Anesthesia, essays and researches
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Case Reports
Dilemmas in Anesthetic Management of a Patient with History of Anaphylaxis to Vecuronium.
Anaphylaxis during anesthesia is a life-threatening situation that occurs uncommonly. A 60-year-old woman with a history of anaphylaxis during previous anesthesia is scheduled to undergo elective open cholecystectomy. Her skin tests revealed sensitivity to vecuronium and nonsensitivity to injections of midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol. ⋯ The only alternate neuromuscular blocking drug available to us was atracurium, which was tested for sensitivity by intradermal test. Atracurium was found to be not sensitive on intradermal test. We report here the dilemma and the challenges faced during management of general anesthesia in a patient with history of anaphylaxis to vecuronium.
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Brachial plexus blockade is a time-tested technique for upper limb surgeries. The classical approach using paresthesia technique is a blind technique and may be associated with a higher failure rate and injury to the nerves and surrounding structures. To avoid some of these problems, use of peripheral nerve stimulator and ultrasound techniques were started which allowed better localization of the nerve/plexus. Ultrasound for supraclavicular brachial plexus block has improved the success rate of the block with excellent localization as well as improved safety margin. Hence, this study was planned for comparing the efficacy of conventional supraclavicular brachial plexus block with ultrasound-guided technique. ⋯ Ultrasound guidance is the safe and effective method for the supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Incidence of complications are less as ultrasound provides real-time visulaization of underlying structures and the spread of local anaesthetic.
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Pain is a common complaint after surgery and seems to be difficult to manage in children because of fear of complications of pain treatment or misconception that infants and small children do not feel pain at all or feel less pain. A survey reported that 40% of pediatric surgical patients experienced moderate or severe postoperative pain and that more than 75% had insufficient analgesia. Our study was carried to provide continuous infusion of intravenous (i.v.) tramadol alone using a dedicated infusion device Graseby 2100 syringe pump and compared it to a combination of i.v. tramadol infusion and per rectal paracetamol. ⋯ We recommend use of an infusion of tramadol in a dose of 0.25 mg/kg/h in the first 24 h after surgery, in combination with a regular per rectal paracetamol in a daily dose of 90 mg/kg/day in four divided doses for children after major abdominal surgery. However, a close nursing supervision is essential to increase the safety profile.
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Ketamine, in low doses, is known to possess intense analgesic properties. The available literature shows wide variation regarding the time and dose of administration of ketamine during surgery. ⋯ Ketamine in low dose proved to be an efficacious analgesic even in the long duration laparoscopic gynecological surgeries. It stabilizes intraoperative hemodynamics thereby reducing the requirement of other anesthetic and antihypertensive agents.
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Benefits of regional anesthesia can be prolonged by adding adjuvants to local anesthetics. This study was designed to test the efficacy of adding nalbuphine to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade using ultrasound (US) guidance. ⋯ Nalbuphine when added to bupivacaine as an adjuvant in supraclavicular block significantly shortened the onset of sensory and motor block and enhanced the duration of sensory and motor block and DOA.