Anesthesia and analgesia
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In healthy patients, the narrowest diameter of the subglottic upper airway is the width of the air-column at the level of the cricoid cartilage. This diameter governs the selection of the endotracheal tube size, as excessive tube diameter may damage the tracheal mucosa leading to postextubation stridor or subglottic stenosis. Unfortunately, selecting endotracheal tube size based on height, weight, or age does not reliably lead to the proper tube. The knowledge of airway diameter, especially using a bedside noninvasive tool, could therefore be helpful in anesthesia and intensive care. ⋯ In young healthy adults, ultrasonography appeared to be a reliable tool to assess the diameter of the subglottic upper airway.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2007
Clinical TrialThe accuracy of the oxygen washout technique for functional residual capacity assessment during spontaneous breathing.
Measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC) is of considerable interest for monitoring patients with lung injury. The lack of instruments has impeded routine bedside FRC measurement. Recently, a simple automated method for FRC assessment by O2 washout has been introduced. We designed this study to evaluate the accuracy of FRC measurement using the O2 washout technique. ⋯ The bias and precision of the O2 washout technique using the LUFU system were clinically acceptable when compared with FRC-He and FRC-bp for FRC assessment in spontaneously breathing volunteers.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2007
A survey of the use of ultrasound during central venous catheterization.
Complications during central venous catheterization (CVC) are not rare and can be serious. The use of ultrasound (US) during CVC has been recommended to improve patient safety. We performed a survey to evaluate the frequency of, and factors influencing, US use. ⋯ The use of US during CVC remains limited and is most strongly associated with the availability of equipment. Screening and rescue use of US are more common than real-time guidance. Our survey suggests that current use of US during CVC differs from existing evidence-based recommendations.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2007
The effects of clonidine on postoperative analgesia after peripheral nerve blockade in children.
The effect of clonidine on the duration of sensory blockade after peripheral nerve blockade is controversial. We evaluated the effects of clonidine on the duration of sensory and motor block and analgesia time in children who underwent a variety of peripheral nerve blocks. ⋯ The addition of clonidine to bupivacaine and ropivacaine can extend sensory block by a few hours, and increase the incidence of motor blocks.