European journal of anaesthesiology
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The bispectral index, a value derived from the electroencephalogram, has been proposed as a measure of anaesthetic effect. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bispectral index during midazolam-fentanyl anaesthesia for cardiac surgery for its possible role as a predictor of increases in systolic blood pressure during endotracheal intubation and sternotomy. After institutional approval 15 consenting patients, scheduled for elective cardiac surgery, were selected for the study. ⋯ There was no significant correlation between the bispectral index values in the pre-intubation and pre-incision period and the changes in systolic blood pressure during endotracheal intubation and sternotomy, respectively. In conclusion, the large intersubject variability in the bispectral index values should be investigated further in the light of the great variability in the clinical effects of midazolam and fentanyl. The lack of significant correlation between the bispectral index values and the haemodynamic responses suggest that the bispectral index, which is a helpful monitor of anaesthetic depth, is not a very reliable monitor of global anaesthetic adequacy during total intravenous anaesthesia with a combination of midazolam and fentanyl in cardiac surgical patients.
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Serious neurological complications of abdominal aortic vascular surgery are rare but devastating for all involved. When epidural blockade is part of the anaesthetic technique such complications may be attributed to needles, catheters or drugs. ⋯ In this case the spinal cord damage was explained by ischaemia caused by the aortic surgery. This event has made us aware of a rare complication associated with abdominal aortic surgery and highlighted safety aspects of epidural anaesthesia in such patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Duration of apnoea with two different intubating doses of remifentanil.
We have studied the apnoea time after induction with two successful drug intubating regimes, both containing remifentanil. Group 1 (n = 20); propofol 2 mg kg-1 and remifentanil 2 micrograms kg-1 and group 2 (n = 20); propofol 2 mg kg-1, remifentanil 1 microgram kg-1 and lignocaine 1 mg kg-1. Intubation was possible in all 40 patients, and regarded as acceptable in 90% and 85% of patients, respectively. ⋯ Similarly, there was a decrease in arterial pressure after induction in both groups (P < 0.05), but this was not deemed to be clinically significant. Only two patients in each group required ephedrine 6 mg before arterial pressure was restored to within 25% of the base-line. Intubating conditions were similar in both groups, but group 2 provided a significantly shorter apnoea time.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Remifentanil vs. fentanyl during interventional rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia and spontaneous assisted ventilation.
The treatment of tracheo-bronchial diseases with rigid bronchoscopy requires general anaesthesia without tracheal intubation. Spontaneous assisted ventilation is a safe modality of ventilation. In this study the use of remifentanil and fentanyl is compared during rigid bronchoscopy with spontaneous assisted ventilation. ⋯ In conclusion, the use of remifentanil during rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia with spontaneous assisted ventilation is safe and assures good operating conditions. Moreover, remifentanil permits a more rapid recovery than fentanyl. The dose of remifentanil is higher than previously described for spontaneously breathing patients.