Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2009
A new index derived from the cerebrovascular pressure transmission and correlated with consciousness recovery in severely head-injured intensive care patients.
In patients with serious head trauma, a moderate (20-25 mm Hg) mean level of intracranial pressure (ICP) may fail to distinguish patients with a real deteriorated intracranial status from those who are stable or improving. Because of these limitations, we analyzed the ICP curve in search of other relevant information regarding cerebrovascular pressure transmission. We looked for parameters with physiological meaning extracted from spectral analysis of cerebrovascular pressure transmission and correlated with consciousness recovery in patients with severe head injuries. ⋯ Gr/Gc, which characterizes the cerebrovascular transmission, better discriminates bad evolution than high values of ICP or low values of cerebral perfusion pressure in patients with severe head trauma. A reduction in Gr/Gc ratio might be an early alarm signaling worsening intracranial hemodynamic conditions.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialSystemic lidocaine decreased the perioperative opioid analgesic requirements but failed to reduce discharge time after ambulatory surgery.
In this randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial, we evaluated whether systemic lidocaine would reduce pain and time to discharge in ambulatory surgery patients. ⋯ Perioperative systemic lidocaine significantly reduces opioid requirements in the ambulatory setting without affecting time to discharge.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe correlation between bispectral index and observational sedation scale in volunteers sedated with dexmedetomidine and propofol.
Bispectral index (BIS) is a widely used quantitative parameter for evaluating anesthesia and sedation levels. Dexmedetomidine is a novel sedative, providing sedation while patients remain cooperative and can be easily aroused; as a consequence, BIS used with dexmedetomidine may poorly characterize sedation. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that BIS values are lower with dexmedetomidine than with propofol at comparable Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation (OAA/S) scores. ⋯ The combination of both BIS and sedative scales could provide different and complementary data to the clinician evaluating the patient's response to sedation than would either tool alone, especially when dexmedetomidine is used.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2009
The efficacy and safety of continuous intravenous administration of remifentanil for birth pain relief: an open study of 205 parturients.
In an observational study, we prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of remifentanil in 205 parturients. Remifentanil was administered as a continuous infusion. ⋯ The mean (+/-sd) visual analog score before the start of the infusion was 9.4 +/- 1.2 cm and decreased to 5.1 +/- 0.4 cm after 5 min and 3.6 +/- 1.5 cm after 30 min. The maternal side effects were minimal and no fetal or neonatal side effects were noted.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2009
Comparative StudyAirway injury during emergency transcutaneous airway access: a comparison at cricothyroid and tracheal sites.
Oxygenation via the cricothyroid membrane (CTM) may be required in emergencies, but inadvertent tracheal cannulation may occur. In this study, we compared airway injury between the tracheal and CTM sites using different techniques for airway access. ⋯ Airway injury and luminal compression were more common at the tracheal site than at the CTM. The ST and TT were associated with the highest incidence of injury. This has implications for emergency airway access in cases in which it may be difficult to accurately identify the CTM.