Anesthesiology
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Citrate storage affects Thrombelastograph analysis.
Thrombelastograph analysis (TEG) is used to evaluate blood coagulation. Ideally, whole blood is immediately processed. If impossible, blood may be citrated and assessed after recalcification. No data describe the effect of such treatment and storage on TEG parameters. ⋯ Analysis of native blood yields the most reliable TEG results. Should immediate TEG processing not be possible, citrated blood may be used if recalcified after 1-8 h.
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Maintenance of airway patency and oxygenation are the main objectives of face-mask ventilation. Because the incidence of difficult mask ventilation (DMV) and the factors associated with it are not well known, we undertook this prospective study. ⋯ In a general adult population, DMV was reported in 5% of the patients. A simple DMV risk score was established. Being able to more accurately predict DMV may improve the safety of airway management.
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Body temperature often is ignored during regional anesthesia, despite evidence that hypothermia occurs commonly. Because hypothermia is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, it is important to recognize predictors of hypothermia and to monitor and control body temperature in patients at risk. The current study was designed to determine the predictors of core hypothermia in patients receiving spinal anesthesia for radical retropubic prostatectomy. ⋯ Although high-level spinal blockade has been associated with decreased thermoregulatory thresholds, no previous study has shown that a higher level of blockade is associated with a greater magnitude of core hypothermia in the clinical setting. As with general anesthesia, advanced age is associated with hypothermia during spinal anesthesia.