Anesthesiology
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Comparisons between desflurane and isoflurane or propofol on time to following commands and time to discharge. A metaanalysis.
Anesthesiologists can best decide whether to use desflurane based on the magnitudes of its effects compared to other general anesthetics. The goal of this study was to estimate the mean decrease in times to following commands when desflurane was being used instead of isoflurane or propofol. The mean decrease in time to hospital discharge after ambulatory surgery when desflurane was used instead of propofol also was examined. ⋯ There are only minor clinically important differences between desflurane and isoflurane or propofol with respect to time to following commands and time to discharge.
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Letter Case Reports
Respiratory arrest after second dose of intrathecal sufentanil.
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Pharmacokinetically designed infusions have been demonstrated to achieve rapidly and maintain desired concentrations of drug in plasma after intravenous administration. In this study we tested whether a similar approach, targeting concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), could be used with epidural administration of the alpha 2-adrenergic analgesic clonidine. ⋯ This study suggests that pharmacokinetically designed infusions of drugs in the epidural space in humans can maintain steady concentrations of drug in CSF. In addition to providing a useful tool for investigation of mechanisms of action and drug interactions, this technique may improve analgesia and diminish side effects from epidurally administered analgesics.
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When local anesthetic is used to produce epidural anesthesia intraoperatively, epidural catheter placement is confirmed. However, when epidural catheters are placed intraoperatively only to provide postoperative opioid analgesia, correct catheter placement may not be confirmed by administration of a local anesthetic. The current study tests the hypothesis that the extent of sensory blockade produced by a 10-ml dose of 1.5% lidocaine can be used to predict the adequacy of epidural opioid analgesia. ⋯ Extensive sensory block from 10 ml 1.5% lidocaine was associated with excellent epidural opioid analgesia. Extent of analgesia after a 10-ml test dose of 1.5% lidocaine can be used to predict the adequacy of analgesia resulting from an epidural opioid infusion. The failure of a local anesthetic dose to produce sensory blockade does not necessarily predict a failure to produce analgesia from an epidural opioid infusion, as indicated by the presence of analgesia in several patients without detectable sensory block.