British journal of anaesthesia
-
Previous studies have identified no strong correlation between patients' height and tracheal length in anaesthetized patients. We have attempted to compare vocal cords-carina distance (VCD) in Chinese patients with the dimensions of five commonly used tracheal tubes. In addition, we attempted to find a surface anatomy measurement that would identify patients with 'short tracheas'. ⋯ A significant number of patients with short VCD in our study group could be at risk of endobronchial intubation with many of the tracheal tubes. Patient height and thyrosternal distance can be useful in predicting short tracheas.
-
Effects of temperature gradient correction of carbon dioxide absorbent on carbon dioxide absorption.
The effects of temperature gradients in CO(2) absorbents on water content and CO(2) absorption are not clear. We constructed a novel temperature gradient correction (TGC) canister, and investigated the effects of temperature gradient correction on the water content and longevity (time to exhaustion) of CO(2) absorbent using a simulated anaesthesia circuit. ⋯ Temperature gradient correction prevented a local excessive increase in water content and improved the longevity of CO(2) absorbent.
-
The goal of the study was to determine activated thrombelastographic (TEG(R)) parameters with the rotational TEG(R) (ROTEG or ROTEM) device (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany) in neonates and infants <1 yr with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) and to compare them with those of healthy children. ⋯ These preliminary TEG results indicate that the coagulation-fibrinolytic system in CCHD patients <1 yr is functionally intact and balanced but at a lower level than in healthy children. This could be interpreted as a reduction in the haemostatic potential with less reserve.
-
Current practice at high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) initiation is a stepwise increase of the constant applied airway pressure to achieve lung recruitment. We hypothesized that HFOV would lead to more adverse cerebral haemodynamics than does pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) in the presence of experimental intracranial hypertension (IH) and acute lung injury (ALI) in pigs with similar mean airway pressure settings. ⋯ In animals with elevated ICP and ALI, both ventilatory modes had effects upon cerebral haemodynamics. The effects upon cerebral haemodynamics were dependent of the P(T) level without differences between both ventilatory modes at similar P(mean) settings. HFOV seems to be a possible alternative ventilatory strategy when MAP deterioration can be avoided.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of lactated Ringer's, gelatine and blood resuscitation on intestinal oxygen supply and mucosal tissue oxygen tension in haemorrhagic shock.
To evaluate the effects on intestinal oxygen supply, and mucosal tissue oxygen tension during haemorrhage and after fluid resuscitation with either blood (B; n=7), gelatine (G; n=8), or lactated Ringer's solution (R; n=8) in an autoperfused, innervated jejunal segment in anaesthetized pigs. ⋯ Blood or gelatine infusion improves mucosal tissue oxygenation of the porcine jejunum after severe haemorrhage when compared with lactated Ringer's solution.