Der Anaesthesist
-
The probability of treating patients with valvular heart disease during non-cardiac surgery increases with the age of the patient. The prevalence of valvular heart disease is approximately 2.5% and increases further in the patient group aged over 75 years old. Patients with valvular heart disease undergoing non-cardiac surgery have an increased perioperative cardiovascular risk depending on the severity of the disease. ⋯ Depending on the underlying disease and the type of surgery planned a corresponding choice of anesthesia procedure and medication must be made. In the present review article the pathophysiology of the relevant valvular heart diseases and the implications for perioperative anesthesia management will be presented. An individually tailored extended perioperative monitoring allows hemodynamic alterations to be rapidly recognized and adequately treated.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Pharmacokinetics of propofol in patients undergoing total hip replacement : effect of acute hypervolemic hemodilution.
The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of acute hypervolemic hemodilution (HHD) on the pharmacokinetics of propofol in patients undergoing total hip replacement. ⋯ Acute HHD increases V(C), prolongs the T(1/2) (γ), and decreases K(10) and CL, which suggests that care must be taken when propofol is used in patients undergoing HHD. The induction dose should be increased, but the maintenance dose should be decreased. The time to emergency from anesthesia will likely be prolonged, especially in patients receiving prolonged continuous infusions.
-
Surgical interventions in the sitting position are intended to optimize surgical conditions by reducing bleeding in the operation field and improving the surgical approach. There are, however, some potentially life-threatening risks associated with surgery in the sitting position. ⋯ In addition to standard monitoring procedures, transthoracic Doppler ultrasound and transesophageal echocardiography are valuable methods used to detect the presence of air in the vasculature. If an air embolism becomes apparent, further targeted measures are needed to prevent or aggressively treat the progression of potentially life-threatening consequences.
-
Barbiturate coma therapy is a useful method to control increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with severe brain damage if standard measures have failed to lower ICP. Pentobarbital (not available in Germany) and thiopental (in Germany only approved for induction of anesthesia) have frequently been used in patients with intracranial hypertension and the effects and side-effects are well-described. However, little is known about the effect of methohexital (the only barbiturate in Germany approved for maintaining anesthesia) in lowering increased ICP. Therefore, the effect of methohexital on ICP was studied in patients where standard measures had failed to control intracranial hypertension. ⋯ Methohexital showed a clear trend for decreasing ICP in patients with intracranial hypertension refractory to standard therapeutic measures. In survivors the effect was highly significant. Patients not responding to methohexital therapy seemed to have an unfavorable outcome.
-
Case Reports
[Severe airway distress following cervical spine operation: retrospective breakdown of the chain of errors].
A 71-year-old female patient received a prothesis due to a cervical disc prolapsed and bleeding into the collar soft tissues occurred postoperatively. Following a computed tomography examination severe peracute respiratory decompensation occurred while administering topical anesthesia to the pharynx in order to perform fiber optic intubation. ⋯ As an on-site cricothyrotomy set to establish a secure airway was not available the decision was taken to perform surgical cricothyroidotomy. As a conclusion to this life-threatening event in the case of symptoms, such as dyspnea, dysphonia and dysphagia after operations of the cervical spine the airway has to be secured early and according to the local algorithm.