Anaesthesia
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We have measured the brightness (luminance) of the light spot produced by 105 Macintosh 3 laryngoscope blades (33 bulb, 72 fibrelight) using a Hagner photometer. An estimate of the minimum luminance required for laryngoscopy (circa. 100 cd.m-2), was determined using a laryngoscope adapted to provide a variable light output. ⋯ In total, 61 (84%) of the fibrelight blades and three (9%) of the bulb blades were found to provide a light spot that encompassed areas of luminance below 30 cd.m-2, which is a level for comfortable reading. The light spot from a mains-powered fibreoptic bronchoscope was found to be four times brighter (2000 cd.m-2) than a new battery-powered fibrelight laryngoscope.
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Bleeding caused by inhibitors to factor VIII is a rare medical emergency requiring immediate specialist investigation and management. Urgent initiation of therapy with high dose factor VIII concentrates may be life saving. Successful management of acute upper airway obstruction from uncontrolled haemorrhage into the oropharyngeal tissues should be achieved with fibreoptic guided nasotracheal intubation.
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Arteriovenous fistulae originating from the vertebral artery are rare. We report a patient in whom a vertebral artery-jugular venous fistula developed following insertion of a central venous catheter via the internal jugular vein. The fistula was successfully occluded surgically.
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Case Reports
The use of a non-invasive method to measure intrapulmonary shunt during one-lung anaesthesia.
The Non Invasive Virtual Shunt computer program has previously been described and validated. The system has subsequently been developed to give a real time, continuous trace of virtual shunt. ⋯ The equipment was used to monitor shunt before, during and after surgery in three patients. In one case, a displaced double lumen bronchial tube was detected before there was any other indication of the problem.
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We have demonstrated in a rat model that the intrathecal injection of 0.02 ml of 6.3% magnesium sulphate, a concentration iso-osmolar with rat plasma, will produce a state of spinal anaesthesia and general sedation, lasting approximately 1 h. These effects reversed completely after 6 h, without evidence of neurotoxicity, immediately or during the period 1 week following the injection. The accompanying changes in haemodynamic and respiratory functions were minimal throughout the period of anaesthesia and compare favourably with those induced by an intrathecal bolus of 0.04 ml of 2% lignocaine.