Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyThe risk of anaphylactic reactions to rocuronium in the United States is comparable to that of vecuronium: an analysis of food and drug administration reporting of adverse events.
Published reports from France and Norway suggest a frequent incidence of anaphylaxis to rocuronium and have raised concerns about its safety. We hypothesized that the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System could be used to confirm whether there has been an unusual incidence of anaphylactic events for rocuronium in the United States (U. S.) and whether the reporting patterns differ within and outside of the U. ⋯ S. but were significantly different for foreign reports (P < 0.001). These data confirm that U. S. anesthesia providers have not observed a significant difference in anaphylactic reactions between the two commonly used intermediate-acting muscle relaxants and suggest that frequency of reports of anaphylaxis may be significantly influenced by the area from which the reports originate.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Identification of endotracheal tube malpositions using computerized analysis of breath sounds via electronic stethoscopes.
Endotracheal tube (ETT) malpositioning into a mainstem bronchus or the esophagus may result in significant hypoxemia. Current methods to determine correct ETT position include auscultation, radiography, and bronchoscopy, although the current acceptable standard procedure for proper endotracheal (versus esophageal) intubation is detection of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETco(2)) by capnography, capnometry, or colorimetric ETco(2) devices. Unfortunately, capnography may be unavailable or unreliable in nonhospital/emergency settings or in low cardiac output states, and it does not detect endobronchial intubation. ⋯ Using computerized analysis, breath sounds were digitized and filtered to remove selected frequencies, and acoustic signals and energy ratios were obtained for all 3 positions. Total energy ratios using band-pass filtering of the acoustic signals accurately identified all esophageal and endobronchial intubation (P < 0.001). These preliminary results suggest that this technique, when incorporated into a 3-component, electronic stethoscope-type device, may be an accurate, portable mechanism to reliably detect ETT malposition in adults when ETco(2) may be unavailable or unreliable.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Comparative Study Clinical TrialSpinal anesthesia-induced hypotension: a risk comparison between patients with severe preeclampsia and healthy women undergoing preterm cesarean delivery.
We previously showed that, in comparison with term healthy parturients, patients with severe preeclampsia had a less frequent incidence of spinal hypotension, which was less severe and required less ephedrine. In the present study, we hypothesized that these findings were attributable to preeclampsia-associated factors rather than to a smaller uterine mass. The incidence and severity of hypotension were compared between severe preeclamptics (n = 65) and parturients with preterm pregnancies (n = 71), undergoing spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery (0.5% bupivacaine, sufentanil, morphine). ⋯ The risk of hypotension in the preeclamptic group was almost 2 times less than that in the preterm group (relative risk = 0.603; 95% confidence interval, 0.362-1.003; P = 0.044). The impact of Apgar scores was minor, and umbilical arterial blood pH was not affected. We conclude that preeclampsia-associated factors, rather than a smaller uterine mass, account for the infrequent incidence of spinal hypotension in preeclamptic patients.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyThe myocardial and vascular effects of bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine using pressure volume loops.
Ropivacaine and levobupivacaine were developed to reduce the risk of fatal accidental overdose reported with bupivacaine. The myocardial depressant potential of these drugs in sublethal dosage is unknown. Pressure volume loops can be used to separate myocardial from vascular effects. ⋯ Ropivacaine increased vascular resistance and reduced EF without effect on contractility. Mean arterial blood pressure and diastolic function were unchanged for all drugs. Significant decline in contractility from control occurs with bupivacaine and levobupivacaine, but not with ropivacaine, at doses achievable in routine clinical practice.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyTemperatures in soda lime during degradation of desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane by desiccated soda lime.
Rarely, fire and patient injury result from the degradation of sevoflurane by desiccated Baralyme. The present investigation sought to determine whether high temperatures also arose with sevoflurane use in the presence of desiccated soda lime. We desiccated soda lime by directing a 10 L/min flow of oxygen through fresh absorbent. ⋯ Concurrent delivery of carbon dioxide and sevoflurane did not increase the peak temperatures reached. The use of 2 canisters increased the duration but not the peak of increased temperature reached with 3.0 MAC sevoflurane. No fires resulted from degradation of any anesthetic.