Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2009
Comparative StudyNoninvasive assessment of cardiac index in healthy volunteers: a comparison between thoracic impedance cardiography and Doppler echocardiography.
Thoracic bioimpedance cardiography (ICG) has been proposed as a noninvasive, continuous, operator-independent, and cost-effective method for cardiac output monitoring. In the present study, we compared cardiac index (CI) measurements with ICG (Niccomo device) and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in resting healthy volunteers undergoing hemodynamic load challenge. ⋯ Poor correlation and lack of agreement between absolute values of CI measured by ICG and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography were found in resting healthy volunteers. The Niccomo device was also unreliable for monitoring changes in CI during hemodynamic load challenge.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2009
Case ReportsPostoperative intensive care unit drug fever caused by dexmedetomidine.
Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride is a potent, highly selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, broadly used as a sedative drug in intensive care units. We describe the case of a 59-yr-old patient who experienced drug fever caused by dexmedetomidine hydrochloride. ⋯ This symptom improved rapidly 7 h after stopping dexmedetomidine hydrochloride. Other possible causes (such as infection) were sequentially eliminated.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2009
Fluoroscopically guided cervical interlaminar epidural injections using the midline approach: an analysis of epidurography contrast patterns.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate epidurography contrast patterns in fluoroscopically guided cervical interlaminar epidural injections using the midline approach. ⋯ Two milliliters of contrast solution can provide optimal dispersion of contrast in a ventral and longitudinal spread.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2009
Propofol produces immobility via action in the ventral horn of the spinal cord by a GABAergic mechanism.
We investigated the actions of propofol and isoflurane on nociceptive responses of neurons in the spinal cord. ⋯ Propofol acts in the spinal cord to produce immobility. This depressive effect occurs in the ventral horn and is mediated mainly by GABA(A) receptors. Isoflurane also depresses neurons in the ventral horn; however, isoflurane actions at the GABA(A) receptor are either weak or overridden by other effects in the ventral horn.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2009
An anatomical study of the parasacral block using magnetic resonance imaging of healthy volunteers.
The parasacral approach to sciatic blockade is reported to be easy to learn and perform, with a high success rate and few complications. ⋯ These findings question the reliability of the anatomical landmarks of the parasacral block and raise the possibility of frequent visceral puncture using this technique.