Anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of dobutamine on splanchnic carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid balance after cardiac surgery.
As a predominant beta-adrenergic agonist, dobutamine may modify blood flow distribution and increase metabolic demands. The authors investigated the effect of a dobutamine-induced increase in cardiac output on splanchnic and femoral blood flow and metabolism in patients after cardiac surgery. ⋯ After coronary artery bypass surgery, dobutamine increased systemic and regional blood flow and decreased systemic and regional oxygen extraction. Dobutamine did not affect splanchnic glucose production or lactate or amino acid balance. This suggests that dobutamine increases splanchnic blood flow without a concomitant increase in hepatosplanchnic metabolism.
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Using an in vivo animal model of surfactant deficiency, the authors compared the effect of different ventilation strategies on oxygenation and inflammatory mediator release from the lung parenchyma. ⋯ Although alveolar protein concentration and oxygenation markedly differed with different ventilation strategies in this model of acute lung injury, there were no indications of ventilation-induced systemic PGI2 and TNF-alpha release, nor of pulmonary TNF-alpha release. Mechanical ventilation at high mean airway pressure levels increased PGI2 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage-accessible space.
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The principal site for elimination of propofol is the liver. The clearance of propofol exceeds hepatic blood flow; therefore, extrahepatic clearance is thought to contribute to its elimination. This study examined the pulmonary kinetics of propofol using part of an indocyanine green (ICG) recirculatory model. ⋯ Recirculatory modeling of ICG allows modeling of the first-pass pulmonary kinetics of propofol concurrently. Propofol undergoes extensive uptake and first-pass elimination in the lungs.
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Airway injury during general anesthesia is a significant source of morbidity for patients and a source of liability for anesthesiologists. To identify recurrent patterns of injury, the authors analyzed claims for airway injury in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Closed Claims Project database. ⋯ Patients in whom tracheal intubation has been difficult should be observed for and told to watch for the development of symptoms and signs of retropharyngeal abscess, mediastinitis, or both.