Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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To analyze the current knowledge concerning xenon anaesthesia. ⋯ The noble gas xenon has anaesthetic properties that have been recognized 50 years ago. Xenon is receiving renewed interest because it has many characteristics of an ideal anaesthetic. In addition to its lack of effects on cardiovascular system, xenon has a low solubility enabling faster induction of and emergence from anaesthesia than with other inhalational agents. Nevertheless, at present, the cost and arety of xenon limit its widespread use in clinical practice. The developement of closed rebreathing system that allowed recycling of xenon and therefore reducing its waste has led to a recent interest in this gas. Reducing its cost will help xenon to find its place among anaesthetic agents. An European multicentric clinical trial under submission will contribute to the discussion of the opportunity for xenon introduction in anaesthesia.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2001
Case Reports[Intraoperative ventilatory obstruction by twisting of a reusable coiled expiratory breathing tube].
A case of intraoperative subtotal obstruction of a reusable coiled expiratory breathing tube is reported. Partial occlusion by twisting was made possible by detachment of the coil from the external face of the tube after multiple reprocessings with high drying temperatures. A technique for tube checking before reuse is described.
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We describe a case of a parturient scheduled for Caesarean section in whom diplopia from abducens (sixth cranial) nerve palsy followed spinal anaesthesia performed with a 25 gauge Whitacre needle. After delivery, the patient experienced neckache, diplopia and postural headache successively. ⋯ Despite two consecutive epidural blood patches, no improvement of diplopia was observed. In 8 months, the nerve palsy had completely resolved.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2001
Case Reports[Epidural anesthesia for Cesarean section in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome].
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder with variable penetrance. It is mainly characterized by haemangioblastomas of the retina and central nervous system. ⋯ We report the case of a 28-year-old woman with an history of VHL disease who had an epidural anaesthesia for labour and for Caesarean section performed because of failure to progress and of fetal distress. The overall maternal and neonatal outcomes were excellent.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2001
Case Reports[Acute hemolysis following perioperative blood salvage in chldren operated for the surgical correction of craniosynostosis].
We report the case of a 6-month-old child, who suffered from acute haemolysis following transfusion of salvaged blood. This complication, of favourable outcome, was related to the accidental aspiration of benzalkonium chloride into the cell saver. This case emphasizes that any adjunction of antiseptic solution is contraindicated during blood saving. The use of a cell saver must be associated with written protocols, describing clearly the contraindications, precautions of use, and the different steps of use of this method of autologous blood transfusion.