Anaesthesiologie und Reanimation
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Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Comparative studies of patient positioning for lumbar intervertebral disk operation].
For surgery on lumbar disks by the posterior route, patients are placed either on a Wilson frame or in genupectoral position. The aim of the prospective study was to record and describe the haemodynamic changes resulting from the patients' position. After written informed consent had been received, 80 neurosurgical patients undergoing lumbar disk surgery were randomly divided into two groups; group I--Wilson frame, group II--genupectoral position. ⋯ We recommend the Wilson frame for neurosurgical lumbar disk surgery in cases of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders. The adaptive capacities in the genupectoral position as a result of the modifying distribution of blood volume are limited in these patients. Furthermore, the dose-dependent effects of different anaesthetics on haemodynamic parameters in these prone positions should be explored.
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Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Cis-atracurium--an equivalent substitution for atracurium in pediatric anesthesia?].
Cis-atracurium is a stereoisomer of atracurium, about five times more potent than the racemate. Whereas cis-atracurium is routinely used in adults, its effects on children are still poorly defined. We compared equipotent doses of atracurium and cis-atracurium in children aged between 2 and 12 years regarding the quality of neuromuscular blockade, the intubation conditions and the occurrence of side-effects. ⋯ Flush and tachycardia occurred much less frequently and there were no significant differences in the two groups: two patients in group A and only one in group C. The authors conclude that atracurium and cis-atracurium lead to comparable neuromuscular effects in children aged between 2 and 12 years. Only the intubation conditions were better after atracurium, but atracurium was followed by urticaria more often than cis-atracurium.
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Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 2002
Review[Can lung protective ventilation methods modify outcome?--A critical review].
A large body of experimental and clinical work leaves no room for doubt that mechanical ventilation can contribute to the progression of a lung disease or, in the worst case, produce acute pulmonary damage. The pathophysiological processes involved have been described as barotrauma, volutrauma, atelectrauma and biotrauma. In response, a socalled lung-protective ventilation strategy has been proposed, especially for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ⋯ Of these, only prone positioning has become part of routine clinical management, while ECMO is applied in selected cases only. Unfortunately, thus far, none of these measures has passed the litmus test of a randomized controlled trial. Recent large prospective observational studies, however, suggest that only an optimized concert of therapeutic interventions, but not a single measure alone, may improve the outcome of ARDS patients.
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Myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion situations may occur during the perioperative period. The cardioprotective effects of anaesthetics have been known for a long time: volatile anaesthetics reduce the ischaemic cell damage and infarct development. Besides ischaemia, reperfusion itself can also lead to cellular damage, thereby further increasing the ischaemic injury (reperfusion injury). ⋯ The common pathway of the signal transduction cascade of both ischaemic and chemical preconditioning includes the sarcolemnal and/or mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel. Volatile anaesthetics can imitate the protective effects of a short ischaemia, thereby producing chemical preconditioning. This effect depends, at least in part, on anaesthetic-induced opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
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Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 2002
Case Reports[Accidental hypothermia--a challenge for rescue service and intensive care].
Accidental hypothermia is a rare clinical picture with different causes. Specific features are shown by patients who have accidents in water, due to rapid cooling. The SARRRAH project (Search and Rescue, Resuscitation and Rewarming in Accidental Hypothermia) was launched to secure fast and professional medical care right up to rewarming by extracorporal circulation. ⋯ Five of the non-survivors belonged to the group of eight patients who were rewarmed by extracorporal circulation. With one exception, they also had the lowest core temperatures. Only a homogeneous and up-to-date documentation will allow further conclusions to be made for improving the concept of therapy.