Der Anaesthesist
-
The duration of spinal anaesthesia in infants is short compared to adult patients. When tetracaine is used, the addition of epinephrine significantly prolongs the duration. For bupivacaine, however, the influence of epinephrine on the duration is not clear. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS. Epinephrine 1:200,000 significantly prolongs the duration of spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants. Haemodynamic parameters in this age group remain unchanged during spinal anaesthesia and are not influenced by the addition of epinephrine.
-
The rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia in patients with an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration is a quite involved procedure associated with many potential dangers. A new nasogastric balloon tube has been developed, which will prevent the reflux of gastric contents by blocking the cardia with a balloon. It was the aim of this initial study to assess the efficiency of the tube in animals, healthy volunteers and patients. ⋯ The average time from loss of consciousness to tracheal intubation was 164 +/- 8 s. CONCLUSIONS. It is concluded from the present results, with further clinical studies pending, that the gastric balloon probe permits low-risk conventional induction sequence of anaesthesia in patients with an increased risk for pulmonary aspiration and that the device may also be safely used during the extubation phase.