Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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To review the role of recombinant factor VIIa in anesthetic practice. ⋯ rFVIIa is a novel hemostatic agent that shows promise in non-hemophiliac patents of a significant therapeutic role in variety of coagulopathic and hemorrhagic conditions in clinical situations ranging from thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and transfusion-related coagulopathy, as well as in patients experiencing massive blood loss undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation, cardiac, orthopedic and genitourinary surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Fentanyl is more effective than remifentanil at preventing increases in cerebral blood flow velocity during intubation in children.
Controlling the cerebral and systemic hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation may play a role in determining clinical outcome in pediatric neurosurgical patients. This study compared the effects of remifentanil and fentanyl on cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and hemodynamic profile during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in children under sevoflurane anesthesia. ⋯ This study suggests that fentanyl was more effective than remifentanil at preventing increases in CBFV during and immediately following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in children undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia. Fentanyl also seemed to provide a more stable hemodynamic profile prior to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation when compared to remifentanil.
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Review
Recombinant activated factor VII: its mechanism of action and role in the control of hemorrhage.
Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has proven both safe and efficacious in the treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A or B who have developed inhibitors. More recently, a growing number of reports suggests that rFVIIa may also have indications for the treatment of bleeding in patients with other hemostatic disorders, including qualitative and quantitative platelet defects, factor deficiencies other than hemophilia, and in otherwise healthy patients with uncontrollable hemorrhage following surgery or trauma. We have attempted to reconcile the various proposed mechanisms of action of rFVIIa with its apparent efficacy in such diverse clinical settings. ⋯ Through these primary mechanisms, we believe that rFVIIa may be able to compensate for a variety of defects in hemostasis and merits further investigation as a general therapeutic for uncontrollable hemorrhage.
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Significant pulmonary hypertension is a predictor of postoperative right heart insufficiency and increased mortality in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation. Since the use of iv vasodilators is limited by their systemic effects, we evaluated the pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic effects of inhaled aerosolized iloprost (IP) in heart transplant candidates with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). ⋯ Inhaled aerosolized iloprost effectively reduces MPAP and is accompanied by an increase in CI and stroke index. Further advantages of iloprost inhalation are the lack of adverse reactions and ease of administration. Iloprost may be a useful drug to screen for vascular reactivity in cardiac transplantation patients.
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To report our experience with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) to control hemorrhage in trauma patients with profound multifactorial coagulopathy. rFVIIa forms a complex with tissue factor exposed at sites of tissue damage and induces activation of coagulation limited to the site of injury. It is approved for use in hemophilia patients, however, its use in trauma is still controversial due to the theoretical risk of thromboembolic complications. ⋯ rFVIIa is a promising adjunctive hemostatic treatment for trauma patients suffering from massive bleeding. Controlled trials are warranted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this drug.