Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2006
Video assessment of supraglottic airway orientation through the perilaryngeal airway in pediatric patients.
The COBRA perilaryngeal airway (PLA) is a new supraglottic airway device available for use in children. We studied the orientation of the larynx as viewed through the PLA using video obtained with a fiberoptic bronchoscope in 45 infants and children. Laryngeal view was scored, and position of the grill bars of the PLA and the epiglottis was assessed. ⋯ This was uncommon in larger children. The grill bars of the PLA were closely opposed to the epiglottis and supraglottic structures in nearly all subjects. We conclude that 1) the PLA provides an acceptable airway in infants and children, but infolding of the epiglottis with obstruction of the view of the glottic opening is common in infants, 2) extra vigilance for airway obstruction in this age group is necessary, and 3) the PLA's close opposition to the supraglottic structures suggests that removal in a deeper plane of anesthesia might minimize laryngeal stimulation.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2006
The differential effects of halothane and isoflurane on electroencephalographic responses to electrical microstimulation of the reticular formation.
Isoflurane and halothane cause electroencephalographic (EEG) depression and neuronal depression in the reticular formation, a site critical to consciousness. We hypothesized that isoflurane, more than halothane, would depress EEG activation elicited by electrical microstimulation of the reticular formation. Rats were anesthetized with either halothane or isoflurane and stimulating electrodes were positioned in the reticular formation. ⋯ At 1.2 MAC isoflurane, burst suppression occurred and microstimulation decreased the period of isoelectricity (24% +/- 19% to 8% +/- 7%; P < 0.05), whereas the spectral edge and median edge frequencies were unchanged. At anesthetic concentrations required to produce immobility, the cortex remains responsive to electrical microstimulation of the reticular formation, although the EEG response is depressed in the transition from 0.8 to 1.2 MAC. These data indicate that cortical neurons remain responsive to synaptic input during isoflurane and halothane anesthesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2006
Comment Letter Comparative StudyRocuronium versus succinylcholine for rapid tracheal intubation.