Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as severe hypoxemic respiratory failure resulting from diffuse lung injury and secondary to direct and indirect insults. Despite advances, mortality remains as high as 40-60%. Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are used to facilitate mechanical ventilation in patients with ARDS and have been shown to improve arterial partial pressure of oxygen. However, the association between NMBAs and mortality is unclear. Furthermore, morbidity concerns exist, particularly regarding a putative role in intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness. ⋯ Treatment in early severe ARDS with the NMBA, cisatracurium, for 48 hr was associated with lower adjusted 90-day mortality. It was also associated with decreased morbidity, which included increased ventilator-free days, increased ICU-free days, and increased organ failure-free days. These benefits occurred without increasing the incidence of ICU-acquired weakness.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of dexamethasone on postoperative morbidity after dental rehabilitation in children.
Dexamethasone reduces postoperative morbidity after adenotonsillectomy, strabismus surgery, and third molar extraction. Our hypothesis was that dexamethasone would reduce pain and other morbidity in children undergoing dental surgery for up to 24 hr postoperatively. ⋯ Dexamethasone, 0.3 mg·kg(-1), did not reduce pain over 24 hr in healthy children undergoing dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. The quality of oral intake was also unaffected by dexamethasone at 24 hr. Dexamethasone did produce a significant reduction in postdischarge vomiting, beyond the incidence found with ondansetron alone.
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Case Reports
Alternative site for median nerve blockade allowing early functional rehabilitation after hand surgery.
In this report we describe an alternative approach to catheter placement for continuous selective median nerve blockade. It spared the finger movements and therefore allowed early postoperative rehabilitation in a patient who underwent surgical repair of the index finger flexor tendon. ⋯ Placement of a catheter for continuous median nerve blockade in the proximal one-third of the forearm for effective postoperative pain-free rehabilitation after hand surgery should be considered in cases in which the surgical incision extends toward the patient's wrist. The block site can be readily identified by a combined use of ultrasonography and neurostimulation guidance.
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Comparative Study
Unexplained fever after bilateral superficial cervical block in children undergoing cochlear implantation: an observational study.
In an effort to decrease postoperative opioid requirements, intraoperative bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) was recently adopted for all our children undergoing general anesthesia for bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation (BSiCI). Several cases of early postoperative fever were noted after the adoption of BSCPB. Our aim was to determine if an association exists between BSCPB and early postoperative fever in children undergoing BSiCI. As a secondary outcome, we studied the efficacy of BSCPB in altering postoperative analgesic requirements. ⋯ Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block may increase the risk of postoperative fever in children undergoing BSiCI. In this series, BSCPB was associated with a longer hospital admission. The etiology of the fever is undetermined, although it can be hypothesized that BSCPB resulted in unintended block of the phrenic nerves leading to diaphragmatic paralysis, atelectasis, and early postoperative fever in young children.
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Letter Case Reports
Unsuspected pheochromocytoma: is it time for a registry?