Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
Case ReportsIntraoperative epidural catheter malfunction in two obese patients.
Using a combined general anesthesia/epidural technique, two cases of intraoperative malfunctioning epidural catheters in obese patients are presented. After the epidural was found to be malfunctioning, the anesthesiologist placed the palm of both hands underneath the patients' lumbar and thoracic area. ⋯ In each case, this simple maneuver made the catheter function again. In conclusion, this simple corrective maneuver should be attempted prior to discarding the epidural anesthetic technique.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
Clinical TrialElastic work of breathing during continuous positive airway pressure in intubated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (theoretical analysis and experimental validation).
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is known to decrease inspiratory work of breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This effect is primarily attributed to a reduction in inspiratory elastic work of breathing (Wi,el) related to a decrease in intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). ⋯ This study indicates that in order to reduce Wi,el in patients with COPD, intrinsic PEEP should be measured and the CPAP-level adjusted to the intrinsic PEEP-level.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
Postoperative analgesia in Italy. National survey on the anaesthetist's beliefs, opinions, behaviour and techniques in postoperative pain control in Italy.
Using a personal, anonymous questionnaire developed ad hoc, we tried to document the role, the problems and the activities of Italian anaesthetists in postoperative pain control. ⋯ This survey shows that Italian anaesthetists do not consider the postoperative period to be their own personal work area and that POA is to be considered as a matter of individual choice.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Apr 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPreoperative infiltration of bupivacaine--effects on pain relief and trauma response (cortisol and interleukin-6).
Subcutaneous infiltration of bupivacaine before skin incision can reduce postoperative pain and modulate the stress response. ⋯ Preoperative subcutaneous infiltration of bupivacaine significantly reduced the postoperative consumption of intravenous morphine.