Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison between anterior and posterior monitoring of neuromuscular blockade at the diaphragm: both sites can be used interchangeably.
We present a novel site of monitoring neuromuscular blockade of the diaphragm at the patient's back. After the induction of anesthesia, 12 patients were orotracheally intubated. Two Ag/AgCl-electrodes were attached at the right seventh or eighth intercostal space between the midclavicular and anterior axillary line; two Ag/AgCl-electrodes were paravertebrally attached on the right side lateral to vertebrae T12-L1 or L1-2. Two Ag/AgCl-skin-electrodes were placed over the right thenar area for an electromyography recording of the adductor pollicis (AP) muscle, and two Ag/AgCl-skin-electrodes were used to stimulate the ulnar nerve. Onset and offset of neuromuscular blockade after rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg were determined, and significant differences between diaphragm and AP muscle and agreement between the two methods were determined. Mean maximum block was more than 96% at all sites. Lag time, onset 50, and onset time were not significantly different between the diaphragm and the AP. However, time to reach 25% of control twitch was significantly longer at the AP muscle than at the diaphragm (P < 0.001). The difference of the means and limits of agreement between the anterior and the posterior site of diaphragmatic monitoring were 0 +/- 11 s, 3 +/- 9 s, 0 +/- 19 s, and -2% +/- 5% for lag, onset 50, onset time, and peak effect, respectively, and -2 +/- 2 min for the time to reach 25% of control twitch of neuromuscular blockade. We conclude that anterior and posterior diaphragmatic monitoring can be used interchangeably to determine neuromuscular blockade after rocuronium. ⋯ We present a novel site of monitoring neuromuscular blockade of the diaphragm at the patient's back, which shows good agreement with the conventional anterior site at the seventh or eighth intercostal space.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Clinical TrialPersistent pain after cardiac surgery: an audit of high thoracic epidural and primary opioid analgesia therapies.
Persistent pain is an underreported morbidity after cardiac surgery. We sent pain surveys to all patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery from 1997 to 1999 from a single surgeon's experience. Two analgesia strategies were used: high thoracic epidural (HTEA) or IV and oral opiates (OPIOID) for 48-72 h after surgery. Persistent pain was defined as pain still present two or more months after surgery, and all questions referred to the time of survey only. From 356 questionnaires, 305 patients responded, and 61 of them refused consent, leaving 244 patients with complete surveys (HTEA, 150 patients [69%]; OPIOID, 94 patients [68%]). The incidence of persistent pain at any site was 29% and for sternotomy was 25%. The intensity of pain reported was mild, with only 7% reporting interference with daily living. Other common locations of persistent pain were the shoulders (17.4%), back (15.9%), and neck (5.8%). Twenty patients (8%) described symptoms suggestive of the internal mammary artery syndrome. A comparative audit of the HTEA and OPIOID groups showed no significant differences in the frequency or intensity of pain, although the time of survey from operation was longer in the OPIOID group. Mild persistent chest pain after sternotomy is common but infrequently interferes with daily life. ⋯ Persistent wound pain after coronary artery bypass surgery is common, but it is usually is mild and infrequently interferes with daily living. An audit of two pain relief strategies (epidural analgesia or opiate analgesia) did not show any difference in the incidence of persistent pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Difficult endotracheal intubation in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.
Although sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is common, studies assessing the anesthetic management of these patients are rare and consist mainly of case studies. We performed a retrospective case-control study to determine the incidence of difficult intubation in SAS patients and to determine the relationship between the severity of SAS and the occurrence of difficult intubation. Among 113 patients included (36 and 77 in the SAS and control groups, respectively), difficult intubation occurred more often in SAS patients than in controls (21.9% versus 2.6%, respectively; P < 0.05). No relationship was found between the severity of SAS and the occurrence of difficult intubation. Disappointingly, no single factor was associated with the occurrence of difficult intubation in SAS patients. We conclude that SAS is a risk factor for difficult intubation. ⋯ Because patients with sleep apnea syndrome have an increased risk of difficult endotracheal intubation and may present with cardiovascular disease, preoperative preventive measures should be undertaken to avoid untoward events.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Case ReportsLaryngeal trauma during awake fiberoptic intubation.
We describe three patients with difficult airways in which fiberoptic endotracheal intubation was used to insert breathing tubes into the patients' windpipes. Airway injury occurred during the use of this technique. Although largely a safe technique, care should be exercised when anesthesiologists choose equipment and when they perform this technique.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions reduce the release of cardiac troponin I and s-100 after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pigs.
In some patients, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can revive spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, neurological outcome often remains poor. Hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions (HHS) have been shown to improve microvascular conductivity after regional and global ischemia. We investigated the effect of infusion of HHS in a porcine CPR model. Cardiac arrest was induced by ventricular fibrillation. Advanced cardiac life support was begun after 4 min of nonintervention and 1 min of basic life support. Upon ROSC, the animals randomly received 125 mL of either normal saline (placebo, n = 8) or 7.2% NaCl and 10% hydroxyethyl starch 200,000/0.5 (HHS, n = 7). Myocardial and cerebral damage were assessed by serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I and astroglial protein S-100, respectively, up to 240 min after ROSC. In all animals, the levels of cardiac troponin I and S-100 increased after ROSC (P < 0.01). This increase was significantly blunted in animals that received HHS instead of placebo. The use of HHS in the setting of CPR may provide a new option in reducing cell damage in postischemic myocardial and cerebral tissues. ⋯ Infusion of hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions (HHS) after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pigs significantly reduced the release of cardiac troponin I and cerebral protein S-100, which are sensitive and specific markers of cell damage. Treatment with HHS may provide a new option to improve the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.