Der Anaesthesist
-
The quality, result, and prognosis of neurosurgery relies heavily on the anaesthetic technique. Many different classes of drugs have been used during neurosurgical anaesthesia. This article reviews the use of intravenous (IV) propofol as an alternative to volatile anaesthetic techniques. ⋯ On the other hand, all IV agents except ketamine are associated with decreases in CMRO2 and are cerebral vasoconstrictors. For this reason, it is rational to use them for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia for neurosurgery as part of a total IV anaesthetic technique. The third part of the article focuses on propofol as the newest representative of IV anaesthetics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
-
Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology involving weakness of proximal muscles, myalgia and impairment of the integument. Due to its low incidence, only few reports exist on the anaesthesiologic management of neuromuscular blockade in patients with DM considered for surgical therapy. In this setting, special attention should be given to the administration of muscle relaxants since an increased sensitivity to these drugs in neuromuscular diseases may be expected. ⋯ To date, few experiences of neuromuscular blockade with atracurium in DM have been presented, hence this report. In addition, no standard recommendations are given regarding the application of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants in this context. In our case, atracurium could be implemented as a safe drug under neuromuscular monitoring.
-
Clinical Trial
[Preliminary experiences with superimpoposed high-frequence jet ventilation in intensive care].
The study aimed to evaluate whether superimposed high-frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) is a useful tool in intensive care medicine to ventilate patients with pulmonary insufficiency. METHODS. SHFJV is the simultaneous application of low- and high-frequency jet ventilation performed using a specially designed ventilator. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS. Significant differences were observed primarily in Gr 3 patients, indicating that patients with severe pulmonary insufficiency may benefit from SHFJV. SHFJV may thus represent an alternative mode of ventilation in critically ill patients.
-
Although the local anaesthetic prilocaine is less cardio- and neurotoxic than lidocaine, it bears the disadvantage of the formation of methaemoglobin by the metabolite o-toluidine. Prilocaine is often successfully used, especially for the blockade of the brachial plexus, but one problem of this technique is the failure rate of 3-10%, with the consequence that general anaesthesia after administration of prilocaine is frequently necessary. Methaemoglobin formation after prilocaine administration has been thoroughly investigated. ⋯ Three explanations seem plausible: (1) Thiopental blocks the hydroxylase of the endoplasmic reticulum, with the result that o-toluidine cannot be further metabolised, leading to higher o-toluidine and methaemoglobin levels. (2) Isoflurane improves the blood supply of the liver. This results in increased metabolism of prilocaine to o-toluidine. (3) The results were accidental. To clarify which of these explanations is correct, further investigation is necessary.