Journal of clinical anesthesia
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To evaluate the components of commonly used central venous catheter kits with respect to the potential for guidewire-mediated complications during catheter placement.Prospective, nonrandomized, observational study. ⋯ The design of commonly employed central venous access catheter kits is such that there is a mismatch between guidewire and catheter length and a general lack of guidewire markings. We believe that these designs may predispose to the introduction of excess guidewire and result in guidewire-mediated complications during catheter placement. This risk can likely be reduced by matching the guidewires to the devices placed over them and by standardizing guidewire distance markings.
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To determine the necessity for ionized magnesium (iMg) assay by evaluating the effect of abdominal surgery without massive transfusion on total magnesium (Mg) and iMg concentrations. ⋯ During abdominal surgery without massive transfusion, both total and ionized hypomagnesemia occur. Changes in iMg and total serum Mg concentrations are closely correlated. Total serum Mg assay, while overestimating the prevalence of ionized hypomagnesemia, is sufficient to screen for hypomagnesemia.
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Surgery on the eye is performed using topical anesthesia, retrobulbar anesthesia, peribulbar anesthesia, and general anesthesia. Retrobulbar anesthesia is associated with a number of complications that include apnea (respiratory arrest), seizures, or both. ⋯ We provided ventilation with 100% oxygen, treated the hypertension with nicardipine, and the tachycardia with esmolol. The patients did not have any residual complications.
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Case Reports
Epicardial echocardiography: diagnostic utility for evaluating aortic valve disease during coronary surgery.
Intraoperative epicardial echocardiography is commonly used to evaluate the ascending aorta for atheromatous disease before cannulation and cross clamping. In addition, it may serve as a cardiac imaging technique in patients where placement of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe is contraindicated, probe advancement is difficult, or a TEE probe is not available. ⋯ However, attempts to place a TEE probe were abandoned due to high resistance on probe insertion. Epicardial echocardiography revealed previously undiagnosed aortic valve disease resulting in replacement of this valve.