Anesthesiology
-
A new automated system of air tonometry (Tonocap; Datex Ohmeda, Helsinki, Finland) allows for frequent (every 15 min) measurement of gastric luminal partial pressure of carbon dioxide. Its use has not been described in cardiac surgical patients. ⋯ Despite a low mortality rate, patients undergoing cardiac surgery exhibited high incidences of prolonged hospitalization and postoperative morbidity. The Tonocap was easy to use, particularly compared with saline tonometry. Several Tonocap-derived variables were predictive of postoperative complications consistent with previously published data using saline tonometry.
-
The molar approach of laryngoscopy is reported to improve glottic view in sporadic cases of difficult laryngoscopy. The authors studied the effect of molar approaches and optimal external laryngeal manipulation (OELM) using the Macintosh blade. ⋯ The left-molar approach with OELM improves the laryngeal view in patients with difficult laryngoscopy.
-
Among opioids, meperidine (pethidine) also shows local anesthetic activity when applied locally to peripheral nerve fibers and has been used for this effect in the clinical setting for regional anesthesia. This study investigated the blocking effects of meperidine on different ion channels in peripheral nerves. ⋯ It is concluded that meperidine has a nonselective inhibitory action on Na+ and K+ channels of amphibian peripheral nerve. For tonic Na+ channel block, neither an opioid receptor nor the the local anesthetic agent binding site is the target site for meperidine block.
-
The endotracheal cardiac output monitor (ECOM) is a new device that uses an endotracheal tube with multiple electrodes to measure cardiac output (CO). It measures the changes in electrical impedance caused by pulsatile blood flow in the aorta. The system was tested for safety and efficacy in 10 swine. ⋯ Endotracheal CO monitor is a promising technology that needs further evaluation in clinical trials.