Journal of clinical anesthesia
-
The purpose of this study is to determine whether routine preoperative testing has a usefulness not previously recognized in a small preliminary study to decide if such a hypothesis might be worthy of testing in a larger study. ⋯ Although the incidence of unindicated preoperative screening tests is still more than 50%, no previously unidentified benefit was found to support this persistence of unwarranted testing. The limited number of patients in this study necessitates a larger study to ensure greater certainty before such a recommendation is made to the public. If similar results in another but larger study involving similar design, simple changes in the system of preoperative care may save the health care system the considerable expense of unwarranted testing.
-
To determine the postoperative outcome of narcolepsy patients, a population that may be at increased risk of perioperative complications, including postoperative hypersomnia, prolonged emergence after general anesthesia, and apnea. ⋯ Pharmacological therapy for narcolepsy should be continued during the perioperative period. In addition, treated narcolepsy patients are at no increased risk for postoperative complications.
-
A 35-year-old, 39-week pregnant woman underwent an uneventful emergent cesarean delivery for suspected placental abruption or uterine dehiscence. Given the urgency of the situation and the unremarkable airway anatomy, general anesthesia was the chosen technique. ⋯ Hematology tests performed before the cesarean delivery revealed severe thrombocytopenia. This was later diagnosed as idiopathic thrombocytopenia, which was treated successfully with steroid therapy.
-
Meta Analysis Comparative Study
The effectiveness of rescue antiemetics after failure of prophylaxis with ondansetron or droperidol: a preliminary report.
To compare the effectiveness of treating established postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) with an antiemetic acting at a different receptor with that of treating PONV with the antiemetic used for prophylaxis. ⋯ In patients who failed prophylaxis with ondansetron or droperidol, promethazine was significantly more effective than the agent used for prophylaxis for the treatment of PONV. In patients who failed prophylaxis with droperidol, dimenhydrinate was also more effective than droperidol for the treatment of established PONV in the postoperative anesthesia care unit.