Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Effect of hygrophobic filter or heated humidifier on peroperative hypothermia].
A study was carried out to find out whether the use of a hygrophobic filter (Pall, Ultipor) or of a heated humidifier (Dräger, Aquapor) during surgery had any effect on a patient's intraoperative core temperature and thermal balance. Seventy-five ASA I or II patients scheduled for gynaecological surgery were randomly assigned to three groups: group A (n = 25), where no warming device was used; and two groups (n = 25 for each) where inhaled gases were humidified and heated with either a hygrophobic filter set up between the endotracheal tube and the Y-piece (group B) or a heated humidifier set to 100% saturation at a temperature of 41.5 degrees C (group C). The patients were all anaesthetised with the same technique (thiopentone 5 mg.kg-1, dextromoramide 0.03 mg.kg-1 and 0.1 mg.kg-1 of either pancuronium or vecuronium, followed by enflurane with nitrous oxide in oxygen); the perfused fluids were not heated. ⋯ In the recovery room, patients were warmed up with an electric blanket. Shivering was ranked from "0" to "+ +". There were no differences between groups as far as age, drug doses, perfusion volumes and room temperature were concerned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1992
Comparative Study[Influence of sampling techniques on blood sodium, potassium and hemoglobin concentration measured by a blood gas analyser].
A study was carried out to assess the influence of sampling technique on sodium, potassium and haemoglobin blood concentrations measured simultaneously with a bedside blood gas analyser (Ciba Corning 288) and in the central laboratory. Blood samples from forty intensive care unit patients were used to test cight techniques: capillary tubes (Radiometer & Corning), preheparinized syringes (Terumo 2.5 ml, Sherwood 1 and 3 ml, Corning 1 ml) and Radiometer 2 ml) and a conventional syringe (Plastimed) which was rinsed with heparin just before use. Each result was compared with that obtained by the laboratory. ⋯ The capillary tubes moderately overestimated the haemoglobin concentration (+0.02 to +0.65 g.dl-1) while Sherwood's syringes underestimated it (-0.48 to -0.94 g.dl-1). For the sodium and potassium concentrations, the eight methods gave results similar to those obtained by the laboratory. It is concluded that these modules for bedside biological analysis, when used in optimal conditions, rapidly provide reliable results for some parameters.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1992
[EMLA analgesic cream for venopuncture during anesthetic induction in children].
A prospective study was designed to assess the quality of skin analgesia provided by the EMLA anaesthetic cream, an eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (prilocaine and lidocaine). The children, aged 3 months to 15 years, and scheduled for genital and urinary surgery, were allocated to two groups, those aged less than or equal to 5 years (35 +/- 14 months, n = 17), and those aged greater than 5 years (97 +/- 26 months, n = 22). The cream (1.6 +/- 0.6 g) was applied by a nurse in the ward as a thick layer on the area of skin to be anaesthetised (on the dorsum of the hand and at the elbow), and covered by a closed adhesive dressing. ⋯ The children aged less than or equal to 5 years complained of pain of intensity 7.5 +/- 2.2 (CHEOPS scale, range 4 to 13) and, for those aged greater than 5 years, 24 +/- 21 on a visual analogic scale (range 0 to 100). Local adverse effects occurred in ten patients (skin paleness, erythema, or both). It was concluded that EMLA cream provides convenient analgesia for venepuncture in toddlers and children.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1992
[Current practice and attitude of anesthesiologists for prescribing preoperative investigative tests].
A telephone enquiry was undertaken to assess current practice among French anaesthetists, and to obtain their opinion, concerning preoperative laboratory screening tests. It included 204 anaesthetists, randomly selected from the membership directory of the French Society of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care. The sample was concordant with the distribution (sex and age) given by the specialists' list of the National Medical Council. ⋯ Moreover, 38% of anaesthetists admitted that sometimes they did not see results of the prescribed tests before carrying out the anaesthetic. Overprescription of preoperative tests has been recognized. However, legal, organisational, relational or economical reasons are given which may explain difficulties met with to rationalize prescription of these tests.
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This paper reviews the principal aspects of the immediate management of patients suffering from spinal injury. An understanding of the pathophysiology of primary and secondary spinal cord injury enables appropriate initial care to be provided, thereby avoiding exacerbation and/or progressive deterioration of the lesion. It includes protective measures, restoration of vital functions to maintain adequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation, as well as pharmacological prevention of secondary injury. ⋯ Three options are available: blind naso-tracheal intubation with spontaneous breathing, modified rapid sequence induction with orotracheal intubation under double protection, and immediate surgical airway if these techniques fail. Patients with cervical spine injury may demonstrate severe hypotension requiring sympathomimetic agents and careful fluid loading to avoid pulmonary oedema. To prevent aggravation of the spinal cord injury by systemic factors, the goal of initial resuscitation is to restore an adequate perfusion pressure of at least 60 mmHg, a PaO2 > 100 mmHg, and to keep PaCO2 below 45 mmHg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)