Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialGabapentin attenuates late but not early postoperative pain after thyroidectomy with superficial cervical plexus block.
Preoperative oral gabapentin has been shown to reduce postoperative pain. However, the effects of gabapentin as an adjunct to regional anesthesia is unclear and its effects on chronic pain remains unknown. In patients undergoing thyroidectomy, we investigated the effects on early and late (at 6 mo) postoperative pain of preoperative oral gabapentin as an adjunct to superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB). ⋯ Oral preoperative administration of gabapentin did not modify immediate pain management in thyroidectomy patients receiving SCPB, but prevented delayed neuropathic pain at 6 mo.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2008
Low-dose systemic bupivacaine prevents the development of allodynia after thoracotomy in rats.
Chronic pain after thoracotomy has been recently reproduced in a rat model that allows investigation of the effect of drugs that might reduce the incidence of allodynia after thoracotomy. Previous studies suggest that intrathecal or systemic morphine, clonidine, neostigmine, and gabapentin reduce the incidence of allodynia in the rat postthoracotomy pain model. Our purpose was to test whether intercostal and systemic injection of bupivacaine prevented the development of allodynia in an animal model of chronic intercostal neuropathic pain. ⋯ Previous studies suggest that allodynia after rib retraction can be prevented by opioids, alpha2-adrenergic agonists, neostigmine, and gabapentin. The current results suggest that bupivacaine is effective in preventing mechanical allodynia, whether given by intercostal injection before or after surgery, or systemically before surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2008
Dexmedetomidine: a novel drug for the treatment of atrial and junctional tachyarrhythmias during the perioperative period for congenital cardiac surgery: a preliminary study.
Atrial and junctional tachyarrhythmias occur frequently during the perioperative period for congenital cardiac surgery and can be a cause of increased morbidity and mortality. These rhythm disturbances that may be well tolerated in a normal heart can cause significant hemodynamic instability in patients with congenital heart defects, particularly during the postcardiopulmonary bypass period. Management of these arrhythmias presents more of a challenge, since currently available antiarrhythmic drugs can be ineffective and poorly tolerated. In this study, we examined the possible effect of dexmedetomidine, a primarily sedative drug, on atrial and junctional tachyarrhythmias. Though some animal data have shown that it can prevent certain types of ventricular tachycardia, its therapeutic role during these types of arrhythmias has not been studied. ⋯ This preliminary, observational report suggests that dexmedetomidine may have a potential therapeutic role in the acute phase of perioperative atrial and junctional tachyarrhythmias for either HR control or conversion to NSR.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2008
Emergency airway management with fiberoptic intubation in the prone position with a fixed flexed neck.
We describe emergency airway management with fiberoptic intubation in a patient in the prone position with her neck flexed by a head pin holder during a neurosurgical procedure. Laryngeal mask airway is suggested in emergency difficult airway algorithms; however, this was not feasible in this patient because of her edematous upper airway and limited mouth opening resulting from extreme neck flexion by a head pin holder. The case illustrates the role of fiberoptic intubation in emergency airway management in this critical situation. Maneuvers to facilitate fiberoptic technique are also described.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2008
Anesthesia information management system implementation: a practical guide.
Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) display and archive perioperative physiological data and patient information. Although currently in limited use, the potential benefits of an AIMS with regard to enhancement of patient safety, clinical effectiveness and quality improvement, charge capture and professional fee billing, regulatory compliance, and anesthesia outcomes research are great. The processes and precautions appropriate for AIMS selection, installation, and implementation are complex, however, and have been learned at each site by trial and error. This collaborative effort summarizes essential considerations for successful AIMS implementation, including product evaluation, assessment of information technology needs, resource availability, leadership roles, and training.