British journal of anaesthesia
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Peripheral nerve blocks are almost always performed as blind procedures. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of seeing individual nerves of the brachial plexus and directing the block needle to these nerves with real time imaging. ⋯ The use of ultrasound appears to permit accurate deposition of the local anaesthetic perineurally, and has the potential to improve the success and decrease the complications of infraclavicular brachial plexus block.
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The Brandt tracheal tube keeps cuff pressure constant during anaesthesia, but the mechanisms have not been examined. We assessed volume, pressure and gas concentration in the cuff and pilot balloon using the Brandt system. ⋯ The Brandt tracheal tube maintains stable cuff pressure during nitrous oxide anaesthesia because of a highly compliant balloon. The concentration gradient of nitrous oxide between the cuff and pilot balloon also contributes to the stable-cuff pressure because the high nitrous oxide concentration in the cuff reduces nitrous oxide influx.
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The bispectral index (BIS) and the rapidly extracted auditory evoked potentials index (A-line ARX Index or AAI) have been proposed as methods to measure the depth of sedation. A prospective study was designed to assess the performance of both these methods for measuring the depth of sedation induced by propofol or midazolam under epidural block. ⋯ Both AAI and BIS correlated well with the depth of sedation induced by propofol or midazolam under epidural block. AAI may be more valuable when monitoring depth of sedation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Plasma concentration of ropivacaine after intercostal blocks for video-assisted thoracic surgery.
Absorption of local anaesthetics following intercostal blocks is rapid. Therefore, plasma concentrations of ropivacaine during intercostal blocks with ropivacaine 2, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg ml-1 (ropivacaine 5 ml injected into each of four intercostal spaces) in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery were determined. ⋯ After intercostal blocks the absorption of ropivacaine is rapid compared with other techniques for regional anaesthesia and results in relatively high venous and arterial plasma concentrations, especially if a dose of 100 mg or more is used.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Propofol attenuates myocardial lipid peroxidation during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.
Propofol can scavenge free radicals because it has a chemical structure similar to antioxidants. ⋯ In clinical doses, propofol strongly attenuates lipid peroxidation during CABG surgery.