Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2013
Case ReportsLeakage of sevoflurane from vaporizer detected by air monitoring system: a case report.
Leakage of inhalational anesthetic gases is an important issue not only to staff health but awareness during general anesthesia. After inhalation of sevoflurane commenced, the audible and visible alarm of our custom-made air monitoring system was activated. The system measured 2-4 ppm of sevoflurane. ⋯ After changing inhalational anesthesia to intravenous anesthesia, the concentration of sevoflurane decreased immediately to zero. The filling level on the vaporizer decreased faster than usual. A thorough check of the vaporizer after surgery identified a worn down seal in the filling device of the vaporizer.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2013
Quantification of the proportion of motor neurons recruited by transcranial electrical stimulation during intraoperative motor evoked potential monitoring.
Transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) are widely used to monitor motor function during spinal surgery. However, they are much smaller and more variable in amplitude than responses evoked by maximal peripheral nerve stimulation, suggesting that a limited number of spinal motor neurons to the target muscle are excited by transcranial stimulation. The aim of this study was to quantify the proportion of motor neurons recruited during TcMEP monitoring under general anesthesia. ⋯ The average ratios (test:control) were 17.1 % (range 1.8-38 %) for the amplitudes and 21.6 % (range 2.9-40 %) for the areas. The activity of approximately 80 % of the motor units to the target muscle cannot be detected by TcMEP monitoring. Therefore, changes in evoked potentials must be interpreted cautiously when assessing segmental motor function with TcMEP monitoring.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of preoperative consumption of potatoes on succinylcholine-induced block and recovery from anesthesia.
Potatoes contain solanaceous glycoalkaloids (SGAs), which inhibit both butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The present study investigated the effect of preoperative consumption of potatoes on succinylcholine-induced block and recovery from anesthesia. ASA I-II, adult patients, scheduled for elective surgery, were included in a randomized, blind and controlled study. ⋯ In addition, in both groups, BuChE levels markedly decreased after succinylcholine blockade, increased thereafter, but did not return to baseline within 24 h of consumption start. None of these differences observed in BuChE levels was statistically significant. This study suggests that potatoes eaten before anesthesia can prolong the duration of succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular block and delay recovery from anesthesia.
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The aim of the present study was to develop and validate an objective index for nociception level (NoL) of patients under general anesthesia, based on a combination of multiple physiological parameters. Twenty-five patients scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled. For clinical reference of NoL, the combined index of stimulus and analgesia was defined as a composite of the surgical stimulus level and a scaled effect-site concentration of opioid. ⋯ These results demonstrate the superiority of multi-parametric approach over any individual parameter in the evaluation of nociceptive response. In addition, advanced non-linear technique may have an advantage over ordinary linear regression for computing NoL index. Further research will define the usability of the NoL index as a clinical tool to assess the level of nociception during general anesthesia.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2013
Exploration of key stakeholders' preferences for pre-hospital physiologic monitoring by emergency rescue services.
To gather preferences for novel pre-hospital physiologic monitoring technologies from emergency rescue services. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with three groups from UK Search and Rescue (SAR); (1) Extractors (e.g. SAR teams), (2) Transporters (personnel primarily responsible for casualty transport), and (3) Treaters (e.g. ⋯ A range of more intuitive, physical properties was also raised (e.g. small/compact, lightweight). SAR-specific technology should be simple to operate by those with less medical training, which means that clinical data interpretation and presentation should be carefully considered. It would be beneficial if novel monitors carried out a majority of the interpretation, allowing rescuers to proceed with their priority task of removing the casualty to safety.