Articles: general-anesthesia.
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Comparative Study
Relation between body temperature and dexmedetomidine-induced minimum alveolar concentration and respiratory changes in isoflurane-anesthetized miniature swine.
Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an alpha 2-receptor agonist, is the pharmacologically active d-isomer of medetomidine, a compound used as a sedative in veterinary medicine. Isoflurane anesthetic requirement (minimum alveolar concentration; MAC), rectal temperature, and cardiorespiratory variables were studied in chronically instrumented Yucatan miniature swine during DEX (20 micrograms/kg of body weight)-induced changes in body temperature. All studies were performed at room temperature of 22 C. ⋯ Respiratory rate and minute ventilation were significantly higher in swine with maintained temperature. The PaCO2 was lower and, accordingly, pH was higher in these swine. Blood pressure and heart rate were not affected by temperature changes.
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Case Reports
Myasthenia gravis presenting during general anaesthesia for oesophagoscopy--a cautionary tale.
We report myasthenia gravis presenting as dysphagia of acute onset in a 56-year-old female who had no other stigmata of the disease and who was generally well despite rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism. She recovered respiratory function following a general anaesthetic for oesophagoscopy only when antimyasthenic treatment was instituted. She remains well to date. In patients who are known to have autoimmune diseases and who present with dysphagia, features of myasthenia gravis should be specifically sought.