Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Many anesthesiologists have called for the abandonment of the epidural test dose in the obstetric patient, citing its lack of sensitivity and specificity. A test dose of lidocaine 1.5% with epinephrine 1:200,000, in combination with aspiration, is highly effective in detecting incorrect placement of an epidural catheter. ⋯ It should not be administered during uterine contraction, as labor pain may trigger a tachycardic response. This test dose has been extensively studied and is safe both for both mother and fetus.
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Comparative Study
Evaluation of intense neuromuscular blockade caused by rocuronium using posttetanic count in male and female patients.
To establish the relationship between train-of-four (TOF) nerve stimulation and the number of posttetanic twitches (posttetanic count [PTC]) during neuromuscular blockade caused by rocuronium in males and females. ⋯ Even though the times from initial administration of rocuronium 1 mg.kg(-1) to the first appearances of T3 and T4 are significantly longer in female patients, the intervals to the first detectable responses to PTTS and TOF are not significantly different between females and males. Gender has no significant effect on the relation between PTC and the time to T1.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Postoperative confusion in schizophrenic patients is affected by interleukin-6.
To investigate whether epidural analgesia with local anesthetics affects postoperative confusion in schizophrenic patients or the relationships between cortisol or interleukin-6 (IL-6) and postoperative confusion. ⋯ Epidural anesthesia does not significantly decrease the frequency of postoperative confusion in schizophrenic patients. Plasma IL-6 concentrations at the end of the operation and 24 hours after surgery in schizophrenic patients with postoperative confusion were significantly higher than those concentrations in patients without postoperative confusion.
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To investigate prospectively whether blood gas samples drawn from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulae help to exclude at least clinically significant recirculation volumes in patients with acute respiratory failure. ⋯ The median arterial oxygen tension (PaO(2)) obtained from the arterial cannula was 537 mmHg (range, 366 to 625 mmHg), the median mixed venous oxygen tension (PvO(2)) drawn from the venous cannula was 42 mmHg (range, 25 to 54 mmHg), which was less than 10% of that observed in the arterial cannula, and also within the physiologic range of PvO(2). The ECMO flow necessary to maintain patients' oxygen saturation above 90% (4.1 L/min; range, 1.95 to 5.8 L/min) was significantly lower than the patients' cardiac output (CO; 6.2 L/min; range, 4.1 to 7.9 L/min; p < 0.001). CONSLUSIONS; We recommend obtaining blood gas samples-immediately after initiation of ECMO-from both cannulae. A PvO(2) within physiologic range and below 10% of PaO(2) rules out any clinically relevant recirculation volume.