Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe effects of varying local anesthetic concentration and volume on continuous popliteal sciatic nerve blocks: a dual-center, randomized, controlled study.
It remains unknown whether local anesthetic concentration, or simply total drug dose, is the primary determinant of continuous peripheral nerve block effects. We therefore tested the null hypothesis that providing different concentrations and rates of ropivacaine, but at equal total doses, produces comparable effects when used in a continuous sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa. ⋯ For continuous popliteal-sciatic nerve blocks, local anesthetic concentration and volume influence block characteristics. Insensate limbs were far more common with larger volumes of relatively dilute ropivacaine. During continuous sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa, a relatively concentrated solution in smaller volume thus appears preferable.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2008
ReviewCoronary artery stents: Part I. Evolution of percutaneous coronary intervention.
The subspecialty of interventional cardiology has made significant progress in the management of coronary artery disease over the past three decades with the development of percutaneous coronary transluminal angioplasty, atherectomy, and bare-metal and drug-eluting stents (DES). Bare-metal stents (BMS) maintain vessel lumen diameter by acting as a scaffold and prevent collapse incurred by angioplasty. However, these devices cause neointimal hyperplasia leading to in-stent restenosis and requiring reintervention in more than 20% of patients by 6 mo. ⋯ Since the introduction of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis, the practice of percutaneous coronary intervention has undergone a dramatic transformation from simple balloon dilation catheters to sophisticated mechanical endoprostheses. These advancements have impacted the practice of perioperative medicine. In this series of two articles, in Part I we will review the evolution of percutaneous coronary intervention and discuss the issues associated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary stenting; in Part II we will discuss perioperative issues and management strategies of coronary stents during noncardiac surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2008
ReviewLife after death: the aftermath of perioperative catastrophes.
Most anesthesiologists will experience the perioperative death of a patient or a major perioperative catastrophe in the course of their careers. Anesthesia training, however, does not prepare individuals to handle the aftermath of such a stressful event. Multiple surveys have shown that the death of a patient has a major emotional impact on up to 75% of health care providers involved, regardless of whether the death was expected or whether the patient was well known to the practitioner. ⋯ The negative consequences of failure to cope well after these events are significant to individuals and health care systems alike. Further study into the short-term and long-term impact of perioperative catastrophes on providers and health systems is needed. Additionally, education on how to handle the aftermath of perioperative catastrophes and formal support structures should be provided to practitioners at all levels of training.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2008
Editorial Comment ReviewTreatment of anaphylactic shock: where is the evidence?
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three different doses of palonosetron versus placebo in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting over a 72-hour period.
We designed this multicenter, randomized, double-blind study to assess the efficacy and safety of three doses of palonosetron, compared with placebo, on the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in inpatients for 72 h after surgery. ⋯ A single 0.075-mg IV dose of palonosetron effectively reduced the severity of nausea and delayed the time to emesis and treatment failure in the inpatient surgical setting; lower doses were not as effective.