Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of patient positioning on intraabdominal pressure and blood loss in spinal surgery.
Intraabdominal pressure (IAP) can influence blood loss during spinal surgery. We examined the relationship of IAP changes to blood loss with a rectal balloon pressure catheter. Forty patients were randomly assigned to narrow (Group 1) or wide (Group 2) pad support widths of the Wilson frame. IAP was measured when the patient was supine after the induction of anesthesia, prone on a gurney, prone on the Wilson frame before and after incision, and then, again supine after tracheal extubation. IAP in the prone position on the Wilson frame before incision (3.6 cm H(2)O) in Group 2 was significantly less than in Group 1 (8.8 cm H(2)O) (P: < 0.05). Intraoperative blood loss per vertebra in Group 2 (190 +/- 65 mL) was significantly less than in Group 1 (381 +/- 236 mL) (P: < 0.05). The correlation between blood loss and IAP in the prone position on the Wilson frame in Group 1 was significant (P: = 0.0022). In conclusion, IAP and intraoperative blood loss were significantly less in the wide, than in the narrow, pad support width of the Wilson frame. Blood loss tended to increase with an increase in IAP in the narrow pad support width of the Wilson frame. ⋯ The relationship of intraabdominal pressure changes to blood loss were examined with a rectal balloon pressure catheter during spinal surgery. Blood loss tended to increase with an increase in intraabdominal pressure in the narrow pad support width of the Wilson frame.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThermosoftening treatment of the nasotracheal tube before intubation can reduce epistaxis and nasal damage.
We evaluated whether a thermosoftening treatment with warm saline of a nasotracheal preformed tube can improve navigability through the nasal passageways and reduce epistaxis and nasal damage. A total of 150 patients were randomly allocated to three groups: Group I (untreated tube group, n = 50), Group II (35 degrees C treated tube group, n = 50), and Group III (45 degrees C treated tube group, n = 50). In Groups II and III, the tubes were softened at 35 +/- 2 degrees C and 45 +/- 2 degrees C with warm saline, respectively. In Group I the tube was prepared at room temperature (25 +/- 2 degrees C). The incidence of epistaxis and nasal damage in Groups II and III was significantly less than that of Group I (P: < 0.05). Despite the more frequent incidence of smooth passage in Group III, no statistical difference was found among the groups. Logistic regression analysis also confirmed that epistaxis was more likely to be reduced when the tube had been thermosoftened (odds ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval = 1.02, 2.11). We conclude that simple thermosoftening treatment of the nasotracheal tube with warm saline helps to reduce epistaxis and nasal damage. ⋯ Thermosoftening treatment of a nasotracheal tube with warm saline before intubation can effectively reduce epistaxis and nasal damage. This technique is safe, easy, and suitable for all types of tubes and does not require additional implements.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2000
Clinical TrialA preliminary investigation of remifentanil as a labor analgesic.
In this preliminary investigation, we evaluated the safety and analgesic efficacy of IV remifentanil for labor pain. Four women were studied, and then the trial was terminated because administration of this novel synthetic opioid produced significant maternal side effects in the absence of effective pain control.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2000
Case ReportsRecurring brachial plexus neuropathy in a diabetic patient after shoulder surgery and continuous interscalene block.
The performance of regional blockade on a patient with a preexisting neurologic condition or a history of neurologic complications after regional anesthesia is controversial. We present a case of recurring brachial plexus neuropathy in a diabetic patient after two shoulder procedures performed 4 mo apart. In both cases, the patient underwent intensive physical therapy with continuous postoperative interscalene analgesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2000
Case ReportsCortical blindness in a preeclamptic patient after a cesarean delivery complicated by hypotension.
Visual strokes can occur after prolonged hypotension or as a complication of preeclampsia-eclampsia. This case describes the diagnostic dilemma posed by a patient who developed transient blindness after a hypotensive episode during cesarean delivery for severe preeclampsia-eclampsia.