Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2007
Decrease in functional residual capacity and ventilation homogeneity after neuromuscular blockade in anesthetized preschool children in the lateral position.
While functional residual capacity (FRC) is reduced in children undergoing general anesthesia, the lateral position leads to an increase in FRC compared with the supine position. The impact of neuromuscular blockade remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that neuromuscular blockade leads to a decrease in FRC and increase in lung clearance index (LCI) while the application of positive endexpiratory pressure (PEEP) of 6 cmH(2)O leads to a restoration in both parameters. ⋯ In the lateral position, neuromuscular blockade led to a significant decrease in FRC associated with a small increase in ventilation inhomogeneity. FRC and LCI were restored to baseline levels with the application of PEEP 3 cmH2O that is in addition to a background of PEEP 3 cmH2O giving a total of 6 cmH2O PEEP.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2007
Case ReportsAnaphylactic shock in a beta-blocked child: usefulness of isoproterenol.
Like adults, children taking beta-blockers are at risk for serious hemodynamic instability in case of anaphylaxis. We report a case of severe bradycardia associated with anaphylactic shock after aprotinin in a beta-blocked child, which was resistant to intravenous epinephrine and vascular filling but was treated successfully with isoproterenol.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2007
Infraclavicular coracoid approach brachial plexus block for radial club hand repair.
Radial club hand is a congenital deformity in which the radius is absent, the metacarpophylangeal and interphalayngeal joints are fused and muscles arising from the radius are absent. This can alter the motor response to peripheral nerve stimulation. The classical motor response to median nerve stimulation (contractions of the fingers) cannot be elicited, hence fine twitches in the hand, at the wrist or in the surgical area or pronation-supination at a current of 0.5 mA were taken as endpoints. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of achieving successful infraclavicular coracoid approach block in the intra- and postoperative periods when ideal responses to electrical nerve stimulation are absent because of congenital anomalies. ⋯ Despite the limitation of absence of an ideal response to nerve stimulation in radial club hand, endpoints such as fine twitches in the hand, at the wrist or in the surgical area or pronation-supination were sufficient to achieve a successful block. This block gives satisfactory intra- and postoperative analgesia.