Anesthesiology
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Operating room fires fueled by surgical drapes and ignited by high-energy surgical tools in air and oxygen-enriched atmospheres continue to occur. ⋯ The results of this study reveal that with increasing oxygen concentration, the time to ignition becomes shorter, and the consequences become more severe. The possibility exists for manufacturers to develop drape materials that are safer than existing materials.
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For more than 30 yr, the in vitro contracture test (IVCT) was the only appropriate diagnostic tool for malignant hyperthermia (MH). After the introduction of molecular genetics into MH research, guidelines for molecular genetic diagnosis of MH susceptibility were published. The aim of this study was to establish applicability of the guidelines, sensitivity, and specificity of genetic testing in MH and advantages for studied patients. ⋯ In families with known MH mutations, there is a 50% chance of reliably confirming MH susceptibility by noninvasive testing. The authors found the negative predictive value of genetic testing to be 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.99), but for patient safety, they still recommend following the guidelines for genetic testing in MH and therefore performing an IVCT in case of negative genetic results.
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Comparative Study
Effects of isoflurane versus fentanyl-nitrous oxide anesthesia on long-term outcome from severe forebrain ischemia in the rat.
This study examined long-term outcome from severe forebrain ischemia in the rat, as a function of anesthetic given during the ischemic injury. ⋯ This study found no change in the percent alive CA1 hippocampal neurons as a function of duration of recovery from severe forebrain ischemia in isoflurane anesthetized rats. In contrast, the percent alive CA1 neurons in fentanyl-nitrous oxide-anesthetized rats tripled over 3 months of recovery. The natural history of long-term responses to forebrain ischemia requires further study before conclusions can be drawn with respect to the permanence of isoflurane neuroprotection.
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Intrathecal adenosine has antinociceptive effects under conditions of hypersensitivity. T62 (2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzothiophen) is an allosteric adenosine receptor modulator that enhances adenosine binding to the A1 receptor. Intrathecal T62 reduces hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli in a rat model of neuropathic pain by a circuit that totally relies on activation of alpha2 adrenoceptors. Here, the authors tested whether this same dependence was present in the acute setting of hypersensitivity after surgery. ⋯ Intrathecal T62 is effective for postoperative hypersensitivity. The synergy of T62 with clonidine and its only partial antagonism by idazoxan suggest that T62 does not rely entirely on activation of alpha2 adrenoceptors. These results indicate that, after surgery, T62 acts via a mechanism different from that of spinal nerve ligation, a model of chronic neuropathic pain.
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Comment Letter Biography Historical Article
Moreno y Maïz: a missed rendezvous with local anesthesia.