Acta anaesthesiologica Taiwanica : official journal of the Taiwan Society of Anesthesiologists
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Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan · Dec 2004
The valid time of soda lime could be safely prolonged according to the inspired pressure of carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbent, a disposable chemical mixture enclosed in a canister of anesthetic breathing systems functions to remove the carbon dioxide expired from the patients during general anesthesia. The timing of replacing the exhausted CO2 absorbent is usually decided by discoloration of the indicator dye or the valid time of use. However, these methods are subjective. We designed a study to validate our idea of replacing the exhausted CO2 absorbent according to the inspired pressure of carbon dioxide (PiCO2) and comparison of the pressure difference between the arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) and end-tidal CO2 in the exhausted and fresh CO2 absorbent circuits. ⋯ Even though the PiCO2 concentration reached 6 mmHg in the rebreathing circuit with exhausted soda lime, the gradient between the PaCO2 and end-tidal CO2 was of no statistical difference compared with that of the fresh soda lime circuit. Thus the pressure difference was not affected by the exhausted CO2 absorbent in spite of a reach of PiCO2 to 6 mmHg. Under CO2 monitoring, the valid time of soda lime could be safely prolonged until the PiCO2 was elevated to 6 mmHg rather than 8 h strictly pursuant to traditional method of discoloration of indicator dye.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan · Dec 2004
Case ReportsAnesthetic management of a patient undergoing segmental resection of trachea with an endotracheal neurofibroma and nearly total occlusion of trachea.
We report a case of endotracheal (ET) neurofibroma with resultant severe airway obstruction undergoing segmental resection of the trachea. After the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system (ECMO) was set up handily for use and comprehensive monitoring system was established, ET intubation under fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) was performed under mild sedation. ⋯ Thorough preoperative evaluation, comprehensively anesthetic planning, FOB-assisted ET intubation before induction of anesthesia were mandatory to achieve a safe and delicate anesthesia for such a patient. In critical situation, conduction of anesthesia after establishment of ECMO support would be another choice.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan · Dec 2004
Case ReportsPneumothorax associated with tube exchanger-aided intubation following LMA-Fastrach placement in a patient during anesthesia induction.
The use of intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA-Fastrach) is indicated to facilitate endotracheal intubation in a patient with cervical spine disorder or suspected difficult airway. A 65-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital for cervical spine surgery under general anesthesia. ⋯ As massive pneumothorax associated with subcutaneous emphysema was disclosed by chest roentgenography, a chest drainage was performed immediately. This article discourses the possible mechanism, diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax during the course of general anesthesia and the prevention of lower airway injury by AEC is also touched.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan · Dec 2004
Case ReportsMalignant hyperthermia with excellent response to small dose of dantrolene.
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an operative emergency associated with general anesthesia. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the keynotes in management of MH. ⋯ Nonetheless, the enormous expenditure on stockpile and 3-year validity make a large reserve of the drug to forestall MH, a disorder of rare occurrence, seems disputable, especially in small hospitals where general anesthesia is seldom practiced. We herein report two cases of MH with excellent response to small doses of dantrolene and then discuss the way of practicable management and debate on the question of whether fewer stock of dantrolene is an alternative way for hospitals of smaller scale.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan · Sep 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSupplementing epidural lidocaine with midazolam: effect on sensorymotor block level.
Midazolam, the only clinically available water-soluble benzodiazepine, has been reported to have an antinociceptive effect through neuroaxial pathway. Also it can be used epidurally for postoperative analgesia and chronic pain management. In a recent study it was disclosed that when midazolam was added to intrathecal bupivacaine it improved the duration and quality of the spinal anesthesia. In this study the effects of this drug on intraoperative motor and sensory blocks were evaluated. ⋯ Midazolam can improve the durations of sensory and motor blocks of lidocaine in a single epidural administration. It seems that the 5 mg dosage works better than the lower one.