Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
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Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) produce neuromuscular blockade by competing with acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, whereas depolarizing NMBAs open receptor channels in a manner similar to that of acetylcholine. Problems with NMBAs include malignant hyperthermia caused by succinylcholine, anaphylaxis with the highest incidence for succinylcholine and rocuronium, and residual neuromuscular blockade. To reverse these blocks, anticholinesterases can act indirectly by increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the neuromuscular junction; sugammadex is the only selective relaxant binding agent (SRBA) in clinical use. ⋯ Moreover, it is uncertain whether the full removal of the competing antagonists (by SRBAs) at the neuromuscular junction impacts the efficiency of acetylcholine transmission. In a recent pilot study in healthy volunteers, we demonstrated increased electromyographic diaphragm activity after sugammadex, compared to neostigmine. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of NMBAs and their reversal agents in the central control of breathing, respiratory muscle activity, and respiratory outcomes.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2014
ReviewHydroxyethyl starches in the perioperative period. A review on the efficacy and safety of starch solutions.
Several randomized controlled trials have raised alarming concerns about the safety of hydroxyethyl starches (HES) for the hemodynamic stabilization of critically ill patients. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the use of HES in patients treated in an intensive care unit was associated with an increased occurrence of serious adverse events, including a higher incidence of renal injury or failure, a higher need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and (in one study) increased mortality. HES solutions are also widely used in the perioperative period, although high-level evidence on both the efficacy and safety of HES in patients undergoing surgery is sparse. ⋯ Food and Drug Administration also communicated a serious warning with respect to the use of HES (2). The present (non-systematic) review summarizes the evidence upon which these remarkable recommendations are based. Moreover, current guidelines on the use of HES are quoted.
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Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia enables performing diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures in the tracheobronchial tree. This technique is characterized by specific technical problems, insofar as the anesthesiologist and the operators share the same space, namely the airway. Several potential complications (hemorrhage inside the airway, threat to ventilation ...) may arise. ⋯ General anesthesia is usually total intravenous anesthesia, using short acting agents. Ventilation can be spontaneous, but more often insured using high-frequency jet ventilation. The hospital infrastructure and staff must have the expertise to perform this particular procedure, in order to limit the complication rate.
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The aim of this literature review was to compare the duration of the recovery effects of sugammadex. We therefore systematically searched Medline for relevant reports that investigated the recovery time to a train-of-four (TOF) ratio of 0.9 after sugammadex administration. Thirty-three reports were retrieved. ⋯ Additionally, variability in the onset of sugammadex effect was observed in healthier patients (up to 22.3 minutes). This review confirms the known rapid reversal by the recommended doses of sugammadex. However, due to possibility of an increased recovery time, any patient who receives sugammadex to reverse neuromuscular block should have his or her TOF checked prior to extubation.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2013
ReviewUnplanned cesarean section in parturients with an epidural catheter in-situ: how to obtain surgical anesthesia?
Epidural analgesia is frequently used for labor. Several authors advocate its use when parturient women are at increased risk for emergency Cesarean delivery. Hereby, the time needed to achieve adequate surgical anesthesia may be shortened and general anesthesia may be avoided. ⋯ Little consensus can be found in literature about the nature of local anesthetic solution to be used to provide rapid onset and high quality anesthesia for the entire duration of surgery. Women, whose epidural analgesia extension fails either receive a new neuraxial blockade, or receive general anesthesia. We reviewed the medical literature to better define the best methods and choice of products at providing a rapid and adequate surgical anesthesia in parturient women with an epidural catheter in-situ.