Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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Sevoflurane, a methylethylether halogenated solely with fluorine, is characterized by a low blood/gas solubility (blood/gas partition coefficient = 0.65). This feature allows in a more rapid uptake and elimination than with more soluble agents. MAC is about 2 vol% in young adults and 2.5 vol% in children of more than 6 months of age. ⋯ In adults, recovery is more rapid than with isoflurane. In children, sevoflurane seems a promising agent owing to its good acceptance for mask induction, as well as its favourable haemodynamic profile. However due to its rapid elimination, analgesic drugs should be administered early enough to decrease the incidence of postoperative pain.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1995
Review[Effects of anesthesia on postoperative micturition and urinary retention].
Postoperative micturition difficulties, considered as minor complications, have a high incidence. Acute urinary retention can follow all types of anaesthetics or operations. Surgical trauma to the pelvic nerves or to the bladder, postoperative oedema around the bladder neck, and pain-induced reflex spasm of the external and internal urethral sphincters may play a role in the development of urinary retention. ⋯ They should be encouraged to seat, stand or ambulate as early as possible. The alpha 1 adrenergic receptor blocking agents have been used for treatment of organic or functional urinary retention. It is essential to make sure the bladder empties regularly in the postoperative period, especially in day-case surgery or in patients receiving opioid analgesia or after epidural anaesthesia.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1995
Review[Indications for the use of magnesium in anesthesia and intensive care].
Magnesium (Mg), a cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions, is often ignored by clinicians, as the symptomatology of Mg depletion is not specific and usually associated with that of the cause of the depletion. Furthermore, the plasma Mg concentration (0.8 to 1.1 mmol. L-1) is only equivalent to one percent of the total body content. ⋯ Mg, because of its calcium channel blocking properties and as it lowers the release of epinephrine, is indicated for surgery of pheochromocytoma. In eclamptic and pre-eclamptic patients, the use of Mg is valuable, but not as an anti-epileptic agent. Other clinical uses of Mg have been proposed, but they are either anecdotal or of uncertain efficiency.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1995
Review Practice Guideline Guideline[French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care. Arterial catheterization and invasive measurement of blood pressure in anesthesia and intensive care in adults].
A group of 13 experts appointed by the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care has produced the following guidelines for arterial catheterisation and invasive measurement of systemic arterial blood pressure in adults. Teflon or polyurethane catheters are recommended with a maximal size of 18 gauge for femoral and axillary arteries and 20 gauge for the others. For small arteries (radial and pedious arteries) a maximal length of 3-5 cm should be preferred. ⋯ The catheter removal should be considered as an aseptic surgical procedure. The catheter completeness has to be checked. A systematic culture of the catheter is not required.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1995
Review[High frequency jet ventilation combined with conventional mechanical ventilation in the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome].
Better understanding of the physiopathology of ventilatory mechanisms associated with ARDS and the recent re-evaluation of the iatrogenic potential of mechanical ventilation (MV) brings us closer to the best suited ventilatory mode for these patients. In severely ill ARDS patients, only a small lung volume is ventilated, and remains available for the totality of the gas exchanges (baby lung concept). The goal of MV is to restore and maintain an optimal exchange volume while limiting mechanical agression of the lung tissue. ⋯ Though HFV alone can maintain lung volumes oscillating around a mean value, it cannot re-expand atelectatic areas. The small VT's used are insufficient to overcome these area's elevated opening pressures. Volume recruitment by periodic hyperinflations, or sighs, though generally considered useless in conventional MV, have been shown to be of great benefit in HFV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)