Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2007
Acute renal failure after isolated CABG surgery: six years of experience.
A prospective observational study was carried out in a Cardiosurgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in order to evaluate the incidence of Acute Renal Failure (ARF) after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and identify its predictors. The effects of ARF on outcome were also investigated. ⋯ Preoperative renal dysfunction, blood transfusion, low-output syndrome, emergency surgery, low ejection fraction and age were independently associated with ARF. Length of ICU and hospital stay were reduced in patients not developing ARF.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2007
Epidural analgesia in children: planning, organization and development of a new program.
The goal of the present work is to describe the development and results of the pediatric epidural analgesia program at the ''Hospital Nacional de Pediatria Prof. Dr. J. P. Garrahan'' in Argentina. ⋯ The safe use of pediatric epidural analgesia in general wards may require the careful selection of patients, systematic assessment by trained personnel, training of medical and nursing personnel, clear distribution of responsibilities, use of printed indications, systematic record of pain, sedation and complications, information and education of patients and parents, supply of systems for airway resuscitation and management and continuous quality control and revision of the methods.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2007
Review Historical ArticleThe history of anesthesia for thoracic surgery.
Today, thoracic surgeons routinely perform complex operations on even the most complicated patient. However, just 75 years ago the ability to operate within the chest was strictly limited to only the simplest and quickest procedures. The dramatic advances in the specialty of thoracic surgery have closely paralleled the introduction of new anesthetic practices, equipment and drugs. This review will identify major events in the history of anesthesia for thoracic surgery.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2007
Case ReportsMyotonia congenita and regional anaesthesia with peripheral nerve stimulation: a case report.
Myotonia congenita is a rare disorder caused by a defect in the skeletal muscle chloride channel function, which may cause sustained membrane depolarisation. We report a case regarding a 52-year-old man affected by this muscular pathology and scheduled for shoulder surgery that was performed under sedation and peripheral nerve block. The international literature does not elucidate clear preference toward a particular anaesthesia technique, but we believe that in this setting, regional anaesthesia and complete monitoring should be preferentially utilized when possible. In any case, the anaesthesia plan should be prudent and avoid exposure to known dangerous anaesthetics.