artery catheters are widely used to manage critically ill patients but can be associated with various complications. This case report describes the occurrence and management of a highly unusual complication associated with the placement of a pulmonary artery catheter through a previously well positioned introducer sheath.
IMPLICATIONS: Massive pulmonary hemorrhage is a potentially devastating complication of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Anesthesiologists involved in pulmonary artery surgery must be prepared to treat this complication with a variety of techniques.
IMPLICATIONS: We present a case in which the use of inhaled nitric oxide associated with temporary partial unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion further improved oxygenation during whole-lung lavage. This is the first case in the literature describing the simultaneous use of these two modalities.
IMPLICATIONS: Pheochromocytoma crisis is a life-threatening condition that requires expert management. The effective use of magnesium sulfate is described in three cases in which conventional management had failed.
IMPLICATIONS: We describe a young patient who developed circulatory collapse after intramedullary irrigation with H2O2. Notably, arterial oxygen saturation did not substantially change throughout the resuscitation from presumed oxygen embolization.
IMPLICATIONS: We investigated the rates of bacterial colonization of tunneled and untunneled caudal epidural catheters and lumbar epidural catheters in children. Tunneled caudal catheters had no more colonization than lumbar-inserted catheters, whereas untunneled caudal catheters showed significantly more colonization.
IMPLICATIONS: Electrical stimulation may be a useful adjuvant tool for confirming proper thoracic epidural needle placement. The threshold current for an insulated needle is higher than the original Tsui test criteria described for an epidural catheter in the epidural space.
IMPLICATIONS: Cohen syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by autosomal recessive inheritance. It is characterized by mental retardation and facial malformations. The administration of general anesthesia in patients with Cohen syndrome can be a challenge. We describe the anesthetic management of a patient with Cohen syndrome.
IMPLICATIONS: The symptom distress scale (SDS) was designed to evaluate the level of distress associated with the adverse effects of commonly used opiates. This study reports on the reliability and validity of the SDS in a group of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The validity of the SDS was demonstrated by using specific symptoms directly assessed in the clinical trial and patient responses to questions regarding general satisfaction and daily activities.
IMPLICATIONS: We investigated whether preemptive benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) treatment could prevent sore throat due to a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) cuff inflated with air. We conclude that preemptive topical BH treatment may prevent sore throat due to LMA use.
IMPLICATIONS: In spinal anesthesia, ropivacaine provided two thirds of the duration in sensory block and half of the duration in motor block compared with bupivacaine. Both 20 and 15 mg of ropivacaine are suitable for lower-extremity surgery of 1 h in duration. The latter dose is preferable in day-case surgery because of rapid motor recovery.
IMPLICATIONS: With prophylactic clonidine or meperidine, the incidence of postoperative shivering may be reduced by a factor of approximately 1.6. When the baseline risk is extremely high, one in three to four patients may profit. Other interventionsfor instance, nefopammay be even more effective but have been less well studied.
IMPLICATIONS: Bupivacaine-induced cardiac toxicity is extremely difficult to treat. We found that profound cardiovascular depression by bupivacaine in dogs was effectively reversed with insulin-glucose-potassium infusion.
IMPLICATIONS: Dexamethasone has an antiemetic property, but the mechanism remains unclear. An oscillographic vomiting model was used in unanesthetized and decerebrated cats to demonstrate that a stereotaxic microinjection of dexamethasone had an antiemetic effect against xylazine-induced emesis by acting on glucocorticoid receptors in the bilateral nuclei tractus solitarii.
IMPLICATIONS: In awake patients, pain on injection of rocuronium during the induction of general anesthesia is common. The osmolality and pH of the solutions were the same in all groups. Dilution of rocuronium to 1 and 0.5 mg/mL with 0.9 % NaCl decreased or prevented the pain during IV injection.
IMPLICATIONS: We have derived an activity model for a group of structurally diverse nonhalogenated volatile anesthetics that correlates in vivo potency (minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration) with the spatial distribution of their molecular bulk and electrostatic potential. Our results suggest that there is a common molecular basis for the immobilizing activity of the anesthetics.
IMPLICATIONS: The nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway has been proposed to be involved in sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia. Specific inhibitors of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase resulted in a reduction in the anesthetic requirements (MAC) for isoflurane. In the present study, we demonstrate that ODQ, a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, was also capable of reducing the MAC for isoflurane anesthesia in the rat.
IMPLICATIONS: The {gamma}-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor and its subtypes, GABAA and GABAB, have been extensively studied in recent years. GABA agonists and antagonists have been used for the treatment of various medical conditions. The results of this investigation suggest a role for GABA modulators in pulmonary hypertensive processes.
IMPLICATIONS: Lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine, and mepivacaine decreased in the effluents flowing out of infusion balloons, indicating that local anesthetics are often adsorbed onto the balloons and that their actual infused concentrations may be smaller than predicted.
IMPLICATIONS: Fire may result from the interaction of sevoflurane, but not desflurane or isoflurane, with desiccated carbon dioxide absorbent, particularly Baralyme(R).
IMPLICATIONS: Ocular microtremor (OMT), a fine physiologic tremor of the eye of neurogenic origin, is suppressed by general anesthetics, suggesting that it could serve as a marker of the conscious state. Furthermore, OMT can be easily measured by using an automated analysis module even under conditions of neuromuscular blockade and altered patient position.
IMPLICATIONS: The bispectral index (BIS) and its new version, the BIS-XP, monitor the depth of anesthesia. Under propofol/remifentanil anesthesia, the BIS readings did not significantly change during complete neuromuscular block or during various levels of neuromuscular recovery.
IMPLICATIONS: We compared the ability of a new dry heat blood/fluid warmer (Ranger) with the water bath warmer Hotline in terms of flow rates and outflow temperatures by using room temperature saline and 10{degrees}C diluted packed red blood cells (RBCs). Flow rates were similar, but the Ranger provided higher outflow temperatures at flows >4 L/h, especially during rapid pressurized infusions of both RBCs and saline.
IMPLICATIONS: We compared the failure times of pulse oximeters during cuff-induced hypoperfusion in volunteers. The MasimoSET Radical did not lose a signal as rapidly as the other oximeters studied. MasimoSET Radical was similar in performance to the Nellcor N-395 at providing useful data sooner than conventional technology after a loss of the signal. These observations suggest that data will be more available with fewer false-positive alarms when using the MasimoSET oximeter followed by the Nellcor N-395 when compared with conventional oximeters.
IMPLICATIONS: Parecoxib significantly improved patients' global evaluation with the study medication compared with placebo when it was used for prophylaxis and treatment of perioperative pain. In the treatment of pain, the tolerability and efficacy of parecoxib 40 mg in terms of patients' global evaluation were comparable to those with 30-60 mg of ketorolac.
IMPLICATIONS: In this study we used the dental pain model to compare the efficacy of etoricoxib and oxycodone/acetaminophen in the treatment of acute pain. As demonstrated by this study, etoricoxib offers rapid, effective, and durable analgesia with fewer incidences of nausea and vomiting while perhaps reducing the risk of postsurgical bleeding.
IMPLICATIONS: A controlled study of IV adenosine in a healthy volunteer model of electrically evoked hyperalgesia demonstrated a reduction of measures of central sensitization, a key mechanism of neuropathic pain. Because adenosine can alleviate neuropathic pain in patients, the model may be useful for early characterization of new treatments for this indication in humans.
IMPLICATIONS: Crystalloids and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are widely used for fluid replacement in patients undergoing peridural anesthesia. We found a relevant antiplatelet effect of HES. Because hemostasiological competence is a prerequisite for safe neuraxial blockade, the decision of HES for fluid administration before blockade should be critically made.
IMPLICATIONS: To determine if ropivacaine affects sympathetic sprouting, we used pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells, which differentiate into neurons on exposure to nerve growth factor. Neurite outgrowth was quantified as neurite extension after exposure to ropivacaine. Ropivacaine inhibited the neurite outgrowth in a dose-dependent manner.
IMPLICATIONS: Data from 19,575 patients indicate that the incidence of awareness with recall after surgery under general anesthesia is 0.13%. This means that the minimum incidence of awareness is 1.3 patients per 1000.
IMPLICATIONS: A survey of departments using an anesthesia information system for anesthesia record keeping suggests that these systems are useful for managing malpractice risk and do not increase malpractice exposure.
IMPLICATIONS: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effect of the additional year of anesthesia training instituted in 1989 by the American Board of Anesthesiology on the number of individuals enrolled in subspecialty training. Our data indicate that the number of fellows increased over 10 yr. We conclude that factors other than the duration of training influence the selection of subspecialty education.
IMPLICATIONS: Massive oxidative injury may promote poor clinical outcome in critically ill patients. This study demonstrates that antioxidant intervention is associated with reduced oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant defenses, and reduced 28-day mortality in critically ill patients.
IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrated in a more clinical sepsis model (cecal ligation and perforation) a time dependency of bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction in an isolated perfused rat lung setup, indicating endothelial injury. Inducible nitric oxide synthase appeared to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this pulmonary endothelial dysfunction.
IMPLICATIONS: ONO-5046 decreased cytokine levels more rapidly in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients treated with sivelestat than in those who received placebo. However, these decreases did not appear to affect other clinical variables, such as the duration of mechanical ventilation or survival rates.
IMPLICATIONS: Because vasopressin decreases cardiac output and oxygen delivery, we investigated the use of dopexamine as an adjunct to vasopressin infusion. During experimental endotoxemia, small doses of dopexamine reversed the arginine vasopressin-linked depression in cardiac index, thereby improving oxygen supply. Although large-dose dopexamine (10 {micro}g {middle dot} kg-1 {middle dot} min-1) improved the pulmonary circulation, systemic hypotension and tachycardia occurred.
IMPLICATIONS: This is the first prospective, randomized study comparing open versus closed suctioning with respect to microbiological cross-contamination between bronchial system and gastric juices and the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit.
IMPLICATIONS: The care of critically ill burn patients can be challenging because of a rapidly escalating tolerance for opioids. In this case, a large-dose ketamine infusion was useful for both analgesia and sedation. It significantly reduced the opioid requirement and overcame the adverse effects of opioids.
IMPLICATIONS: Rats were subjected to temporary focal cerebral ischemia and allowed to recover for 3 days or 2 wk. There was no effect of intraischemic N2O on histologic or behavioral outcome at either recovery interval, whereas the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist dizocilpine caused persistent improvement in both outcome measures.
IMPLICATIONS: In parenchymal arterioles of the rat cerebral cortex, lidocaine impairs vasodilation mediated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channels but not by inward rectifier K+ channels. These results indicate that lidocaine may impair vasodilator responses mediated via ATP-sensitive K+ channels, resulting in decreased cerebral parenchymal perfusion.
IMPLICATIONS: This report describes pulmonary edema that occurred during tocolysis with nicardipine plus betamethasone.
IMPLICATIONS: Incorporation of bupivacaine and dexamethasone in microcapsules compared with aqueous bupivacaine significantly prolonged analgesia after subcutaneous infiltration in volunteers. Analgesia was seen 96 h after infiltration.
IMPLICATIONS: Comparing 0.2% ropivacaine with 0.125% and 0.2% levobupivacaine for continuous lateral popliteal sciatic nerve block after hallux valgus repair, this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study demonstrated that both 0.125% and 0.2% levobupivacaine provide effective adequate postoperative analgesia without differences from that provided by 0.2% ropivacaine. If early mobilization of the operated foot is required, the 0.125% concentration of levobupivacaine is preferred rather than 0.2%.
IMPLICATIONS: Cervical epidural anesthesia with lidocaine produces depressed heart rate variability and baroreflex control of heart rate, whereas lumbar epidural anesthesia exerts minimal effects on autonomic nervous system activity in conscious humans.
IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrated, using two different models, that thromboxane receptor functioning is inhibited by commonly used local anesthetics. One site of action seems to be inside the cell. This suggests that some of the beneficial effects of regional anesthesia techniques might be due to direct interaction of local anesthetics with the functioning of membrane proteins.
IMPLICATIONS: Endoscopic skills can be developed and measured on models with the expectation that good model performance will result in good clinical performance. Benchmark levels of endoscopic dexterity can be achieved clinically without a novice learning curve. DexterTM is a more effective model than "Choose the Hole" for learning endoscopic dexterity. Caution is warranted in the use of topical lidocaine in amounts approaching the upper limits of published dose ranges.
IMPLICATIONS: Double Arndt bronchial blocker lung isolation may provide an alternate means of sequential lung isolation and one-lung ventilation.
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