Revista brasileira de anestesiologia
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Jun 2007
[Assessment of the cognitive effects of inhalational induction with sevoflurane associated or not with nitrous oxide: a comparative study in adult volunteers.].
Anesthetic induction with inhalational agents using a facemask has gained attention since the introduction of sevoflurane. At the same time, the influence of adding nitrous oxide on the pattern of induction and recuperation deserves attention, especially regarding recovery of the cognitive function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cognitive effects of inhalational anesthetic induction with sevoflurane alone or associated with nitrous oxide in adults. ⋯ Sevoflurane alone or in association with nitrous oxide is an adequate option for inhalational anesthetic induction or outpatient sedation in adults, maintaining spontaneous ventilation, and providing a fast recuperation of the cognitive function.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Apr 2007
[Side effects of subarachnoid and epidural sufentanil associated with a local anesthetic in patients undergoing labor analgesia.].
The association of an opioid with a local anesthetic improves the quality of labor analgesia and reduces the risk of systemic toxicity of the local anesthetic. However, opioids are not devoid of side effects. The aim of this study was to compare the side effects of subarachnoid sufentanil associated with bupivacaine to those caused by epidural sufentanil associated with ropivacaine in the doses used in the Anesthesiology Department in pregnant women undergoing labor analgesia. ⋯ Subarachnoid or epidural sufentanil, in the doses used in this study, associated with local anesthetics, had the same effect on the duration of labor after analgesia and in the Apgar score of newborns. Sedation was the most frequent side effect in patients receiving epidural sufentanil.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Apr 2007
[Hematoma after epidural anesthesia: conservative treatment. Case report.].
Hematoma associated with spinal compression after epidural anesthesia is a severe neurological complication, despite the reduced incidence reported (1:150,000). It is an acute episode and the traditional treatment includes urgent surgical decompression. More recently, treatment with corticosteroids has been used as an alternative, in specific cases, with good neurological resolution. The objective of this report was to present the case of an epidural hematoma treated conservatively with complete neurological recovery. ⋯ The efficacy of the conservative approach demonstrated that it is an important alternative to surgery in specific cases. The evaluation of the progression or stabilization of the neurological deficit, especially 8 hours after the epidural puncture, is essential in choosing the treatment.
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The use of alpha2-adrenergic agonists is increasingly more frequent in Anesthesiology, as adjuvant or the sole anesthetic drug. Currently, dexmedetomidine is gaining popularity due to its greater selectivity for the alpha2-adrenergic receptors and its pharmacokinetic profile. The aim of this review was to analyze the use of dexmedetomidine in neurosurgery. ⋯ The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of dexmedetomidine favors its use in several neurosurgical procedures. Its use in craniotomy for the treatment of aneurysms and tumor removal is recent. Besides, its use in functional surgical interventions is promising.
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Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are based on the direct visualization of nerve structures, needle, and adjacent anatomic structures. Thus, it is possible to place the local anesthetic precisely around the nerves and follow its dispersion in real time, obtaining, therefore, more effective blockades, reduced dependency on anatomic references, decreased anesthetic volume, and increased safety. ⋯ The steps for a successful regional block include the identification of the exact position of the nerves, the precise localization of the needle, without causing injuries to adjacent structures, and, finally, the careful administration of the local anesthetic close to the nerves. Although neurostimulation is very useful in identifying nerves, it does not fulfill all those requirements. Therefore, it is believed that ultrasound-guided nerve blocks will be the technique of choice in regional anesthesia in a not too distant future.