Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2008
Desflurane affords greater protection than halothane in the function of mitochondria against forebrain ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.
Halothane and desflurane have been shown to attenuate neuronal injury; however, the effects of these anesthetics on mitochondria are unclear. We investigated whether halothane and desflurane affect the function of mitochondria after cerebral ischemia in rats. ⋯ Desflurane shows better preservation of mitochondrial function at 4 h after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, indicated by inhibition of mitochondrial swelling, increase of membrane potential, and improvement of functions of mitochondria respiratory complexes I + III and IV when compared with halothane.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialChronic phantom limb pain: the effects of calcitonin, ketamine, and their combination on pain and sensory thresholds.
Calcitonin was effective in a study of acute phantom limb pain, but it was not studied in the chronic phase. The overall literature on N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists is equivocal. We tested the hypothesis that calcitonin, ketamine, and their combination are effective in treating chronic phantom limb pain. Our secondary aim was to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of action of the investigated drugs using quantitative sensory testing. ⋯ Our results question the usefulness of calcitonin in chronic phantom limb pain and stress the potential interest of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Sensory assessments indicated that peripheral mechanisms are unlikely important determinants of phantom limb pain. Ketamine, but not calcitonin, affects central sensitization processes that are probably involved in the pathophysiology of phantom limb pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialSingle-dose dexamethasone reduces dynamic pain after total hip arthroplasty.
Preoperative glucocorticoids reduce postoperative nausea but may also improve analgesia and decrease opioid consumption. ⋯ A single, preoperative i.v. dose of dexamethasone 40 mg has a prolonged suppressive effect on the inflammatory response and decreases dynamic pain 24 h after total hip arthroplasty.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2008
Characterization of the coagulation deficit in porcine dilutional coagulopathy and substitution with a prothrombin complex concentrate.
In this study, we used a porcine model to investigate whether impaired coagulation and severe arterial or venous bleeding could be normalized by substitution with a prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC), Beriplex P/N, containing coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X. ⋯ Dilutional coagulopathy produced a generalized decrease in coagulation factors and impaired platelet function. Substitution with PCC effectively normalized coagulation and significantly improved hemostasis after venous and arterial bleeding.