Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2012
Review[What should we do and what should we not do after an anaesthetic accident. The point of view of a medical expert].
Lawsuits following an anaesthetic accident are fortunately infrequent. Anaesthesiologists are mainly sued by parents when the accident led to death or permanent brain damage. The aims of this short review are to explain how the medical expert is chosen by the court, what are the goals of the mission given by the judge, and how to prepare the medical expertise.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2012
Review[Neurological consequences after long-term sedation in the ICU].
Experiments performed in mammals, including non-human primates, have demonstrated an increase in neuronal death rates normally seen in normal brain development. Such an increase is encountered in diseases but also after exposure of the brain to various class of anaesthetics. In living animals, it can (but not always) result in persistent cognitive impairment. ⋯ Second, it is known for years than anaesthesia before 1 year of age is much riskier than after 1 year, whatever the theorical neurotoxicity is. Third, this enforces the need to develop tools enhancing the precision of anaesthesia as much as possible. Meanwhile, when an infant has undergone numerous general anaesthesias, we strongly recommend a long-time neurological follow-up.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2012
Case Reports[Intracerebral haemorrhage and postpartum cerebral angiopathy associated with the administration of sulprostone and norepinephrine].
We report the case of a 29-year-old female who had developed a postpartum cerebral angiopathy (PCA) complicated by an intracerebral haematoma and convulsions, after a postpartum haemorrhage with sulprostone and norepinephrine infusion. PCA is an under diagnosed neurovascular pathology, responsible of reversible and non-specific symptoms. However, it can be complicated by haemorrhagic or ischemic stroke with vital or functional risks. As PCA is favored by vasoactive treatments, their administration in peripartum period, when it is imperative, should be strictly controlled.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 2012
[Reliability of pulsatile saturometry in patients with shock. Digital standard sensors are not reliable for facial measurement!].
Non-invasive monitoring of oxygen saturation by pulse oxymetry (SpO(2)) is sometimes perturbed on fingers during shock states. Other sites are possible (toes, forehead, nose, ear). Self-adhesive standard digital sensors are commonly used off-label in these sites. We have assessed their reliability for all of these sites. ⋯ In patients with a shock receiving vasoconstrictive catecholamines, the reliability of SpO(2) measurements with standard sensors appears better for fingers than for toes and face locations. These standard sensors should be discouraged for facial measurement because of their low reliability, even when the plethysmographic curve seems correct. Sensors specifically designed for each facial site exist, and their reliability should be estimated in patients receiving vasoconstrictive catecholamines.