Articles: general-anesthesia.
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To evaluate the presence and the relationship between postoperative nystagmus and nausea. ⋯ The presence of nystagmus in the early part of recovery from general anesthesia is associated with a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting during the first postoperative day.
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The ability of opioids to produce complete general anesthesia is controversial. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is often added to fentanyl-based anesthetics to produce unconsciousness and amnesia. The addition of N2O may adversely affects fentanyl's hemodynamic stability and safety. The purpose of this study was to determine the physiologic consequences of combining N2O with fentanyl in newborn animals. ⋯ Fentanyl (3,000 micrograms/kg) when combined with 50% N2O in O2 produced a plane of general anesthesia in newborn lambs in which the behavioral responses to painful stimuli were abolished. The response to sound was never eliminated, nor was cerebral oxygen consumption decreased. The combination of 50% N2O in O2, 3,000 micrograms/kg fentanyl, tracheal intubation, and mechanical ventilation did not depress heart rate, blood pressure, or blood flow to any of the major organs, except the kidneys.
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A cuffed nasopharyngeal airway was used in five cases of difficult intubation, initially to maintain anaesthesia, and subsequently to act as a landmark for the passage of a fibreoptic laryngoscope loaded with a tracheal tube. In all cases, airway patency was well preserved with the device and there were no significant problems with its use. The notion of a 'dedicated airway' for difficult intubation cases is developed. A trouble-free airway will permit time to consider solutions for difficult cases and time for the novice to learn fibreoptic laryngoscopy technique.
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A 51 year-old female with spinocerebrellar degeneration was anesthetized with O2-N2O-isoflurane for abdominal total hysterectomy. After monitoring of both orbicularis oculi and adductor pollicis twitches in the response to train-of-four stimulation of the facial and ulnar nerves had been prepared, vecuronium was administered as a bolus. ⋯ The onset with the adductor pollicis did not indicate good intubating conditions. In patients with spinocerebrellar degeneration, the twitch response of the orbicularis oculi should be monitored to determine accurately the degree of neuromuscular blockade when neuromuscular blocking drugs are administered.