Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2012
Clinical TrialA newly developed scavenging system for administration of nitrous oxide during labour: safe occupational use.
Nitrous oxide (N(2) O) is routinely used as an analgesic in obstetrics during labour. Epidemiological studies have linked chronic occupational exposure to N(2) O to specific health problems, including reproductive risks. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) allow the use of N(2) O once appropriate preventive and safety measures have been taken. We assessed the effectiveness of a scavenger system (Anevac P-system®, Medicvent Heinen & Löwestein Benelux, Barneveld, the Netherlands) applied in N(2) O administration during labour in a midwifery-led birthing centre in the Netherlands. ⋯ The Anevac P-scavenging system during N(2) O analgesia in labour prevents exceeding OELs in professional workers. The scavenging system appeared acceptable and effective, and can be considered in hospital settings that use N(2) O as analgesic during labour.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2012
Case ReportsUltrasound-guided block of the axillary nerve: a case series of potential clinical applications.
The specific blocking of the axillary nerve has never been investigated clinically. We present four cases illustrating potential applications of the axillary nerve block in the perioperative setting and discuss possible directions for future research in this area. The axillary nerve blocks were all performed using a newly developed in-plane ultrasound-guided technique. ⋯ The pain score after arthroscopic shoulder surgery in these two patients remained low until termination of the nerve block. In a fourth patient, severe post-operative pain after osteosynthesis of a displaced proximal humerus fracture was almost eliminated after performing an axillary nerve block. These findings warrant larger clinical trials that investigate the pain-mediating role of the axillary nerve in the perioperative setting.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2012
Effect of lipopolysaccharide, cytokines, and catecholamines on brain natriuretic peptide release from human myocardium.
During sepsis and septic shock, elevated plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been reported but may be related to several underlying mechanisms. The aim of the present experimental study was to investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), dobutamine (Dobu), epinephrine (Epi), and norepinephrine (Nor) on BNP synthesis by atrial human myocardium in vitro. ⋯ In vitro, LPS, Dobu, Epi, and Nor induced BNP synthesis by human atrial myocardium.