Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialAdding intrathecal morphine to unilateral spinal anesthesia results in better pain relief following knee arthroscopy.
Intrathecal morphine is administered to provide profound and prolonged analgesia, and to treat acute postoperative pain. We compared the effectiveness of hyperbaric bupivacaine alone and in combination with morphine for unilateral spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. ⋯ We conclude that unilateral spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 0.16 mg morphine is preferable to hyperbaric bupivacaine alone with respect to analgesic requirement, duration of analgesia, and VAS values.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effects of remifentanil or acetaminophen with epidural ropivacaine on body temperature during labor.
Epidural analgesia is associated with hyperthermia during labor and presumably causes it, although no convincing mechanism has been postulated. It seems likely that fever associated with pyrogenic factors related to labor is suppressed by opioids, whereas it is expressed normally in patients given epidural analgesia. We examined this hypothesis and the possible etiology of temperature elevation in labor. ⋯ Our results are consistent with the theory that low-dose opioids inhibit fever in patients not given epidural analgesia. However, in view of the negative results, the hypothesis of epidural-induced hyperthermia may be questionable.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2008
Case ReportsVisual hallucinations on eye closure after orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia.
A 61-year-old woman suffering from rheumatoid arthritis without a contributory neurological, mental, or psychological history experienced visual hallucinations solely on eye closure after total hip arthroplasty under general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. The visual hallucinations first appeared when she arose from sleep early on postoperative day 1, approximately 12 h after the end of surgery. Only on closing her eyes, she had a clear view of colored clothes, lace curtains, handbags, hats, and sofas, all of which were vivid, realistic, complex, of natural size, and in normal perspective without distortion and appeared independently and randomly in succession. ⋯ The level and content of her consciousness seemed entirely normal throughout her hospital course. Although postoperative visual hallucinations are not uncommon, they do not always show the closed-eye variation. The causes and underlying mechanisms of this type of visual hallucination remain to be elucidated.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2008
Factors predicting successful noninvasive ventilation in acute lung injury.
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been successfully used to treat various forms of acute respiratory failure. It remains unclear whether NIV has potential as an effective therapeutic method in patients with acute lung injury (ALI). The aims of this study were to determine factors predicting the need for endotracheal intubation in ALI patients treated with NIV, and to promote the selection of patients suitable for NIV. ⋯ We determined an APACHE II score of more than 17 and a respiratory rate of more than 25 breaths x min(-1) after 1 h of NIV as factors predicting the need for endotracheal intubation in ALI patients treated with NIV.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyLower intracuff pressure of laryngeal mask airway in the lateral and prone positions compared with that in the supine position.
We compared the intracuff pressure (ICP) of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in the lateral and prone positions with that in the supine position. One hundred and eight patients, weighing 50-70 kg, scheduled for elective orthopedic and plastic surgery, were assigned to three groups, based on their body position during surgery. General anesthesia was induced and then a size 4 deflated LMA was inserted in each patient in the supine (group 1; n = 42), lateral (group 2; n = 45), or prone position (group 3; n = 21). ⋯ ICP in groups 2 and 3 was significantly lower than that in group 1 from immediately after insertion to the end of surgery. After surgery, turning from the lateral (group 2) or prone (group 3) position to the supine position significantly raised the ICP. Because the ICP is related to the seal pressure of the LMA and postoperative pharyngolaryngeal morbidity, we recommend evaluating and adjusting the ICP appropriately in each body position.