Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1996
Comparative StudyIntraoperative myogenic motor evoked potentials induced by direct electrical stimulation of the exposed motor cortex under isoflurane and sevoflurane.
We monitored myogenic motor evoked potentials (MEPS) during intracranial surgery in 21 patients anesthetized with nitrous oxide in oxygen, fentanyl, and 0.75-1.5 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) isoflurane (n = 11) or sevoflurane (n = 10). The exposed motor cortex was stimulated with a single or train-of-five rectangular pulses at a high frequency (500 Hz), while the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPS) were recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. Neuromuscular block was monitored by recording the CMAPs from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle in response to electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist (M-response). ⋯ In the remaining patient, MEP amplitudes were attenuated to approximately 10% of the baseline value and recovered after cessation of surgical manipulation. In the two patients in whom MEPs disappeared, motor paresis developed postoperatively. We conclude that 1) intraoperative myogenic MEP monitoring is feasible during isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia if stimulation is performed with a short train of rectangular pulses, and 2) that electromyographic monitoring of neuromuscular block is useful to assess intraoperative MEP changes under partial neuromuscular block.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1996
Simulated clinical evaluation of conventional and newer fluid-warming devices.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ability of five commercially available devices utilizing a variety of heat exchange technologies to deliver normothermic (37 degrees C) fluids. Conditions of slow (6.5 mL/ min), moderate (13-25 mL/min), and rapid (gravity and pressure driven flows, roller clamp wide open) infusion were simulated. Fluid temperatures were measured using rapid response thermistors after the fluid exited the heat exchanger (T outlet) and before delivery to the patient intravenously (IV) (T distal). ⋯ With gravity and pressure driven flows, T distal of crystalloid were 39.0 and 38.9 for H1000 at 42 degrees C, 38.7 and 38.4 degrees C for FW537 at 42 degrees C, 34.7 and 28.9 degrees C for Hotline at 42 degrees C, 29.2 and 24.2 degrees C for BairHugger, and 29.7 and 24.2 degrees C for Flotem. In conclusion, only the H1000 at 42 degrees C was effective at delivering normothermic fluids at all clinically relevant flow rates. The Hotline at 42 degrees C was effective at slow and moderate flow, whereas the FW537 was effective only at rapid flow.
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The anesthetist exerts axial force on the laryngoscope handle to expose the glottis. The anesthetist must also apply a perpendicular force to balance the torque on the laryngoscope. Several studies have measured axial force during direct laryngoscopy, but none has measured torque. ⋯ Peak force and torque demonstrated stress relaxation, a viscous property of biologic tissues. Force and torque decreased monoexponentially to approximately 70% of peak values with a half-time of 4 +/- 0.3 s. The phenomenon occurred in spite of administration of muscle relaxants, and was probably due to stress relaxation of pharyngeal tissues that are passively stretched during laryngoscopy.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1996
The effects of dobutamine and phenylephrine on atrioventricular conduction during combined use of halothane and thoracic epidural lidocaine.
The purpose of this study was to measure cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA) and atrioventricular (AV) conduction and to test the effects of dobutamine (DOB) and phenylephrine (PHE) on AV conduction during combined use of halothane and thoracic epidural lidocaine. Cats were anesthetized with 1 % halothane and an epidural catheter was inserted through T-9 laminectomy. His bundle and atrial electrocardiograms were obtained and atrial electric stimulation was performed using quadripolar catheter electrodes. ⋯ Worsening of cardiac electrophysiological variables was improved with DOB infusion, but did not change with PHE infusion. We conclude that thoracic epidural lidocaine during halothane anesthesia almost eliminates CSNA, and thereby attenuates sinus node automaticity and AV node function. DOB restored normal cardiac electrophysiological variables, and therefore is preferable to phenylephrine as a pressor drug.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1996
The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS)
The purpose of the present study was to assess patients' anxiety level and information requirement in the preoperative phase. During routine preoperative screening, 320 patients were asked to assess their anxiety and information requirement on a six-item questionnaire, the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Two hundred patients also completed Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State). ⋯ It emerged that 32% of the patients could be considered as "anxiety cases" and over 80% of patients have a positive attitude toward receiving information. Moreover, results demonstrated that 1) women were more anxious that men; 2) patients with a high information requirement also had a high level of anxiety; 3) patients who had never undergone an operation had a higher information requirement than those who had. The APAIS can provide anesthesiologists with a valid, reliable, and easily applicable instrument for assessing the level of patients' preoperative anxiety and the need for information.