Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2004
Case ReportsManagement of an unusual complication during placement of a pulmonary artery catheter.
We describe an unusual complication during flotation of a pulmonary artery catheter through a preexisting percutaneous introducer sheath. A malfunctioning pulmonary artery catheter, which was placed through an introducer sheath in the right internal jugular vein, was removed. ⋯ Under continuous fluoroscopy, the introducer sheath and the pulmonary artery catheter were withdrawn as one unit, which resulted in relaxation of the acute angulation in the introducer sheath and allowed the pulmonary artery catheter to unfold, thus facilitating their complete extraction. We conclude that complications may occur during placement of a pulmonary artery catheter through a well positioned introducer sheath and that fluoroscopy is a valuable tool for safe management of such a complication.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialLevobupivacaine 0.2% or 0.125% for continuous sciatic nerve block: a prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison with 0.2% ropivacaine.
In 60 patients receiving elective hallux valgus repair, we compared the efficacy of continuous popliteal sciatic nerve block produced with 0.2% ropivacaine (n = 20), 0.2% levobupivacaine (n = 20), or 0.125% levobupivacaine (n = 20) infused with a patient-controlled system starting 3 h after a 30-mL bolus of the 0.5% concentration of the study drug and for 48 h (baseline infusion rate, 6 mL/h; incremental dose, 2 mL; lockout time, 15 min; maximum incremental doses per hour, 3). No differences were reported in the intraoperative efficacy of the nerve block. The degree of pain was similar in the three groups throughout the study period, both at rest and during motion. ⋯ The volume of local anesthetic consumed during the second postoperative day was 150 mL (range, 144-164 mL) with 0.2% ropivacaine, 154 mL (range, 144-176 mL) with 0.2% levobupivacaine, and 151 mL (range, 144-216 mL) with 0.125% levobupivacaine (P = 0.14). A smaller proportion of patients receiving 0.2% levobupivacaine showed complete recovery of foot motor function as compared with 0.2% ropivacaine and 0.125% levobupivacaine, both at 24 h (35% vs 85% and 95%; P = 0.0005) and at 48 h (60% vs 100% and 100%; P = 0.001). We conclude that sciatic infusion with both 0.125% and 0.2% levobupivacaine provides adequate postoperative analgesia after hallux valgus repair, clinically similar to that provided by 0.2% ropivacaine; however, the 0.125% concentration is preferred if early mobilization of the operated foot is required.