Anaesthesia
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Clinical Trial
Effect of weight gain during pregnancy on heart rate variability and hypotension during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of antenatal weight gain on baseline heart rate variability and incidence of hypotension in singleton parturients with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index, presenting at term for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Sixty-six parturients, of ASA physical status 1-2, were allocated to one of three groups according to their weight gain during pregnancy: < 11 kg; 11-16 kg; and > 16 kg. ⋯ The incidence of hypotension in the < 11 kg group (17/22; 77%) was significantly higher than in the 11-16 kg group (7/22; 32%) (p = 0.006) and the > 16 kg group (8/22; 36%) (p = 0.01). We conclude that weight gain < 11 kg during pregnancy is associated with increased baseline heart rate variability and a higher incidence of hypotension at the time of elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
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Clinical Trial
Clinical evaluation of a simultaneous closed-loop anaesthesia control system for depth of anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade*.
We developed a closed-loop system to control the depth of anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade using the bispectral index and the electromyogram simultaneously and evaluated the clinical performance of this combined system for general anaesthesia. Twenty-two adult patients were included in this study. Anaesthesia was induced by a continuous infusion of remifentanil at 0.4 μg.kg(-1) .min(-1) (induction dose) and then 0.25 μg.kg(-1) .min(-1) (maintenance dose) and propofol at 2 mg.kg(-1) 3 min later. ⋯ All patients assessed the quality of anaesthesia as 'good' to 'very good'; there were no episodes of awareness. The mean (SD) median performance error, median absolute performance error and wobble for the control of depth of anaesthesia and for neuromuscular blockade were -0.31 (1.78), 6.76 (3.45), 6.32 (2.93) and -0.38 (1.68), 3.75 (4.83), 3.63 (4.69), respectively. The simultaneous closed-loop system using propofol and mivacurium was able to maintain the target values with a high level of precision in a clinical setting.
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We describe the management and recovery of a 28-year-old man following a history of overdose by nasal inhalation of cocaine. The patient was presented in a comatose state suffering from seizures and marked cardiovascularly instability. Intravenous lipid emulsion was administered following initial resuscitation and tracheal intubation, as a means of treating persistent cardiac arrhythmias and profound hypotension. Following lipid emulsion therapy, the patient's life-threatening cardiovascular parameters rapidly improved and he recovered well without any side effects, thus being discharged within 2 days.
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We investigated the deterioration in plasticity of the multi-use Portex Tracheal Guide ('bougie') with repeated sterilisation. Six bougies were prepared by washing them between 0 and 100 times (in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines). Two tests were employed: a bench test in which rapid serial photographs were taken of the bougies uncoiling from a preformed curve; and a manikin-based test in which the six bougies were used in a simulated difficult airway. ⋯ However, the manikin-based test showed no significant difference between bougies in the incidence of oesophageal placement (p = 0.74). Time to placement differed significantly only between the two most-washed bougies but was broadly similar. We suggest therefore that the manufacturer's limit of five washings may be unnecessarily cautious.
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We studied the i-gel™ in 120 anaesthetised children (92 boys, 28 girls; median (IQR [range]) age (3 -7 [0.4 -13]) years and weight 19 (15-26 [7-35]) kg) to assess efficacy and usability. Insertion was successful on the first/second/third attempt in 110/8/1 children and failed in one child. Median (IQR [range]) insertion time was 14 (9-16 [6-200]) s. ⋯ One child regurgitated without aspirating. Other complications and side effects were infrequent. The i-gel was inserted without complications, establishing a clear airway and enabling spontaneous and controlled ventilation, in 113 (94%) children.