Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Tracheal intubation and cervical spine excursion: direct laryngoscopy vs. intubating laryngeal mask.
Until recently, the most appropriate technique of intubating a patient with a cervical spine injury has been the subject of debate. Tracheal intubation by means of the intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach), a modified conventional laryngeal mask airway, seems to require less neck manipulation. ⋯ Direct laryngoscopy is still the fastest method to secure an airway provided no intubating difficulties are present. However, in trauma patients requiring rapid sequence induction and in whom cervical spine movement is limited or undesirable, the intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach) is a safe and fast method by which to secure the airway.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Induction with propofol target-concentration infusion vs. 8% sevoflurane inhalation and alfentanil in hypertensive patients.
Haemodynamic parameters during an inhalation induction with 8% sevoflurane were compared with those obtained with a target-controlled infusion of propofol in 50 hypertensive patients in a prospective randomised study. Heart rate and arterial pressure were recorded continuously. End-tidal sevoflurane and nitrous oxide concentration, SpO2 and bispectral index (BIS) were also collected from the beginning of anaesthesia until 8 min after tracheal intubation. ⋯ In both groups, the duration of hypotension was easily controlled either by ephedrine or by adjusting the anaesthetic concentrations. Overall, haemodynamic tolerance appears to be similar in the two techniques. Because hypotension occurred after alfentanil in most patients, this study questioned which is the best opioid dose, if any, to associate with propofol or sevoflurane for the induction in hypertensive patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Reversing sevoflurane-associated Q-Tc prolongation by changing to propofol.
Congenital or acquired forms of the long Q-T syndrome may result in ventricular tachycardia known as torsade de pointes. Many drugs including volatile anaesthetics modify the Q-T interval. Sevoflurane is known to prolong of the rate-corrected Q-T interval (Q-Tc). ⋯ Measurements were taken before, and 15, 20, 25 and 30 min after induction. Q-Tc prolongation was significantly reduced 5, 10 and 15 min after propofol had been substituted for sevoflurane. We conclude that the sevoflurane-associated Q-Tc prolongation is fully reversible within 15 min when propofol is substituted for sevoflurane.