Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2009
ReviewPeripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists and postoperative ileus: mechanisms of action and clinical applicability.
Postoperative ileus (POI), a transient cessation of coordinated bowel function after surgery, is an important health care problem. The etiology of POI is multifactorial and related to both the surgical and anesthetic pathways chosen. Opioids used to manage surgical pain can exacerbate POI, delaying gastrointestinal (GI) recovery. ⋯ This new class is investigational for POI management with the goal of accelerating the recovery of upper and lower GI tract function after bowel resection. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which POI occurs and the role of opioids and opioid receptors in the enteric nervous system, discuss the mechanism of action of PAM-OR antagonists, and review clinical pharmacology and Phase II/III POI trial results of methylnaltrexone and alvimopan. Finally, the role of anesthesiologists in managing POI in the context of a multimodal approach is discussed.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2009
Sevoflurane formulation water content influences degradation by Lewis acids in vaporizers.
Sevoflurane is produced by several manufacturers. Currently marketed sevoflurane formulations differ in their method of synthesis, impurities, containers in which they are sold, and water content. Of the various types of chemical degradation to which sevoflurane is susceptible, the most pertinent is degradation by Lewis acids (such as metal oxides and metal halides) to hydrofluoric acid and other toxic compounds. Water inhibits such degradation. This observational study determined the degradation profile of three formulations of sevoflurane (two lower-water and one higher-water formulation) when stored in three types of vaporizers. ⋯ Lower-water sevoflurane underwent substantial degradation to hydrofluoric acid and other degradants during storage in the Penlon Sigma Delta vaporizer. Differences in water content of sevoflurane formulations and potential for degradation present a potential patient safety issue.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialThe efficacy of intrathecal morphine with or without clonidine for postoperative analgesia after radical prostatectomy.
In this randomized study, we compared intrathecal (i.t.) morphine with or without clonidine and i.v. postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine for analgesia after radical retropubic prostatectomy. ⋯ IT morphine provided a significant reduction in morphine requirement during the first 48 postoperative hours after a radical prostatectomy. The addition of clonidine to i.t. morphine reduced intraoperative sufentanil use, prolonged time until first request for PCA rescue, and further prolonged analgesia at rest and with coughing.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2009
Automatic algorithm for monitoring systolic pressure variation and difference in pulse pressure.
Difference in pulse pressure (dPP) reliably predicts fluid responsiveness in patients. We have developed a respiratory variation (RV) monitoring device (RV monitor), which continuously records both airway pressure and arterial blood pressure (ABP). We compared the RV monitor measurements with manual dPP measurements. ⋯ Measurements of the automated device are comparable with measurements obtained by human observers, who use a computer-assisted method. The importance of the PAW signal is questionable.
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Although obstetric patients are generally healthy, population risk is increasing because of increases in maternal age, obesity, and rates of multifetal pregnancies, and complications may occur in the immediate postoperative period. In this study, we sought to identify the current level of recovery care for obstetric patients in North American academic institutions after either general or major neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery. ⋯ Guidelines put forth by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Postanesthetic Care and the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses apply to all postoperative patients regardless of their recovery locations. Results from this survey suggest that the level of care provided for postanesthesia recovery from cesarean delivery in North American academic institutions may not meet these guidelines.