Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 1995
Case ReportsThe risk of infection from epidural analgesia in children: a review of 1620 cases.
We reviewed cases to determine whether suspected or confirmed epidural infection was associated with epidural analgesia for 1620 infants, children, and adolescents treated over a 6-yr period at Children's Hospital, Boston. Postoperative patients (1458/1620) received epidural infusions for a median of 2 days (range, 0-8 days). No postoperative patient had an epidural abscess. ⋯ A second oncology patient and two patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy were evaluated for epidural abscess, but none was found. We conclude that the risk of epidural infection is quite low in pediatric postoperative patients receiving short-term catheterization. Use of prolonged epidural analgesia in the management of chronic pain in children requires careful monitoring of warning signs of infection.
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A fiberoptic bronchoscope is used to facilitate tracheal intubation in cases of difficult direct laryngoscopy. Occasionally, difficulty is encountered in advancing the endotracheal tube after the fiberoptic bronchoscope has been introduced into the trachea. This study tested the feasibility of providing jet ventilation through the suction channel of the fiberoptic bronchoscope as an interim measure under those or similar circumstances. ⋯ Jet ventilation was manually performed at the rate of 12/min for 10 min. In the mechanical test lung, the tidal volumes with 1.2-, 1.5-, and 2-mm suction channels were as follows: 280 mL, 490 mL, and 880 mL, respectively, at a compliance of 50 mL/cm H2O and normal resistance; 260 mL, 470 mL, and 820 mL, respectively, at a compliance of 50 mL/cm H2O and high resistance to simulate bronchospasm; 130 mL, 270 mL, and 890 mL, respectively, at a compliance of 20 mL/cm H2O and normal resistance; 120 mL, 220 mL, and 810 mL, respectively, at a compliance of 20 mL/cm H2O and high resistance. In anesthetized, paralyzed patients, oxygen saturation was 96% or more throughout the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 1995
Factors associated with postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of different postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and their associated risk factors in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] < or = 1.2 L and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 75%) undergoing noncardiothoracic operations. Thirty-nine of 105 patients (37%) had one or more PPCs (death, pneumonia, prolonged intubation, refractory bronchospasm, or prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay). Thirty-eight of 39 patients (97%) with a PPC had an anesthetic duration > 2 h. ⋯ Multiple logistic regression identified composite scoring systems, such as the ASA physical status, as the best preoperative predictors of PPCs, probably because they include both pulmonary and nonpulmonary factors. During the intraoperative period, avoiding general anesthesia with tracheal intubation may decrease the risk of postoperative bronchospasm. Shortening the duration of surgery and anesthesia may decrease the risk of prolonged ICU stay.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 1995
Detection of tissue hypoxia by arteriovenous gradient for PCO2 and pH in anesthetized dogs during progressive hemorrhage.
The present study tested the hypothesis that, during acute bleeding, the development of tissue hypoxia might be reflected by an abrupt widening in arteriovenous gradient for PCO2 (AV PCO2) and for pH (AV pH) as accurately as by an increase in blood lactate levels. Twenty-four anesthetized (isoflurane 1.4% end-tidal), paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated dogs submitted to progressive hemorrhage were studied. Oxygen uptake (VO2) was derived from expired gas analysis and oxygen delivery (DO2) was calculated by the product of the thermodilution cardiac index and the arterial O2 content. ⋯ The critical value of DO2 obtained from blood lactate, AV PCO2 and AV pH were similar to those obtained from VO2 (8.60 +/- 1.12; 8.73 +/- 1.40; 8.78 +/- 1.37, respectively; P = not significant). A significant correlation was found, during the hemorrhage protocol, between blood lactate and AV PCO2 (r = 0.84; P < 0.001) or AV pH (r = 0.78; P < 0.001). Therefore, AV PCO2 and AV pH represent simple but reliable indicators of tissue hypoxia during hemorrhagic shock.