Journal of anesthesia
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The epidural administration of local anesthetics can provide anesthesia without the need for respiratory support or mechanical ventilation. Nevertheless, because of the additional effects of epidural anesthesia on motor function and sympathetic innervation, epidural anesthesia does affect lung function. These effects, i.e., a reduction in vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1.0)), are negligible under lumbar and low thoracic epidural anesthesia. ⋯ In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, the use of thoracic epidural anesthesia has raised concerns about respiratory insufficiency due to motor blockade, and the risk of bronchial constriction due to sympathetic blockade. However, even in patients with severe asthma, thoracic epidural anesthesia leads to a decrease of about 10% in VC and FEV(1.0) and no increase in bronchial reactivity. Overall, epidural administration of local anesthetics not only provides excellent anesthesia and analgesia but also improves postoperative outcome and reduces postoperative pulmonary complications compared with anesthesia and analgesia without epidural anesthesia.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialBispectral index-guided desflurane and propofol anesthesia in ambulatory arthroscopy: comparison of recovery and discharge profiles.
In this prospective, randomized study we compared the recovery profiles of bispectral index (BIS)-guided anesthesia regimens with desflurane or propofol in ambulatory arthroscopy. Fifty ASA I-II adult patients who underwent knee arthroscopy were randomized to receive desflurane (D) or propofol (P) infusion accompanied by remifentanil and nitrous oxide during maintenance, titrated to maintain a bispectral index value between 50 and 60. Initial awakening, fast-track eligibility, and home readiness as well as intraoperative hemodynamics, were compared. ⋯ However, home readiness did not differ significantly between the groups. Desflurane is an alternative to propofol for BIS-guided ambulatory anesthesia. Using desflurane in combination with opioid analgesics blunted its rapid emergence characteristics, and the higher frequency of emetic symptoms with desflurane diminished the success of its fast-track eligibility.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialSite of fresh gas inlet and ratios of the delivered fraction and inspired fraction of inhaled isoflurane and sevoflurane in low-flow anesthesia.
The use of low-flow anesthesia causes a discrepancy between the delivered fraction (FD) and the inspired fraction (FI) of inhaled gases. We compared the FI/FD ratios of a new circle (fresh gas inlet located between the inspiratory valve and the patient) to those of the conventional circle (fresh gas inlet located between the inspiratory valve and the CO2 absorber) in low-flow isoflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia, using three anesthetic machines (Dräger NM-GS, Dräger Fabius-GS, and ACOMA KMA-1300-III). ⋯ The positioning of the fresh gas inlet between the inspiratory valve and the patient improved the FI/FD ratios of both isoflurane and sevoflurane during low-flow anesthesia in two decoupling-style anesthetic machines (ACOMA and Fabius).
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2006
Clinical TrialEffect of humidifying devices on the measurement of tidal volume by mechanical ventilators.
We hypothesized that expiratory tidal volume was underestimated, because a heat-moisture exchanger traps the expired vapor. We, therefore, designed patient and bench studies to investigate the accuracy of tidal volume monitoring. ⋯ Monitored expiratory tidal volume was underestimated by approximately 10%, when using a heat-moisture exchanger.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2006
Case ReportsSpinal anesthesia using a continuous spinal catheter for cesarean section in a parturient with prior surgical correction of scoliosis.
This case report demonstrates the successful anesthetic management of cesarean section for a 29-year-old primiparous parturient with a past history of a scoliosis operation at 13 years of age. An Isola hook and screw-rod system had been implanted as posterior spinal instrumentation at the level of T3-L3. We titrated hyperbaric bupivacaine 7 mg combined with fentanyl 15 microg through a continuous spinal catheter, placed with a catheter-over-needle technique in order to avoid unintentional wide spread of anesthetic agents. ⋯ Her surgery was carried out without any problems. Headache, as a dural tap-related complication, was not observed. Spinal anesthesia with the titration of anesthetic agents for cesarean section is considered to be one of the choices for a parturient who has had spinal instrumentation.