Anesthesiology
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The aim of this study was to investigate propofol's effect on myocardial contractility and relaxation and examine its underlying mechanism of action in isolated ferret ventricular myocardium. ⋯ These findings suggest that the negative inotropic effect of propofol results from a decrease in intracellular Ca++ availability with no changes in myofibrillar Ca++ sensitivity. At least part of propofol's action is attributable to inhibition of transsarcolemmal Ca++ influx.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Head extension and laryngeal view during laryngoscopy with cervical spine stabilization maneuvers.
Direct laryngoscopy frequently is modified in patients with known or suspected cervical spine injury. The goals of this study were to measure the degrees of head extension required to expose the arytenoid cartilages and glottis if neck flexion were not possible and to determine whether in-line stabilization maneuvers alter the amount of head extension. ⋯ Head immobilization reduced head extension necessary for laryngoscopy. If head extension is construed to be potentially dangerous in patients with cervical spine injuries, head immobilization without traction might be the preferable stabilization technique.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
A clinical grading scale to predict malignant hyperthermia susceptibility.
The diagnosis of an acute malignant hyperthermia reaction by clinical criteria can be difficult because of the nonspecific nature and variable incidence of many of the clinical signs and laboratory findings. Development of a standardized means for estimating the qualitative likelihood of malignant hyperthermia in a given patient without the use of specialized diagnostic testing would be useful for patient management and would promote research into improved means for diagnosing this disease. ⋯ The malignant hyperthermia clinical grading scale is recommended for use as an aid to the objective definition of this disease. It use may improve malignant hyperthermia research by allowing comparisons among well-defined groups of patients. This clinical grading system provides a new and comprehensive clinical case definition for the malignant hyperthermia syndrome.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Prolonged inhalation of low concentrations of nitric oxide in patients with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome. Effects on pulmonary hemodynamics and oxygenation.
Nitric oxide (NO) inhalation selectively decreases pulmonary artery hypertension and improves arterial oxygenation in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study of patients with severe ARDS, we sought to determine the effect of inhaled NO dose and time on pulmonary artery pressure and oxygen exchange and to determine which patients with ARDS are most likely to show this response. ⋯ Long-term NO inhalation at low concentrations selectively decreases mean pulmonary artery pressure and improves arterial oxygen tension in patients with ARDS. The selective pulmonary vasodilation effect is most pronounced in ARDS patients with the greatest degree of pulmonary vasoconstriction.
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The peripheral chemoreceptors are responsible for the ventilatory response to hypoxia (acute hypoxic response) and for 30% of the normoxic hypercapnic ventilatory response. To quantify the effects of subanesthetic concentrations of halothane on the respiratory control system, in particular on the peripheral chemoreceptors, we studied the response of humans to carbon dioxide and oxygen at two subanesthetic concentrations of halothane. ⋯ The results show depression of the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia during inhalation of subanesthetic concentrations of halothane. The depression is attributed to a selective effect of halothane on the peripheral chemoreflex loop. The oxygen and carbon dioxide responses mediated by the peripheral chemoreceptors are affected proportionally. It is argued that the decrease in central time constants is caused by an effect of halothane on central neuronal dynamics.