Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Review Case Reports
Epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section in an achondroplastic dwarf.
This report describes the anaesthetic management of an 18-yr-old achondroplastic dwarf who presented for elective Caesarean section. Epidural anaesthesia was performed without technical difficulty using 8 ml carbonated lidocaine 2% with epinephrine 1:200,000. ⋯ Previous reports have described technical difficulties in these patients, such as dural puncture and inability to advance the catheter into the epidural space, but no serious complications resulted and epidural anaesthesia was successful on subsequent attempts. The existing literature on the anaesthetic management of achondroplasia for Caesarean section is reviewed and considerations are presented concerning the choice of local anaesthetic, the epidural test dose, and dose titration.
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Auscultation is a well-established technique to confirm the position of double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs). However, some authors have recommended that fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is also indicated. The aims of this study were to determine first if bronchoscopy after blind placement of DLTs improved positioning; and second if preoperative bronchoscopy could detect difficult intubation. ⋯ Fibreoptic bronchoscopy after blind placement of DLTs resulted in repositioning 78% left-sided DLTs and 83% right-sided DLTs. Preoperative bronchoscopy did not always detect an airway abnormality which might lead to difficult positioning of the DLTs. In conclusion, auscultation is an unreliable method of confirming the position of DLTs and should be followed by fibreoptic bronchoscopy.
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Learning needs assessment is the term applied to the process of identifying or diagnosing a learner's educational needs. It is the foundation of a systematic continuing medical education (CME) programme. Needs assessment has been identified as the most pressing problem of medical education directors in North America. ⋯ Paediatric anaesthesia, anaesthesia for trauma surgery and thoracic anaesthesia had top ranks among the subspecialty fields. Regional anaesthesia techniques received higher need and interest ranks than intravenous and inhalational techniques. The learning needs of anaesthetists of a large urban centre have been identified, and this information is useful to CME planners.
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The author presents and discusses the anaesthetic implications of a four-month-old infant with Menkes' syndrome who required tracheostomy. Menkes' syndrome is an X-linked recessive disorder of copper absorption and metabolism. Defective processing of copper results in abnormalities of several enzyme systems leading to severe dysfunction of multiple organ systems. ⋯ The high prevalence of seizure disorders, gastroesophageal reflux with the risk of aspiration, and airway complications related to poor pharyngeal muscle control are of concern to the anaesthetist. In addition, defective collagen formation, similar to that seen in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, may be present. Identification of these associated conditions during the preoperative examination will guide the selection of appropriate, safe anaesthetic care for these children.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Perioperative effects of oral ketorolac and acetaminophen in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy.
Prophylactic administration of analgesics before surgery can decrease the intraoperative anaesthetic requirement and decrease pain during the early postoperative period. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 90 healthy ASA physical status I or II children undergoing bilateral myringotomy, we compared the postoperative analgesic effects of oral acetaminophen and ketorolac, when administered 30 min before induction of anaesthesia. Patients were randomized to receive saline (0.1 ml.kg-1), acetaminophen (10 mg.kg-1) or ketorolac (1 mg.kg-1) diluted in cherry syrup to a total volume of 5 ml. ⋯ The ketorolac group had lower postoperative pain scores and required less frequent analgesic therapy in the early postoperative period compared with the acetaminophen and placebo groups. In contrast, there were no differences in pain scores or analgesic requirements between the acetaminophen and the placebo groups. We conclude that the preoperative administration of oral ketorolac, but not acetaminophen, provided better postoperative pain control than placebo in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy.