Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2006
ReviewRecent developments in airway management of the paediatric patient.
During the last two years, several studies have enhanced our knowledge about the influence of pharmacological agents and routine airway management manoeuvres on the airway of paediatric patients. New supraglottic airway devices have been introduced into routine paediatric anaesthesia practice, and the design of paediatric endotracheal tubes has been modified. This review summarizes the most recent and relevant scientific developments in paediatric airway management. ⋯ Remifentanil has found a place in airway management in paediatric patients. Recent improvements in the design of paediatric supraglottic airway devices and endotracheal tubes are promising. Further research is needed to consolidate their role in improving the perioperative outcome in paediatric patients.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2006
ReviewNutrients with immune-modulating effects: what role should they play in the intensive care unit?
This review will summarize recent clinical and experimental data on the use of immune-modulating nutrients in critical illness. It will present the concept of these nutrients as pharmacologic agents or 'nutraceuticals' administered in addition to protein, calorie, vitamin, and trace element sources. ⋯ Cumulative studies of enteral immune-modulating nutritional formulations report benefits in surgical critically ill patients such as burn, trauma, or gastrointestinal surgery populations. Conflicting data in patients with sepsis warrant concern and further evaluation; in particular, controversy seems to stem around the use of arginine. Glutamine is beneficial when given in high doses or via the parenteral route (>0.20-0.30 g/kg per day or >or=30 g/day). Providing both omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids is important in immune modulation. The best doses and combinations of immune-modulating components remain unclear.
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Hyperglycemia occurs commonly among acutely ill patients owing to a combination of counterregulatory and stress responses, as well as insulin resistance and deficiency, and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in a variety of different patient populations. This manuscript reviews the adverse consequences of hyperglycemia in these different settings and focuses on perioperative glycemic management. ⋯ Hyperglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes in acutely ill adult patients and its treatment has been shown to improve mortality and morbidity in a variety of different settings. Additional studies are needed in heterogeneous populations of critically ill patients as well as in other populations of acutely ill patients, especially general surgical patients, to confirm the early studies and define the correct glycemic target.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2006
ReviewDrug treatment and thrombolytics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, no specific drug therapy has been shown to improve survival to hospital discharge after cardiac arrest, and only few drugs have a proven benefit for short-term survival. This article reviews recent experimental and clinical data about vasopressor, antiarrhythmic and thrombolytic agents. ⋯ Epinephrine still represents the first-line vasopressor during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Arginine vasopressin may be considered in patients presenting with asystole or who are unresponsive to initial treatment with epinephrine. Amiodarone should be preferred to other antiarrythmic agents in patients with cardiac arrest. Thrombolytic therapy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a promising new therapeutic option, but its general use in cardiac arrest cannot be recommended until the results of a large multicentre trial become available.