Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 1977
Intubation of newborns and infants: a solution to the problem of water condensation.
Treatment with humidified air in intubated newborns and infants its often complicated by the embarrassing problem of water condensation. This problem is solved by the humidification system described below, in which the tube delivering humidified air is surrounded by an Armaflex-insulated spiral-wire tube. Through the space between the two tubes, an adjustable air warmer delivers dry air at a temperature and flow rate such that the temperature of the humidified air in the delivery tube is maintained above its dew-point temperature.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 1977
Catheter technique in axillary plexus block. Presentation of a new method.
A flexible, disposable intravenous catheter can be introduced into the neuro-vascular sheath in the axilla and used for injection of local anesthetic solution to block the axillary brachial plexus. The technique is described and the results of the first 137 consecutive catheter blocks are reported and compared to a similarly evaluated series of conventional axillary blocks. The catheter method constitutes an interesting alternative to needle techniques and offers the possibility of a continuous axillary block.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 1976
ReviewThe effect of respiratory frequency on pulmonary function during artificial ventilation. A review.
This is a review of previous studies on the effects of variations between 12 and 24 breaths per minute in ventilation frequency during artificial ventilation, minute ventilation being constant. The total material consisted of 66 healthy subjects investigated under anaesthesia with artificial ventilation and 43 patients investigated during prolonged respiratory treatment. An increase in ventilation frequency resulted in an increased ratio of dead space to tidal volume (VD/VT) and in diminished alveolar ventilation with a subsequent elevation of Paco2. ⋯ Cardiac output was increased, as was venous admixture. Pao2 was slightly reduced. The more efficient gas exchange occurring at a low ventilation frequency makes this setting preferable in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, whereas a high ventilation frequency, by improving cardiac output, may be advantageous in patients with circulatory failure.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 1976
Breathing mechanics, dead space and gas exchange in the extremely obese, breathing spontaneously and during anaesthesia with intermittent positive pressure ventilation.
Breathing mechanics and gas exchange were studied in 10 extremely obese subjects (average weight 138 kg) prior to and during anaesthesia with mechanical ventilation. Breathing mechanics were analysed from measurements of transpulmonary pressure (during anaesthesia, trans-chest wall pressure as well) inspiratory gas flow and tidal volume. Gas exchange was studied by analysing inspired and from the Bohr equation, and the division into anatomical and alveolar dead space was arrived at by capnography. ⋯ A moderate hypoxaemia was recorded during spontaneous breathing, and the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference was slightly elevated. During anaesthesia this difference was markedly greater. It is concluded that the most probable reason for the relative hypoxaemia is right-to-left shunting.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 1976
Anesthesia for cesarean section IV: placental transfer and neonatal elimination of bupivacaine following epidural analgesia for elective cesarean section.
Epidural analgesia with bupivacaine was used for elective cesarean section, and repeated maternal and neonatal blood samples were collected over 24 h for calculation of drug concentration. A gas-chromatogrphic micro-method was used for the analysis. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the placental transfer and the elimination rate of the drug. ⋯ The fetal-maternal ratio of concentrations at delivery was higher than in previous studies, most probably due to the protein-binding characteristics of bupivacaine and the dosage used. The biological half-life of the rapid phase of elimination (alpha-phase) in the newborn was shorter than in the mother (P less than 0.002), indicating a more rapid distribution process. The half-life of the slow phase of elimination (beta-phase) in the newborn was of the same magnitude as in the mother, indicating that neonatal elimination processes of bupivacaine may be well developed at birth.