Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2012
Case ReportsAwake Airtraq intubation in an immobile neck--a case report.
A 78 year old patient, whose neck was fixed with polyaxial lateral mass screws and rod was planned for an incisional hernia repair under general anaesthesia. Securing the airway in such an immobile neck is a challenge to the anesthesiologist. Although awake fibreoptic intubation is considered as the gold standard for such challenging patients, we successfully used the Airtraq optical laryngoscope for performing an awake intubation in this case. This example paves the way for the management of similar cases in the future.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2012
The effect of addition of pregabalin and s-ketamine to local infiltration analgesia on the knee function outcome after total knee arthroplasty.
Pain reduction is important for early mobilization after total knee arthroplasy. Recent studies show that local infiltration analgesia and addition of anti-hyperalgesic drugs (pregabalin and s-ketamine) may improve postoperative analgesia and mobilization. ⋯ A pilot study showed that patients achieved knee flexion of 88.5 degrees (SD 9.6) already on the second postoperative day. The side effects were mild and mostly self-limiting.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA comparison of the efficacy of levobupivacaine 0.125%, ropivacaine 0.125% and ropivacaine 0.2%, all combined with sufentanil 0.5 microg/mL, in patient-controlled epidural analgesia after hysterectomy under combined epidural and general anesthesia.
We compared the relative potencies of ropivacaine and levobupivacaine in combination with sufentanil 0.5 microg/ml in postoperative epidural analgesia after abdominal hysterectomy. ⋯ In the context of this study there was no clinical difference in potency between epidural ropivacaine and levobupivacaine in a concentration of 0.125% combined with sufentanil 0.5 mg/mL because local anesthetic consumption was primarily driven by sufentanil. Increasing the concentration of ropivacaine to 0.2% did not result in better analgesia or reduction in sufentanil consumption.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialOptimal wrist angulation shortens time needed for radial artery catheterization: a prospective, randomized, and blinded study.
Optimal wrist position is essential for successful catheterization of the radial artery. We planned to study the success rate of radial artery catheterization at various degrees of wrist extension angulations. ⋯ We conclude that a wrist extension of 450 appears to be the optimal wrist joint extension for a successful radial artery cannula insertion.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2012
Reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block with sugammadex in heart failure patients: a prospective observational study.
The aim of this study was to assess the hemodynamic stability and efficacy of 2 mg/kg sugammadex in reversing rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in patients with heart failure. Twelve patients who had an ejection fraction < or = 25% and who were undergoing general anesthesia for cardiac resynchronization therapy, an automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or battery replacement of the device were included. Neuromuscular function was monitored by acceleromyography of the adductor pollicis muscle. ⋯ No sugammadex-related adverse events were reported. Sugammadex can adequately restore neuromuscular function in heart failure patients under hemodynamically stable conditions. However, longer reversal times are required than previously observed in healthy, young patients.