Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jan 2013
Case ReportsEarly tracheal stenosis causing extubation failure and prolonged ventilator dependency.
Postintubation stenosis is the most frequent cause of benign tracheal stenosis and may cause reintubation and delay in weaning of intensive care unit patients. This case study describes typical patients with tracheal stenosis and the management of these patients. Five patients requiring reintubation and mechanical ventilation due to early intubation-related stenosis are discussed. ⋯ Tracheal stenosis developing in the subglottic region after extubation, especially after exposure to cuff pressure, may lead to reintubation. A tracheostomy may hinder the diagnosis of progressive stenosis and may lead to unnecessary maintenance of ventilator treatment. Early intubation-related tracheal stenosis should therefore be considered in cases of weaning or extubation failure and prompt appropriate investigation and treatment.
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Pethidine (meperidine) is a unique member of the opioid family. In addition to its analgesic activity, it also has significant local anaesthetic activity. ⋯ We describe the successful use of intrathecal pethidine 1 mg/kg for an elective lower segment caesarean section in a patient presumed to be allergic to amide local anaesthetics. There were no significant adverse effects in either the mother or the newborn.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jan 2013
Clinical TrialOseltamivir pharmacokinetics in critically ill adults receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is known to affect pharmacokinetics and hence optimum dosing. The aim of this open label, prospective study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir (prodrug) and oseltamivir carboxylate (active metabolite) during ECMO. Fourteen adult patients with suspected or confirmed H1N1 influenza were enrolled in the study. ⋯ Both area under the curve and Cmax were significantly correlated with serum creatinine (r2=0.37, P=0.02 and r2=0.29, P=0.02, respectively). Systemic exposure to oseltamivir carboxylate following the administration of enteral oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily in adult ECMO patients is comparable to those in ambulatory patients and far in excess of concentrations required to maximally inhibit neuraminidase activity of the H1N1 virus. Dosage adjustment for ECMO, per se, appears not to be necessary; however, doses should be reduced in patients with renal dysfunction.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jan 2013
A survey of aseptic precautions and needle type for paediatric caudal block in Australia and New Zealand.
This cross-sectional survey was designed to evaluate the current practice of anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand with regard to aseptic technique and needle type during the performance of single-shot caudal blocks. Professional bodies suggest that full aseptic precautions be taken during the administration of caudal or epidural blocks. It has been suggested that using an intravenous cannula or a styletted needle may obviate the occurrence of epidermoid tumours. ⋯ The majority of respondents in our region appear to use some level of aseptic precautions, albeit to a variable degree. Published recommendations may either be perceived as overly cautious or as ambiguous in that they do not specify caudal practice as distinct from other epidural blocks. There is a need for clearer professional guidance to support a minimum level of aseptic precaution for single-shot caudal epidural blocks.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jan 2013
The relationship between patient data and pooled clinical management decisions.
A strong relationship between patient data and preoperative clinical decisions could potentially be used to support clinical decisions in preoperative management. The aim of this exploratory study was to determine the relationship between key patient data and pooled clinical opinions on management. In a previous study, panels of anaesthetists compared the quality of computer-assisted patient health assessments with outpatient consultations and made decisions on the need for preoperative tests, no preoperative outpatient assessment, possible postoperative intensive care unit/high dependency unit requirements and aspiration prophylaxis. ⋯ The factor types also varied, but included surgical complexity, age, gender, number of medications or comorbidities, body mass index, hypertension, central nervous system condition, heart disease, sleep apnoea, smoking, persistent pain and stroke. Models based on these relationships usually demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity, with receiver operating characteristics in the following areas under curve: blood picture (0.75), biochemistry (0.86), coagulation studies (0.71), electrocardiography (0.90), chest X-ray (0.85), outpatient assessment (0.85), postoperative intensive care unit requirement (0.88) and aspiration prophylaxis (0.85). These initial results suggest modelling of patient data may have utility supporting clinicians' preoperative decisions.