Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2003
Multicenter StudyCognitive dysfunction after minor surgery in the elderly.
Major surgery is frequently associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients. Type of surgery and hospitalization may be important prognostic factors. The aims of the study were to find the incidence and risk factors for POCD in elderly patients undergoing minor surgery. ⋯ Our finding of less cognitive dysfunction in the first postoperative week in elderly patients undergoing minor surgery on an out-patient basis supports a strategy of avoiding hospitalization of older patients when possible.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialDoes anaesthesia cause postoperative cognitive dysfunction? A randomised study of regional versus general anaesthesia in 438 elderly patients.
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after cardiac and major non-cardiac surgery with general anaesthesia in the elderly. We hypothesized that the incidence of POCD would be less with regional anaesthesia rather than general. ⋯ No significant difference was found in the incidence of cognitive dysfunction 3 months after either general or regional anaesthesia in elderly patients. Thus, there seems to be no causative relationship between general anaesthesia and long-term POCD. Regional anaesthesia may decrease mortality and the incidence of POCD early after surgery.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Oct 2002
Multicenter StudyVentilator treatment in the Nordic countries. A multicenter survey.
A 1-day point prevalence study was performed in the Nordic countries to identify ventilator-treatment strategies in the region. ⋯ The vast majority of patients were ventilated with pressure-regulated modes. Tidal volume was well below what has been considered conventional in recent large trials. Correlations between the parameters of gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, ventilator settings and physiological status of the patients was poor. It appears that blood gas values are the main tool used to steer ventilator treatment. These results may help to design future interventional studies of ventilator treatment.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Apr 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialDouble-blind comparison of the variability in spontaneous recovery of cisatracurium- and vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block in adult and elderly patients.
This study was designed to compare variability in the offset of two neuromuscular blocking agents with different elimination pathways. ⋯ Whereas both the clinically effective duration and the duration of SSR are comparable between the adult and the elderly patients receiving cisatracurium, they differ substantially between these two age groups for vecuronium. Furthermore, the variability in offset is significantly lower in patients receiving cisatracurium, especially in the elderly, which may be of particular clinical interest.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialRemifentanil sedation compared with propofol during regional anaesthesia.
The short onset and offset of remifentanil may allow for accurate dosing of sedative effect with few side-effects and rapid recovery. In this study remifentanil is compared with propofol for sedation during successful regional anaesthetic blocks. ⋯ Propofol results in less respiratory depression and nausea when sedation is needed during a case with a successful regional block. Remifentanil may be considered as an alternative if pain during the procedure is a major concern or if amnesia is contraindicated.