Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2009
Biography Historical ArticleWas there a Danish precursor to the Fisher & Paykel Humidifer?
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialDifferential increases in blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery after tourniquet deflation during sevoflurane, isoflurane or propofol anaesthesia.
The purpose of this study was to examine the comparative effects of sevoflurane, isoflurane or propofol on cerebral blood flow velocity after tourniquet deflation during orthopaedic surgery. Thirty patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery were randomly divided into sevoflurane, isoflurane and propofol groups. Anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane, isoflurane or propofol infusion in 33% oxygen and 67% nitrous oxide, in whatever concentrations were necessary to keep bispectral index values between 45 and 50. ⋯ Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, velocity in the middle cerebral artery and arterial blood gas analysis were measured every minute for 10 minutes after release of the tourniquet in all three groups. Velocity in the middle cerebral artery in the three groups increased for five minutes after tourniquet deflation. Because of the different cerebrovascular effects of the three agents, the degree of increase in flow velocity in the isoflurane group was greater than in the other two groups, the change in flow velocity in the propofol group being the lowest (at three minutes after deflation 40 +/- 7%, 32 +/- 6% and 28 +/- 10% in the isoflurane, sevoflurane and propofol groups respectively, P < 0.05).
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effects of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl on emergence characteristics after adenoidectomy in children.
This randomised controlled study evaluated the effects of fentanyl and dexmedetomidine on emergence characteristics of children having adenoidectomy and anaesthetised with sevoflurane. Ninety children, two to seven years of age and ASA physical status I, were studied. Children were randomly assigned to one of three groups of 30 children, with the study intervention injection given intravenously after intubation. ⋯ Fentanyl 2.5 microg x kg(-1) and dexmedetomidine 0.5 microg x kg(-1) had similar haemodynamic effects and emergence characteristics. Fentanyl has been safely used in children for many years. Further studies of dexmedetomidine safety and its interaction with other anaesthetic agents are required before recommending its routine use during general anaesthesia in children.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of pre-emptive alveolar recruitment strategy before pneumoperitoneum on arterial oxygenation during laparoscopic hysterectomy.
In a randomised, controlled, single-blind trial, we examined the effect of a pre-emptive alveolar recruitment strategy on arterial oxygenation during subsequent pneumoperitoneum. After intubation, 50 patients were randomly allocated to receive either tidal volume 10 ml/kg with no positive end-expiratory pressure (group C) or alveolar recruitment strategy of 10 manual breaths with peak inspiratory pressure of 40 cmH2O plus positive end-expiratory pressure of 15 cmH2O before gas insufflation (group P). ⋯ Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in group P increased less after gas insufflation (13 +/- 9 to 60 +/- 34 mmHg vs 10 +/- 9 to 37 +/- 31 mmHg, P = 0.013). We conclude that the alveolar recruitment strategy we applied before insufflation of the peritoneal cavity may improve oxygenation during laparoscopic hysterectomy
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As the number of women giving birth by caesarean increases throughout most of the developed world, so too is research into postoperative pain relief for these women. Like most other post-surgical populations, the new mother needs effective pain relief so that she can mobilise early but she also has the added responsibility of needing to care for her newborn baby. ⋯ The aim of this review is to detail commonly used opioid-based methods and to review the evidence supporting non-opioid methods, when incorporated into a multimodal approach to post-caesarean pain management. Areas of promising research are also discussed.