Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe pharmacodynamics of mivacurium preceded by atracurium or cisatracurium in children.
We evaluated whether mivacurium maintains its short duration of effect when preceded by atracurium or cisatracurium in 45 children during propofol/alfentanil/N2O/O2 anesthesia. Neuromuscular response was recorded by using an adductor pollicis electromyogram (EMG). Children were randomized to receive two doses of atracurium (350 micrograms/kg and 70 micrograms/kg in Group AM), cisatracurium (64 micrograms/kg and 10 micrograms/kg in Group CM), or mivacurium (200 micrograms/kg and 100 micrograms/kg in Group MM), followed by a final dose of mivacurium 100 micrograms/kg. The second and third doses of the muscle relaxants were administered at 25% EMG recovery. After the final dose of mivacurium, the times to 95% of EMG recovery in groups AM, CM, and MM were (median with 10-90 percentile range) 33.0 (28.0-40.0) min, 30.7 (26.0-40.3) min, and 10.3 (8.0-14.0) min, respectively (P < 0.0001). The recovery times to a train-of-four ratio of 0.70 were 30.3 (24.7-37.0) min, 28.0 (24.7-37.7) min, and 10.3 (8.0-13.7) min for groups AM, CM, and MM, respectively (P < 0.0001). Thus, the duration of effect of mivacurium was prolonged by 200% if preceded by either atracurium or cisatracurium. ⋯ We compared the pharmacodynamics of mivacurium given alone or preceded by atracurium or cisatracurium in children. The duration of effects of mivacurium was prolonged by 200% if preceded by either atracurium or cisatracurium. This implies that mivacurium has a short duration of effect only when given as a single relaxant.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 1998
Factors that influence parents' decisions to consent to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research.
There is concern that the environment in which consent for anesthesia research is sought may be coercive. We therefore designed this study to determine the factors that parents consider in consenting to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research. The study sample consisted of 246 parents who had been approached for permission to allow their child to participate in a clinical anesthesia study. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing the reasons for their decision to consent or decline their child's participation. There were no differences in the demographics of the consenters (n = 168) and nonconsenters (n = 78). Perceived risk and the importance of the study were the primary factors in the parents' decisions to consent or decline. Only 2.8% of nonconsenters strongly considered a lack of privacy as a deciding factor; 15.3% stated that they had insufficient time in which to make a decision, and 0% reported having felt pressured. Furthermore, only 3.1% of consenters strongly considered an obligation to consent. Results of this survey highlight factors that influence parents' decisions to consent to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research. We hope that this information will be important to researchers in providing an appropriate environment for obtaining consent for clinical anesthesia research studies. ⋯ Parents who are approached for permission for their child to participate in a research study must be fully informed and under no pressure to consent. This study describes factors that influence parents' decisions to consent to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 1998
The cerebral and cardiovascular effects of cisatracurium and atracurium in neurosurgical patients.
Drugs for neurosurgical patients should not increase intracranial pressure (ICP) or change cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and cerebral blood flow. This double-blind, cross-over study compares the effects of a single (3 x effective dose producing 95% twitch depression) intravenous bolus dose of cisatracurium 0.15 mg/kg with atracurium 0.75 mg/kg on mean red blood cell flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (CBFV; transcranial Doppler), ICP (intraventricular or intraparenchymal monitor), mean arterial pressure (MAP), CPP (MAP-ICP), and heart rate (HR) every minute during a 15-min study period. Included in the study were 14 sedated and ventilated adult neurosurgical patients. After the cisatracurium bolus, ICP, CPP, CBFV, MAP, and HR did not change, and no histamine related events were observed. After the atracurium bolus, ICP, CPP, CBFV, and MAP decreased. The lowest values of ICP (-16% of baseline), CPP (-5%), CBFV (-8%), and MAP (-7%) were recorded 2-4 min after the atracurium bolus injection. After this transient decrease, MAP and CPP returned to baseline, whereas CBFV and ICP transiently exceeded baseline values. The highest values of CBFV (5%) and ICP (17%) were recorded 9-12 min after the atracurium bolus injection. Five patients showed a typical histamine response after atracurium, with a decrease in MAP and flushing. Excluding these five patients eliminated statistical significance in ICP, CPP, CBFV, and MAP differences. In conclusion, cisatracurium demonstrated fewer cerebral and cardiovascular hemodynamic side effects in sedated adult neurosurgical patients. ⋯ This double-blind study in sedated and mechanically ventilated adult neurosurgical patients demonstrates that an intravenous bolus dose of the neuromuscular blocker cisatracurium results in less cerebral (intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity) and cardiovascular (blood pressure) hemodynamic side effects, compared with an equipotent dose of atracurium.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 1998
Gabapentin reverses the allodynia produced by the administration of anti-GD2 ganglioside, an immunotherapeutic drug.
Systemically administered, the anti-GD2 antibody produces allodynia demonstrated by decreased mechanical withdrawal threshold. Electrophysiologic recordings indicate a probable neuropathic origin, as small-diameter sensory fibers develop continuous high-frequency discharge after antibody administration. Gabapentin (GBP) is a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog originally synthesized for its anticonvulsant actions. Several open-label clinical studies, as well as a wealth of anecdotal evidence, suggest that GBP may be beneficial for the treatment of neuropathic pain. This study examined the effects of GBP given as a posttreatment after induction of an anti-GD2-associated allodynia. Anti-GD2 (1 mg/kg intravenously [i.v.]) administered to Sprague-Dawley rats reduced the mean withdrawal threshold from 14.71 to 4.95 g (P < 0.001), as measured by using von Frey hairs. This was reversed by GBP in a dose-dependent fashion; the minimal effective dose was between 3 and 30 mg/kg i.v. The maximal percent analgesic effect of GBP was 76% and 93% at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg, respectively (P < 0.001). With these doses, side effects were minimal and were manifested as slightly decreased spontaneous movement and startle response. No changes were seen in reflex responses to corneal or pinna stimulation, and no motor deficits were observed. These data support the use of GBP as an effective therapy for neuropathic pain. ⋯ After the administration of anti-GD2 antibody, rats display an escape reaction to light touch, increased blood pressure, and aberrant firing in nerve fibers associated with pain transmission. Systemic gabapentin reduced or eliminated the escape response and reversed the hypertension with minimal side effects. This suggests that gabapentin blocked the antibody-associated (neuropathic) pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 1998
Does the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass or aortic cross-clamp, in the absence of blood and/or blood product administration, influence the IL-6 response to cardiac surgery?
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response characterized by release of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 6 (IL-6). Recent reports suggest that plasma IL-6 is increased after CPB. Previous studies evaluating the influence of duration of CPB and/or aortic cross-clamp time on the release of IL-6 are conflicting. Infusion of blood and blood products during these studies may have influenced plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines by inducing host cell (monocyte) activation and IL-6 release. The purpose of our investigation was to determine, in an environment free from blood and/or blood product administration, the influence of duration of CPB and/or aortic cross-clamp on the magnitude of the IL-6 response in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We prospectively evaluated plasma IL-6 levels preinduction (T0) and at sternal closure in 16 patients undergoing CPB (coronary artery bypass grafting, n = 9; valvular cardiac surgery, n = 7) to determine whether there is a correlation between the absolute increase in IL-6 and the duration of CPB or aortic cross-clamp time. None of the patients received blood and/or blood products during the study to control for the introduction of additional activated cells and soluble mediators, including IL-6. The results demonstrate that the magnitude of the IL-6 response to CPB is positively correlated with the duration of CPB but not with duration of aortic cross-clamp. It seems that induction of IL-6 release is part of a normal response to CPB and does not depend on activation of host cells during prolonged aortic cross-clamp. The activation or presence of inflammatory cytokines associated with administration of blood and/or blood products could have influenced previously published investigations relating the influence of duration of CPB and/or aortic cross-clamp time to the magnitude of the IL-6 response. ⋯ This study found a positive correlation between the magnitude of the interleukin 6 response to cardiopulmonary bypass and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (but not duration of aortic cross-clamp) when measurements were made in the absence of blood/blood product transfusion. Future studies evaluating strategies to reduce cytokine responses to cardiopulmonary bypass should therefore control for cardiopulmonary bypass duration.