AANA journal
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Risk management and cost containment concerns inherent in central venous cannulation and pulmonary artery catheter insertion have prompted the search for noninvasive cardiac output methods. Thoracic electrical bioimpedance is one such method, revitalized since the early days of space flight. Thoracic electrical bioimpedance measures the impedance changes associated with plethysmographic changes within the thoracic cavity and determines cardiac output. An appreciation of the foundational principles underlying thoracic electrical bioimpedance when compared to the Fick, indicator dilution and Doppler cardiac output monitoring methods will facilitate the nurse anesthetist's understanding and utilization of these modalities.
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Cost issues and questions related to graduate nurse anesthesia education are raised from the perspective of a dean of a college of nursing. Suggestions relative to these issues are made, and various funding mechanisms that exist in institutions of higher learning are briefly discussed in relation to their cost and benefits.
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A 27-year-old white male was scheduled for a mediastinoscopy of an anterior mediastinal mass. The patient was induced with thiopental and succinylcholine, in anticipation of possible difficulty managing the airway. There was no distortion of the airway, and he was easily intubated with a No. 8.5 anode tube and given 20 mg of atracurium. ⋯ When the muscle relaxant was reversed, the increase in intrathoracic pressure caused the mass to compress the superior vena cava. The compression was released by placing the patient in a reverse Trendelenburg position, which caused the mass to shift. In addition to superior vena cava compression, other complications of anterior mediastinal masses include airway obstruction, distortion of anatomy, impaired cerebral circulation and myasthenic syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The production of microcatheters small enough to be threaded through 22- to 26-gauge spinal needles has focused renewed attention on the technique of continuous spinal anesthesia. This technique has a specific combination of advantages which cannot be duplicated by any other method of regional blockade. ⋯ Inadequate anesthesia, failure to thread the catheter, catheter breakage, prolonged neurologic deficits (e.g., cauda equina syndrome), and postdural puncture headache are uncommon complications. This installment of the AANA Journal Course will explore the latest developments regarding this emerging regional technique.
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A new anesthesia technology, Side Stream Spirometry, now allows clinicians to monitor pressure, volume, flow, compliance, and resistance during routine anesthesia practice. Continuous monitoring with Side Stream Spirometry is a major adjunct to patient safety because numerical and visual references show how change in one respiratory parameter affects the mechanics of the entire breath cycle. To optimize ventilation and ensure adequate oxygenation, it is common practice for clinicians to verify that the proper volume per breath is being delivered to the patient at the lowest possible pressure. ⋯ This sensor location provides actual patient information which is not altered by the volume of gas compressed in the breathing circuit, the absorber system, or in the bellows of the ventilator. This installment of the AANA Journal Course will discuss the technology of Side Stream Spirometry and its application to monitoring pulmonary ventilation. Clinical evidence of ventilatory changes will be graphically demonstrated using the CAPNOMAC ULTIMA, a respiratory gas monitoring system, equipped with Side Stream Spirometry.