Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of small-dose ketamine on propofol sedation: respiration, postoperative mood, perception, cognition, and pain.
We compared the effects of coadministration of propofol and small-dose ketamine to propofol alone on respiration during monitored anesthesia care. In addition, mood, perception, and cognition in the recovery room, and pain after discharge were evaluated. In the Propofol group (n = 20), patients received propofol 38 +/- 24 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). ⋯ Mood and MMSE scores were higher in the Coadministration group (P < 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). Pain scores and analgesic consumption after discharge were less in the Coadministration group (P = 0.0004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). We conclude that coadministration of small-dose ketamine attenuates propofol-induced hypoventilation, produces positive mood effects without perceptual changes after surgery, and may provide earlier recovery of cognition.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2001
Case ReportsTunneled epidural catheters for prolonged analgesia in pediatric patients.
We conducted this retrospective study to document the efficacy and safety, and demonstrate the spectrum of indications for subcutaneously tunneled epidural catheters in the management of prolonged pain in pediatric patients. The charts of 25 patients with prolonged pain that was unresponsive to conventional opioid therapy (10: end stage malignancy, 8: extensive abdominal surgery, 7: trauma, etc.) and who received thoracic, lumbar, or caudal tunneled epidural catheters between 1995 and 1999 were reviewed for efficacy and catheter-related complications (infection or bleeding at the insertion site, toxicity related to local anesthetics, tachyphylaxis and respiratory depression). Tunneled epidural catheters were effective in providing extended analgesia in all subjects. In 14 patients with chronic pain, cumulative 48-h enteral and parenteral opioid requirements were reduced or eliminated after catheter insertion. Catheters remained in place for a median of 11 days (range, 4--240 days) until there was no further need for parenteral analgesia (n = 15), death because of the underlying disease (n = 6), accidental removal (n = 2), or possible infection (n = 2). No serious local or systemic complications (meningitis, epidural abscess, systemic infection, epidural hematoma, or spinal cord injury; seizures, local anesthetic toxicity) occurred related to this technique. Five patients were discharged from the hospital with the catheter for home analgesic therapy. The use of a percutaneously inserted, subcutaneously tunneled epidural catheter is safe, effective, and provides pain relief in situations in which conventional analgesic therapy either fails or is impractical. The technique is one that may be of great value to children suffering from pain. ⋯ Children and adolescents with pain may safely have a spinal catheter placed for a period of time without undo risk of infection or other complications. Spinal catheters provide excellent pain relief, often eliminating the need for riskier medications for painful events such as wound cleansing and dressing changes.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2001
Clinical TrialHemostatic changes in patients receiving hydroxyethyl starch: the influence of ABO blood group.
Hydroxyethyl starches (HES) interfere with coagulation because of their molecular structure and the amount infused during surgery. Coagulation defects include platelet dysfunction and a decrease of the VIII/von Willebrand factor complex (VIII/vWF). We examined the effects of 6% HES 200/0.6 on hemostasis by using an in vitro platelet function analyzer, the usual coagulation tests, the VIII/vWF complex assessment, and TEG analysis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. ⋯ In conclusion, 6% HES 200/0.6 induced immediate hemostasis alterations. Patients of the O blood group were likely to develop a von Willebrand-like syndrome after HES infusion. We conclude that intraoperative use of 6% HES 200/0.6 should be restricted in patients of the O blood group undergoing surgical procedures with high risk for bleeding.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2001
A statistical analysis of weekday operating room anesthesia group staffing costs at nine independently managed surgical suites.
At many surgical suites, surgeons and patients schedule elective cases on whatever future workday they choose, resulting in there being no limit on the number of cases performed each day. Staff are then scheduled in the manner that satisfies the marketing guarantee to the surgeons, satisfies labor contracts, and minimizes staffing costs. We assessed weekday nurse anesthesia group staffing at nine such suites to determine whether statistical methods can identify staffing solutions whereby all the cases are covered but for which staffing costs are less than those obtained using the staffing plans implemented by anesthesia groups' managers. Two years of operating room information system case duration and staffing data were analyzed. First- and second-shift staffing was assessed using previously published algorithms. The statistical methods identified staffing solutions with significantly decreased labor costs than those currently being used at eight of the nine surgical suites. The statistical methods relied more on overtime than second-shift staffing. The incremental decrease in staffing costs achievable by using overlapping 8-, 10-, and 13-h shifts was negligible. Overall, we found that statistical methods can identify, for some surgical suites, staffing solutions whereby all the cases are covered but for which costs are significantly less and productivity significantly more than those obtained using the plans developed by the managers based on their experience and the data. ⋯ Statistical methods can identify, for some surgical suites, anesthesia staffing solutions whereby all the cases are covered but for which labor costs are significantly less than those obtained using the staffing plans developed by the managers based on data and their experience.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2001
Clinical TrialCardiovascular responses to scalp infiltration with different concentrations of epinephrine with or without lidocaine during craniotomy.
Intraoperative blood pressure changes alter cerebral blood flow in neurosurgical patients with impaired autoregulation. Infiltration of the scalp before craniotomy may cause hemodynamic changes that depend on the composition of the solution used. We investigated cardiovascular responses to infiltration of the scalp with five different combinations of epinephrine and lidocaine in 112 patients: Group A, lidocaine 0.5%; Group B, lidocaine 0.5% with epinephrine 1:200,000; Group C, lidocaine 0.5% with epinephrine 1:100,000; Group D, normal saline with epinephrine 1:200,000; and Group E, normal saline with epinephrine 1:100,000. ⋯ In conclusion, epinephrine 1:100,000 causes significant tachycardia. Epinephrine in concentrations of 1:100,000 and 1:200,000 causes significant hypertension. The combination of lidocaine and epinephrine attenuates the hypertension but results in a biphasic hypotensive response.