Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology
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Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has analgesic, anxiolytic, and antidelirium effects, and causes little respiratory depression. Behavioral disturbances such as agitation, aggression, and sleep disorder are common in cognitive impairment; this impairment may be one of the risk factors for postoperative delirium. We studied the effects of postoperative DEX administration in elderly patients with cognitive impairment. ⋯ Low-dose DEX is safe and useful for postoperative sedation in elderly patients with cognitive impairment.
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Case Reports
[A case of endotracheal intubation in prone position utilizing PENTAX-Airwayscope for morbidly obese patient].
We experienced the airway management of a morbidly obese patient in prone position utilizing PENTAX-Airwayscope (AWS) which is a novel airway device for endotracheal intubation. A 29-year-old man, who was 150 kg in weight and 51.9 kg x m(-2) in body mass index, was scheduled for the discectomy for lumbar disc herniation. After the topical anesthesia with lidocaine spray, the patient lay on his stomach by himself on the table. ⋯ With the patient breathing spontaneously, we successfully inserted the reinforced endotracheal tube. After the maintenance of anesthesia with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine, ketamin and remifentanil, the patient awoke clearly without pain and endotracheal tube was removed safely in the prone position. Although the prone position is not the standard position for endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia, our technique could be performed in emergency situations.
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Comparative Study
[How to improve positioning of the head--the sniffing position, considered to be suitable for endotracheal intubation].
The sniffing position, a combination of flexion of the neck and extension of the head, is considered to be suitable for the performance of endotracheal intubation. To place a patient in this position, anesthesiologists usually put a pillow under a patient's occiput. However, with a regular pillow, the resulting extension of the head tends to be suboptimal. ⋯ The triangular pillow improves the laryngoscopic view and facilitates endotracheal intubation by optimizing a patient's head position.
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Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to improve patient care, reducing complication rates, and shortening hospital stay following colorectal surgery in Europe. In cooperation with colorectal surgeons, ERAS protocols were initially introduced in our hospital to the patients undergoing open colorectal resection in July 2010. ⋯ We, anesthesiologists as perioperative physicians, can improve key elements of perioperative care such as patients' counseling, perioperative analgesia and early mobilization by collaboration with surgeons and nurses, to facilitate postoperative recovery.
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We experienced a 55-year-old female patient who was diagnosed as femoral neuropathy after radical ovariectomy. An epidural catheter was introduced at T11-12 interspace without any problems and general anesthesia was induced and maintained. The operation ended uneventfully. ⋯ Those findings led us to diagnose with femoral neuropathy probably due to abdominal retractors or the operation itself, and insertion of epidural anesthesia could not be the cause of neuropathy. Her symptom was ameliorated with a conservative therapy after four months. We should perform fine neurological examinations when neurological complications occur, especially when we use epidural catheters, and also should have the knowledge about those complications.