Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2005
Clinical TrialIsobaric ropivacaine 5 mg/ml for spinal anesthesia in children.
In this clinical trial, we evaluated the clinical effects of ropivacaine for spinal anesthesia in children. An open, prospective study was performed on 93 children, aged 1-17 yr, undergoing elective lower abdominal or lower limb surgery. A plain solution of ropivacaine 5 mg/mL at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight (up to 20 mg) was administered via the L3-4 or L4-5 interspace with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. ⋯ One child developed transient bradycardia and one hypotension. After discharge four children developed mild transient radiating neurologic symptoms and one epidural blood patch was performed for persistent position-dependent headache. We conclude that the block performance of intrathecal isobaric ropivacaine in children (>1 yr) is similar to that obtained in adults but the safety of the larger dose used in children warrants further studies.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2005
Clinical TrialPeribulbar anesthesia: a percutaneous single injection technique with a small volume of anesthetic.
We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a single injection technique with a small volume of anesthetic for ocular peribulbar anesthesia. We included 857 patients undergoing various ophthalmic procedures. Anesthesia consisted of a medial percutaneous injection of 5-6.5 mL of 2% lidocaine. ⋯ After 5 min 100% of the patients had adequate surgical anesthesia. There were no serious block-related complications. The described technique is a simple and satisfactory alternative to the classical techniques.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2005
Comparative Study Clinical TrialTrain-of-four stimulation for adductor pollicis neuromuscular monitoring can be applied at the wrist or over the hand.
Adductor pollicis stimulation over the ulnar nerve at the wrist is the standard method of monitoring neuromuscular function. Stimulation over a muscle is believed to cause direct muscle contraction, but evidence for this is lacking. In this study we sought to determine whether direct muscle stimulation occurred during stimulation of the adductor pollicis in the hand and whether the responses were comparable to those observed with stimulation at the wrist. ⋯ With a Bland and Altman analysis, TOF ratios during recovery at the hand showed a bias of 0.5% and limits of agreement of +/-11.8% as compared with the wrist. Stimulation in the hand causes no direct muscle stimulation because the response is no more than that produced by stimulation at the wrist. Both sites yield comparable TOF ratios.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2005
Individual effect-site concentrations of propofol are similar at loss of consciousness and at awakening.
Reported effect-site concentrations of propofol at loss of consciousness and recovery of consciousness vary widely. Thus, no single concentration based on a population average will prove optimal for individual patients. We therefore tested the hypothesis that individual propofol effect-site concentrations at loss and return of consciousness are similar. ⋯ The target effect-site propofol concentration was 2.0 +/- 0.9 at loss of consciousness and 1.8 +/- 0.7 at return of consciousness (P <0.001). The average difference between individual effect-site concentrations at return and loss of consciousness was only 0.17 +/- 0.32 microg/mL (95% confidence interval for the difference 0.09-0.25 microg/mL). Our results thus suggest that individual titration to loss of consciousness is an alternative to dosing propofol on the basis of average population requirements.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2005
Case ReportsThe evolving and important role of anesthesiology in palliative care.
A small but clinically significant proportion of dying patients experience severe physically or psychologically distressing symptoms that are refractory to the usual first-line therapies. Anesthesiologists, currently poorly represented in the rapidly evolving specialties of hospice and palliative medicine, are uniquely qualified to contribute to the comprehensive care of patients who are in this category. Anesthesiologists' interpersonal capabilities in the management of patients and families under duress, their knowledge and comfort level with the application of potent analgesic and consciousness-altering pharmacology, and their titrating and monitoring skills would add a valuable dimension to palliative care teams. This article summarizes the state of the art and means by which anesthesiologists might contribute to improvements in the important end-of-life outcome of safe and comfortable dying.