Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2011
Does sensory stimulation threshold affect lumbar facet radiofrequency denervation outcomes? A prospective clinical correlational study.
Radiofrequency facet denervation is one of the most frequently performed procedures for chronic low back pain. Although sensory stimulation is generally used as a surrogate measure to denote sufficient proximity of the electrode to the nerve, no study has examined whether stimulation threshold influences outcome. ⋯ There is no significant relationship between mean SST during lumbar facet radiofrequency denervation and treatment outcome, which may be due to differences in general sensory perception. Because stimulation threshold was optimized for each patient, these data cannot be interpreted to suggest that sensory testing should not be performed, or that high sensory stimulation thresholds obtained on the first attempt should be deemed acceptable.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2011
Hyperfibrinolysis diagnosed by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is associated with higher mortality in patients with severe trauma.
We investigated whether hyperfibrinolysis and its severity was associated with outcome of traumatized and nontraumatized patients. ⋯ Mortality from hyperfibrinolysis is significantly higher in trauma compared with nontrauma patients, and hyperfibrinolysis is an independent factor predicting mortality in trauma patients. Rotational thromboelastometry provides real-time recognition of hyperfibrinolysis allowing early treatment.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2011
Editorial CommentAnesthetic neurotoxicity: a difficult dragon to slay.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2011
Pleth variability index to predict fluid responsiveness in colorectal surgery.
Goal-directed fluid therapy during major abdominal surgery may reduce postoperative morbidity. The Pleth Variability Index (PVI), derived from the pulse oximeter waveform, has been shown to be able to predict fluid responsiveness in a number of surgical circumstances. In the present study, we sought to determine whether PVI could predict fluid responsiveness in low-risk colorectal surgery patients who had fluid therapy guided by esophageal Doppler stroke volume measurements. ⋯ PVI measured at the finger may be able to predict fluid responsiveness during surgery in ventilated patients.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2011
Editorial CommentImportant new model for studying anesthetic action.