Anaesthesia
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Observational Study
An observational study of the macro- and micro-haemodynamic implications of epidural anaesthesia in children.
The haemodynamic implications of epidural anaesthesia in children are poorly documented. We report macro- and micro-haemodynamic data from an observational study of 25 children ranging from neonates to six-years old, who underwent surgery conducted with a specific combination of monitoring systems. We analysed 90 min of study-related monitoring after epidural catheterisation, with skin incision taking place after around 30 min. ⋯ Based on the entire 90 min of study-related monitoring, we found significant increases in cardiac output (p = 0.009), stroke volume (p = 0.006) and stroke volume variation (p = 0.008), as well as decreases in systemic vascular resistance (p = 0.007) around 30 min after epidural blockade. There were no significant changes in heart rate, arterial pressure and cerebral or peri-renal oxygenation during these 90 min. Considering that the microhaemodynamic parameters were not affected by the macrohaemodynamic changes, we conclude that autoregulation of the brain and the kidneys was maintained in children under epidural anaesthesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A randomised controlled trial comparing transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) pre-oxygenation with facemask pre-oxygenation in patients undergoing rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia.
Pre-oxygenation is an essential part of rapid sequence induction of general anaesthesia for emergency surgery, in order to increase the oxygen reservoir in the lungs. We performed a randomised controlled trial of transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) pre-oxygenation or facemask pre-oxygenation in patients undergoing emergency surgery. Twenty patients were allocated to each group. ⋯ No airway rescue manoeuvres were needed, and there were no differences in the number of laryngoscopy attempts between the groups. In spite of this, patients in the THRIVE group had a significantly longer apnoea time of 248 (71) s compared with 123 (55) s in the facemask group (p < 0.001). Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange is a practicable method for pre-oxygenating patients during rapid sequence induction of general anaesthesia for emergency surgery; we found that it maintained an equivalent blood gas profile to facemask pre-oxygenation, in spite of a significantly longer apnoea time.
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Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is an operation associated with significant postoperative pain, and regional anaesthetic techniques are of potential benefit. The erector spinae plane (ESP) block performed at the level of the T5 transverse process has recently been described for thoracic surgery, and we hypothesised that performing the ESP block at a lower vertebral level would provide effective abdominal analgesia. We performed pre-operative bilateral ESP blocks with 20-30 ml ropivacaine 0.5% at the level of the T7 transverse process in four patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. ⋯ There was radiographic evidence of spread extending cranially to the upper thoracic levels and caudally as far as the L2-L3 transverse processes. We conclude that the ESP block is a promising regional anaesthetic technique for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair and other abdominal surgery when performed at the level of the T7 transverse process. Its advantages are the ability to block both supra-umbilical and infra-umbilical dermatomes with a single-level injection and its relative simplicity.
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This study evaluated the incidence of nerve puncture and intraneural injection based on the needle approach to the nerve (direct vs. tangential). Two expert operators in regional anaesthesia performed in-plane ultrasound-guided nerve blocks (n = 158) at different levels of the brachial plexus in cadavers, aiming either directly for the nerve (n = 77) or tangentially inferior to the nerve (n = 81). After reaching the outer limit of the nerve, the needle was intentionally advanced approximately 1 mm in both approaches, and 0.2-0.5 ml of saline was injected. ⋯ No intrafascicular injections were observed. There was good agreement between the operators' assessment and subsequent histological evaluation (Cohen's kappa = 0.89). Simulation of an unintentional/accidental advancement of the needle 'beyond the edge' of the nerve suggests significantly increased risk of epineural perforation and intraneural injection when a direct approach to the nerve is used, compared with a tangential approach.
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The Universal Anaesthesia Machine has been developed as a complete anaesthesia workstation for use in low- and middle-income countries, where the provision of safe general anaesthesia is often compromised by unreliable supply of electricity and anaesthetic gases. We performed a functional and clinical assessment of this anaesthetic machine, with particular reference to novel features and functioning in the intended environment. The Universal Anaesthesia Machine was found to be reliable, safe and consistent across a range of tests during targeted functional testing.