BMC anesthesiology
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Case Reports
Case report: perioperative management of caesarean section for a parturient with mitochondrial myopathy.
Mitochondrial myopathies represent a group of disorders caused by mitochondrial defects that disrupt energy production. Most patients have issues from infancy to early childhood. Pregnancy in women with mitochondrial myopathy is uncommon and the management for these parturients is full of challenges. ⋯ It is important that patients with mitochondrial diseases are comprehensively assessed and monitored perioperatively.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Combatting pain after orthopedic/trauma surgery- perioperative oral extended-release tapentadol vs. extended-release oxycodone/naloxone.
High post-operative pain scores after "minor" orthopedic/trauma surgery are in part attributed to inadequate prescription of opioid analgesics. Novel concepts aiming to achieve sufficient analgesia while minimizing opioid-related side effects by avoiding fluctuating plasma levels are based on perioperative oral administration of extended-release opioids beginning with the first dose pre-operatively. This is the first study to evaluate analgesic efficacy and side effect rates of extended-release tapentadol compared to oxycodone/naloxone following orthopedic/trauma surgery. ⋯ With both concepts, mean maximum pain intensity during exercise within the first 24 h after orthopedic/trauma surgery was reduced to a score of <4. This analgesic efficacy came at the cost of mainly gastro-intestinal side effects. Thus, we now use a prophylaxis against nausea and vomiting and pre-emptive laxatives as part of these concepts.
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Structural aspects and current practice about end-of-life (EOL) decisions in German intensive care units (ICUs) managed by anesthesiologists are unknown. A survey among intensive care anesthesiologists has been conducted to explore current practice, barriers and opinions on EOL decisions in ICU. ⋯ The present survey affirms an urgent need for improvement in EOL practice in German ICUs focusing on advanced care planning, distinct aspects of changing goals of care, implementation of standard operating procedures, continuing education and reporting of outcome data.
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Oscillations of the arterial partial pressure of oxygen induced by varying shunt fractions occur during cyclic alveolar recruitment within the injured lung. Recently, these were proposed as a pathomechanism that may be relevant for remote organ injury following acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study examines the transmission of oxygen oscillations to the renal tissue and their tidal volume dependency. ⋯ In a porcine model oscillations of the arterial partial pressure of oxygen are induced by cyclic alveolar recruitment and transmitted to the renal microcirculation in a tidal volume-dependent fashion. They might play a role in organ crosstalk and remote organ damage following lung injury.
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Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a rare neurological disorder that is caused by the production of antibodies against NMDARs. As many anaesthetic drugs interact with NMDARs and may worsen the disease and because the disease poses risks, such as cardiovascular events, hyperthermia and respiratory insufficiency, while under anaesthesia, administering anaesthesia to patients with this disorder is clinically challenging. ⋯ Adequate preparation for surgery is essential for the anaesthetic management of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. These rare patients may benefit from general anaesthesia induced using remifentanil, propofol and cisatracurium and maintained using sevoflurane and remifentanil. Additionally, the use of NMDA antagonists, such as ketamine, nitrous oxide and tramadol, should be avoided.