Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Difficult airway management is a critical aspect of anesthesiology training and practice. A survey was conducted of American anesthesia residency programs to determine the prevalence of a specific airway rotation and its curriculum. ⋯ Of the programs with an airway rotation, the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope and the laryngeal mask airway represent the most frequently used devices, excluding the standard laryngoscopes. There is minimum emphasis on more invasive techniques. Traditional methods of instruction continue to be utilized more frequently than nontraditional methods.
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We report a case of epidural catheter shearing, an uncommon complication of removal of a wire-reinforced epidural catheter. The catheter was removed without incident, and with the tip intact, after we allowed the patient to relax for 3 hours, placing the patient in the lateral decubitus position, and placing continuous tension on the catheter itself so as to let it "work its way out".
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intraoperative epidural anesthesia and postoperative analgesia with levobupivacaine for major orthopedic surgery: a double-blind, randomized comparison of racemic bupivacaine and ropivacaine.
To compare the onset time and duration of epidural anesthesia, and the quality of postoperative analgesia produced by levobupivacaine, racemic bupivacaine, and ropivacaine. ⋯ Levobupivacaine 0.5% produces an epidural block of similar onset, quality, and duration as the one produced by the same volume of 0.5% bupivacaine, with a motor block deeper than that produced by 0.5% ropivacaine. When prolonging the block for the first 12 hours after surgery with a patient-controlled epidural infusion, 0.125% levobupivacaine provides adequate pain relief after major orthopedic surgery, with similar recovery of motor function as compared with 0.125% bupivacaine and 0.2% ropivacaine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Risk of recurarization during retransfusion of autologous blood withdrawn after injection of muscle relaxants: a comparison of rocuronium and mivacurium.
In the context of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) recurarization, defined as significant decrease of train-of-four ratio (TOFR) during retransfusion of autologous blood withdrawn after induction of anesthesia, has been described for vecuronium and atracurium. The present study for the first time examined this risk for rocuronium and mivacurium. ⋯ Recurarization during retransfusion may occur with both neuromuscular blocking drugs, mivacurium and rocuronium, when these drugs were injected before the removal of the autologous blood.
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To investigate the effect of different plasma levels of fentanyl on the concentration of propofol and the Bispectral Index (BIS) required for patients to regain consciousness and orientation following surgery. ⋯ The plasma levels of fentanyl affect the concentrations of propofol required for patients to regain consciousness. The BIS values for wakefulness are unaltered at the different combinations of propofol and fentanyl concentrations. Thus, the BIS appears to be a useful and consistent indicator for level of consciousness during emergence from propofol/fentanyl intravenous anesthesia.