Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Sugammadex is a novel cyclodextrin, the first in a new class of selective binding reversal agents that terminates neuromuscular block (NMB) with the steroidal nondepolarizing agents, rocuronium and vecuronium. Sugammadex can reverse a moderate or deep NMB. The dose required depends on the level of NMB that needs to be reversed. ⋯ Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA issued a not-approvable letter in July 2008. The manufacturer continues clinical trials.
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Review Case Reports
Dexmedetomidine for deep brain stimulator placement in a child with primary generalized dystonia: case report and literature review.
Dexmedetomidine, which is a relatively selective alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, is used for sedation and analgesia in intensive care unit patients, during awake craniotomies in pediatric and adult patients, and during magnetic resonance imaging, with minimal depression of respiratory function. The successful use of dexmedetomidine in a pediatric patient undergoing bilateral deep brain stimulator placement for the treatment of generalized dystonia, is presented.
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Review Case Reports
A tale of two stents: perioperative management of patients with drug-eluting coronary stents.
Drug-eluting stents were introduced into clinical practice to decrease coronary stent restenosis rates. Though remarkably effective in reducing this complication, recent data reveal that drug-eluting stents pose a significant risk for late stent thrombosis, an event strongly correlated with discontinuation of anti-platelet therapy. ⋯ Along with a review of the recent literature, we present two cases of patients with drug-eluting stents scheduled for renal transplantation. Two distinct antithrombotic management strategies illustrate the risk of either approach-bleeding and transfusion versus stent thrombosis and myocardial infarction.
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Recommendations for routine screening for colorectal cancer with colonoscopy are likely to substantially increase the demand for provision of sedation for these procedures. Because of this burgeoning caseload and associated economic constraints, it is unlikely that anesthesiologists will be available for all such procedures, particularly those involving average-risk patients. Thus, sedative agents that can be safely administered by nonanesthesiologists, appropriately trained in monitoring and managing the patient's airway, are desperately needed. New concepts in sedation for colonoscopy include enhanced mechanisms for drug delivery such as patient-controlled sedation/analgesia and target-controlled infusion, along with the development of new drugs such as a modified cyclodextrin-based formulation of propofol and fospropofol disodium (Aquavan Injection), a water-soluble prodrug of propofol.
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Trauma to epidural catheters on insertion or removal may result in shearing or breakage. Although there is no evidence of neurologic sequelae from a sheared catheter, many reports still advocate eventual surgical removal. The literature suggests the following options: (1) using slow continuous force at all times; (2) discontinuing application of force if the catheter begins to stretch and reapplying traction several hours later; (3) placing of the patient in the same position as insertion; (4) placing the patient in the lateral decubitus position if possible; (5) attempting to remove in extreme flexion if the previous interventions are not efficacious; (6) attempting extension if flexion fails; (7) attempting removal after injection of preservative-free normal saline through the catheter; (8) considering use of a convex surgical frame; (9) considering computed tomographic scan to identify the etiology of entrapment; (10) considering leaving a retained epidural catheter in place in adult patients; (11) providing patient education regarding "red flags" to watch out for; and (12) neurosurgical consultation for all cases in which the catheter fragment is in the spinal canal.