Anesthesiology
-
Comparative Study
Renal concentrating function with prolonged sevoflurane or enflurane anesthesia in volunteers.
Sevoflurane, a new inhalational anesthetic, is biotransformed, producing peak plasma inorganic fluoride concentrations that may exceed 50 microM. We evaluated plasma inorganic fluoride concentrations with prolonged (> 9 MAC-h) sevoflurane or enflurane anesthesia in volunteers and compared renal concentrating function with desmopressin testing 1 and 5 days after anesthesia. ⋯ Prolonged sevoflurane anesthesia did not impair renal concentrating function, as evaluated with desmopressin testing 1 and 5 days postanesthesia in healthy volunteers. Although with prolonged enflurane anesthesia, mean maximal osmolality values on day 1 postanesthesia did not differ from sevoflurane values, there was evidence in two volunteers at this time point of impairment in renal concentrating function, which normalized 5 days postanesthesia. These results occurred despite a higher peak plasma fluoride ion concentration and greater total inorganic fluoride renal exposure with sevoflurane anesthesia.
-
Comparative Study
Spinal and systemic action of the alpha 2 receptor agonist dexmedetomidine in dogs. Antinociception and carbon dioxide response.
alpha 2 Agonists are powerful analgesics after spinal delivery. The current work characterizes the dose-dependent antinociception and effects upon respiratory function of dexmedetomidine after intrathecal, epidural, intravenous, and intracisternal delivery in chronically prepared dogs. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine, acting through an alpha 2-receptor, produces a powerful antinociceptive effect, mediated at the spinal level, while systemic redistribution of the drug leads to a hypnotic state with significant cardiorespiratory effects.
-
Pneumocephalus occurs in a variety of clinical settings and has important anesthetic implications, particularly if N2O is used. One common cause of pneumocephalus is a craniotomy or craniectomy, and therefore, patients undergoing these neurosurgical procedures may be at increased risk for the development of tension pneumocephalus if N2O is used during a subsequent anesthetic. However, because the rate at which a postoperative pneumocephalus resolves has not been well defined, the duration of this risk period is unknown. ⋯ These data indicate that all patients have pneumocephalus immediately after a supratentorial craniotomy. Although the incidence and size of pneumocephali decrease over time, a significant number of patients have an intracranial air collection large enough to put them at risk for complication if N2O is used during a second anesthetic in the first 3 weeks after the first procedure. This information should be considered in the evaluation of the patient and in the selection of anesthetic agents.
-
Editorial Comment Review
Ventilation of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Looking for Mr. Goodmode.
-
Combinations of opioids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to control pain in the perioperative period, yet there are no quantitative evaluations of the interaction between opioids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs during visceral nociception. This study evaluated the interaction between morphine and ketorolac during visceral nociception in the rat. ⋯ Ketorolac is a powerful potentiator of morphine antinociception during visceral nociception in the rat. However, intravenous ketorolac alone did not demonstrate antinociceptive properties during colorectal distention, a model of acute visceral nociception without a major inflammatory component. These data suggest that ketorolac may have a central modulatory effect on opioid pharmacology and the synergistic effect may be separate from its peripheral antiinflammatory properties. This study encourages further basic as well as clinical evaluations of the improved antinociception provided by combination therapy of opioids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.