Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1998
Contamination of propofol infusions in the intensive care unit: incidence and clinical significance.
Epidemics of bacteraemia and wound infection have been associated with the infusion of bacterially contaminated propofol administered during anaesthesia. We conducted an observational study to determine the incidence and clinical significance of administration of potentially contaminated propofol to patients in an ICU setting. ⋯ There were no episodes of clinical infection or colonization which could be attributed to the administration of contaminated propofol. During the routine use of propofol to provide sedation in ICU patients the risk of nosocomial infection secondary to contamination of propofol is extremely low.
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A prospective survey of one thousand and sixty-two patients receiving epidural analgesia in surgical wards was undertaken over a two-year period. The duration of infusion ranged from one to fourteen days, with a mode of three days. There were 1131 episodes where a local anaesthetic and opioid mixture was used and 160 where opioids were used alone. ⋯ Epidural analgesia can be used safely in surgical wards provided that regular review of the patients is undertaken. It must be anticipated however, that up to 20% of patients will not receive adequate analgesia for the first 48 hours postoperatively. The failure rate could be halved if accidental dislodgement of epidural catheters could be eliminated.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1998
Case ReportsRemifentanil and propofol total intravenous anaesthesia for thymectomy in myasthenia gravis.
We report a case of trans-sternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis using a non relaxant, total intravenous technique with propofol and remifentanil. This afforded excellent control of heart rate and pressor responses during surgery while allowing early return of spontaneous ventilation and extubation within nine minutes of termination of anaesthesia. Advantages and disadvantages of this approach versus relaxant and volatile techniques are discussed with particular reference to preservation of neuromuscular function.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1998
Comparative StudyAnaesthesia circuits, humidity output, and mucociliary structure and function.
We compared the effects of humidity delivered by the circle system at low fresh gas flows (FGF) with a conventional two-limb and coaxial circuit on the structure and function of the tracheobronchial epithelium in dogs. Animals were anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated using an anaesthesia ventilator to maintain normocarbia. Group I (control) animals received a FGF equal to the required minute ventilation mimicking an open circuit technique. ⋯ Alterations in tracheobronchial structure and function result from exposure to dry gases and are amplified by the duration of exposure. Our findings suggest a minimum of 12 to 15 mg H2O/l is necessary to prevent these alterations. In this study, the combination of low FGF and a coaxial anaesthesia circuit reached this minimum threshold more quickly than a conventional two-limb circuit.
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A resuscitation trolley has been designed to meet the following requirements. Continuous oxygen supply from the trolley for the duration of the emergency; medical suction of similar strength to that of an ICU treatment bay and provision of equipment and drugs in a modular form, which is uniform across the institution, and which allows immediate replacement from stock. These requirements have been fulfilled whilst maintaining a total trolley weight and manoeuvrability similar to that of commercially manufactured trolleys available in Australia.