Anesthesiology
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Central venous infusion of cold fluid may be a useful method of inducing therapeutic hypothermia. The aim of this study was to quantify systemic heat balance and regional distribution of body heat during and after central infusion of cold fluid. ⋯ Central venous infusion of cold fluid decreases core temperature more than would be expected were the reduction in body heat content proportionately distributed. It thus appears to be an effective method of rapidly inducing therapeutic hypothermia. When the infusion is complete, there is a spontaneous partial recovery in core temperature that facilitates rewarming to normothermia.
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Comparative Study
Comparative ventricular electrophysiologic effect of racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine on the isolated rabbit heart.
Numerous local anesthetics have an asymmetric tetrahedron carbon, which confers stereoselective differences between the isomers. The authors attempted to quantify the depressant effect of racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine on myocardial ventricular conduction and on myocardial contractility. ⋯ In the isolated rabbit heart, racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine induce an increase in QRS duration in the respective ratio of 1:0.4:0.3, which was rate dependent in approximately the same ratio.
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Letter Case Reports
Intraoral separation of a reinforced endotracheal tube.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Midazolam: effects on amnesia and anxiety in children.
The minimum time interval between administration of oral midazolam and separation of children from their parents that ensures good anterograde amnesia has not been previously determined. This is of particular importance in a busy operating room setting where schedule delays secondary to midazolam administration may not be tolerated. ⋯ Midazolam administered orally produces significant anterograde amnesia when given as early as 10 min before a surgical procedure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Sedation during spinal anesthesia.
Central neuraxial anesthesia has been reported to decrease the dose of both intravenous and inhalational anesthetics needed to reach a defined level of sedation. The mechanism behind this phenomenon is speculated to be decreased afferent stimulation of the reticular activating system. The authors performed a two-part study (nonrandomized pilot study and a subsequent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study) using the Bispectral Index (BIS) monitor to quantify the degree of sedation in unmedicated volunteers undergoing spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Spinal anesthesia is accompanied by significant sedation progressively when compared with controls as measured by OAA/S and self-sedation scores. This effect was not related to block height. The late sedation observed by OAA/S at 60 min may indicate a second mechanism of sedation, such as delayed rostral spread of local anesthetics. BIS was not a sensitive measure of the sedation associated with spinal anesthesia in the randomized, blinded portion of this study.