Journal of clinical anesthesia
-
Comparative Study
In vitro comparison of central venous catheters for aspiration of venous air embolism: effect of catheter type, catheter tip position, and cardiac inclination.
To test the relative efficiency of balloon-tipped and plain catheters for aspiration of venous air embolism. ⋯ This study demonstrated that efficacy of air recovery depends on catheter type, catheter tip position, and cardiac inclination. No benefit was derived from positioning the catheter tip inside the atrium or from using balloon-tipped catheters.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of alfentanil on hypnotic and antinociceptive components of thiopental sodium anesthesia.
To determine the effects of alfentanil on the hypnotic and antinociceptive components of thiopental sodium anesthesia. ⋯ Alfentanil strengthened both the hypnotic and antinociceptive components of thiopental anesthesia, although to a different degree: the antinociceptive component more so than the hypnotic, possibly because each component of anesthesia has different underlying mechanisms.
-
Review Case Reports
Postextubation laryngeal spasm in an unanesthetized patient with Parkinson's disease.
We present a patient with Parkinson's disease who experienced laryngeal spasm after tracheal extubation without having been anesthetized. This patient's trachea was intubated because of respiratory arrest. We postulate that her postextubation laryngospasm was related to Parkinson's disease.
-
Approximately 40% of physician office time and 33% of hospital time are devoted to patients 65 years of age or older. Over half of the older population requires some surgical intervention. Because of decreased physiologic reserve and increased number of underlying medical disorders, the older patient is at increased risk for intraoperative and postsurgical complications. ⋯ Risk factors should be assessed initially by a focused history and physical examination and by simple tests. Additional diagnostic testing should be reserved for the patient who is not clearly at low or high risk. For optimal preoperative evaluation of the elderly patient, the physician should identify systemic disease, determine if the patient is receiving appropriate therapy, delineate the operative risks, and make recommendations that can potentially reduce the operative risks and postoperative complications.