British journal of anaesthesia
-
Case Reports
Ultrasound-guided lumbar plexus block through the acoustic window of the lumbar ultrasound trident.
Lumbar plexus block (LPB) is frequently used in combination with an ipsilateral sacral plexus or sciatic nerve block for lower limb surgery. This is traditionally performed using surface anatomical landmarks, and the site for local anaesthetic injection is confirmed by observing quadriceps muscle contraction to peripheral nerve stimulation. In this report, we describe a technique of ultrasound-guided LPB that was successfully used, in conjunction with a sciatic nerve block, for anaesthesia during emergency lower limb surgery. The anatomy, sonographic features, technique of identifying the lumbar plexus, and the potential benefits of using this approach are discussed.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of the novel hydroxyethylstarch 130/0.4 and hydroxyethylstarch 200/0.6 in brain-dead donor resuscitation on renal function after transplantation.
The renal effect of hydroxyethylstarch (HES) solutions remains controversial. We hypothesized that the use of HES with a mean molecular weight of 130 kDa would reduce renal dysfunctions in the recipients. Our study was aimed at comparing the effects of two fluid regimens (HES 130/0.4 or HES 200/0.6) used for the resuscitation of brain-dead donors on the rate of delayed graft function (DGF) and the serum creatinine levels post-transplantation. ⋯ Using a modern, third-generation, rapidly degradable HES preparation with a low degree of substitution seems to be associated with a better effect on the renal function of recipients.
-
Early haemodynamic assessment is of particular importance in the evaluation of haemodynamically compromised patients, but is often precluded by the invasiveness and complexity of the established cardiac output (CO) monitoring techniques. The FloTrac/Vigileo system allows minimally invasive CO determination based on the arterial pressure waveform derived from any standard arterial catheter, and the algorithm underlying CO calculation was recently modified to allow a more precise estimate of aortic compliance. ⋯ Despite the updated algorithm, AP-CO still showed a limited agreement with the reference-CO and systematically underestimated the CO so that the method is not suitable to replace invasive CO monitoring at present.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Pentax-AWS, a new videolaryngoscope, is more effective than the Macintosh laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in patients with restricted neck movements: a randomized comparative study.
We studied whether laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were easier when using the Pentax-AWS (Tokyo, Japan), a new videolaryngoscope, than when applying the Macintosh laryngoscope, during manual in-line neck stabilization. ⋯ In patients with stabilized neck, the Pentax-AWS provided a better view of the glottis and a higher success rate of tracheal intubation, compared with the conventional Macintosh laryngoscope.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of short-term simultaneous infusion of dobutamine and terlipressin in patients with septic shock: the DOBUPRESS study.
Terlipressin bolus infusion may reduce cardiac output and global oxygen supply. The present study was designed to determine whether dobutamine may counterbalance the terlipressin-induced depression in mixed-venous oxygen saturation (Svo) in patients with catecholamine-dependent septic shock. ⋯ In human catecholamine-dependent septic shock, terlipressin (with and without concomitant dobutamine infusion) increases MAP and markedly reduces norepinephrine requirements. Although no adverse events were noticed in the present study, potential benefits of increasing Svo2 after terlipressin bolus infusion need to be weighted against the risk of cardiovascular complications resulting from high-dose dobutamine.