Anesthesia and analgesia
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The incidence of difficult endotracheal intubation (DEI) for patients undergoing thyroidectomy has rarely been studied, and evaluation of factors linked to DEI is limited to a few studies. We undertook this prospective study to investigate the incidence of DEI in the presence of goiter (an enlargement of the thyroid gland) and to evaluate factors linked to DEI. We studied 320 consecutive patients scheduled for thyroidectomy. ⋯ With multivariate analysis, two criteria were recognized as independent for DEI (Cormack Grade III or IV and cancerous goiter). We conclude that the large goiter is not associated with a more frequent DEI. However, the presence of a cancerous goiter is a major factor for predicting DEI.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2004
Case ReportsSeizures after a Bier block with clonidine and lidocaine.
A 47-yr-old man with history of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 underwent an IV Bier block with a mixture of lidocaine and clonidine. The tourniquet was deflated after 60 min, and approximately 10 min later he presented with complex partial seizures. The possible mechanisms for this are discussed, and the effects of clonidine, lidocaine, and the mixture of both are reviewed, as are four additional published cases reporting seizures after the administration of clonidine.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2004
Emergency tracheal intubation: complications associated with repeated laryngoscopic attempts.
Repeated conventional tracheal intubation attempts may contribute to patient morbidity. Critically-ill patients (n = 2833) suffering from cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, neurologic, or trauma-related deterioration were entered into an emergency intubation quality improvement database. ⋯ Although predictable, this analysis provides data that confirm the number of laryngoscopic attempts is associated with the incidence of airway and hemodynamic adverse events. These data support the recommendation of the ASA Task Force on the Management of the Difficult Airway to limit laryngoscopic attempts to three in lieu of the considerable patient injury that may occur.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2004
Case ReportsAnesthetic management of patients with severe peripheral ischemia due to calciphylaxis.
Calciphylaxis is a small-vessel disease associated with renal failure. Here, we report the management of a 43-yr-old man with calciphylaxis who received left lower leg amputation with prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) under monitoring by laser Doppler blood flowmetry in the left second and third fingers. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, fentanyl, and vecuronium and was maintained with oxygen, nitrous oxide, and sevoflurane. ⋯ Three weeks after the operation, we again anesthetized the patient. We maintained the blood flow with PGE(1) throughout anesthesia. Monitoring by laser Doppler blood flowmetry and PGE(1) 20 ng. kg(-1). min(-1) could be useful for patients with impaired peripheral circulation, as in calciphylaxis.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2004
Halothane and propofol modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor single-channel currents.
Halothane and propofol enhance the activity of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system, which is one of the most important systems in the mechanism of anesthesia. To determine whether halothane and propofol enhance GABAergic responses by the same mechanism, we performed single-channel patch-clamp experiments with rat cortical neurons in primary culture. ⋯ Halothane increased the probability of the channel being open via a prolongation of the slow phase of open time, whereas propofol increased the channel open probability via a shortening of the slow phase of closed time. Thus, although both halothane and propofol augmented the channel open probability, thereby causing an increase in charge transfer during inhibitory transmitter action, they acted by different mechanisms.