Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease affecting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of the post-synaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle fatigue and weakness. The myasthenic patient can be a challenge to anesthesiologists, and the post-surgical risk of respiratory failure has always been a matter of concern. The incidence and prevalence of MG have been increasing for decades and the disease is underdiagnosed. ⋯ MG patients can easily be anesthetized without need for post-surgery mechanical ventilation whether it is general anesthesia or peripheral nerve block. Volatile anesthesia or the use of an epidural for the patient makes it possible to avoid the use of neuromuscular blocking agents, and when used, it should be in smaller doses and the patient should be carefully monitored. This review shows that with thorough pre-operative evaluation, continuing the daily pyridostigmine and careful monitoring the MG patient can be managed safely.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 2012
Review Meta AnalysisNeuromuscular blocking agents for electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the transcutaneous application of small electrical stimuli to the brain to induce generalised seizures for the treatment of selected psychiatric disorders. The clinical indications for ECT as an effective therapeutic modality have been considerably expanded since its introduction. Anaesthesia and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are required to ensure patients' safety during ECT. ⋯ Slight residual motor convulsive activity is helpful in ascertaining that a seizure has occurred, while total paralysis prolongs the procedure unnecessarily. Suxamethonium is commonly used, but nondepolarising NMBAs are indicated in patients with certain comorbidities. In this review, we summarise current concepts of NMBA management for ECT.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2011
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyMonitoring patients at risk of massive transfusion with Thrombelastography or Thromboelastometry: a systematic review.
Thrombelastography (TEG) and Thrombelastometry (ROTEM) are viscoelastic whole-blood assays evaluating the haemostatic capacity of blood. These devices are used in algorithms to guide transfusion of haemostatic blood components. ⋯ There is currently weak evidence to support the use of TEG/ROTEM as a tool to guide transfusion in patients with severe bleeding. Further studies need to address other clinical settings and with larger blood losses.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2011
Review Meta AnalysisUltrasonography in the management of the airway.
In this study, it is described how to use ultrasonography (US) for real-time imaging of the airway from the mouth, over pharynx, larynx, and trachea to the peripheral alveoli, and how to use this in airway management. US has several advantages for imaging of the airway - it is safe, quick, repeatable, portable, widely available, and it must be used dynamically for maximum benefit in airway management, in direct conjunction with the airway management, i.e. immediately before, during, and after airway interventions. ⋯ US can identify the croicothyroid membrane prior to management of a difficult airway, can confirm ventilation by observing lung sliding bilaterally and should be the first diagnostic approach when a pneumothorax is suspected intraoperatively or during initial trauma-evaluation. US can improve percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy by identifying the correct tracheal-ring interspace, avoiding blood vessels and determining the depth from the skin to the tracheal wall.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Sep 2011
Review Meta AnalysisEfficacy and safety of perioperative pregabalin for post-operative pain: a meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.
We calculated in a meta-analysis the effect size for the reduction of post-operative pain and post-operative analgesic drugs, which can be obtained by the perioperative administration of pregabalin. Three end-points of efficacy were analysed: early (6 h-7 days) post-operative pain at rest (17 studies) and during movement (seven studies), and the amount of analgesic drugs in the studies that obtained identical results for pain at rest (12 studies). Reported adverse effects were also analysed. ⋯ Pregabalin increased the risk of dizziness or light-headedness and of visual disturbances, and decreased the occurrence of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients who did not receive anti-PONV prophylaxis. The administration of pregabalin during a short perioperative period provides additional analgesia in the short term, but at the cost of additional adverse effects. The lowest effective dose was 225-300 mg/day.