Anesthesia and analgesia
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2010
Magnetic resonance imaging findings after uneventful continuous infusion neuraxial analgesia: a prospective study to determine whether epidural infusion produces pathologic magnetic resonance imaging findings.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the preferred diagnostic tool to determine whether postepidural neurologic symptoms are due to hematoma or abscess. However, there is currently no published information regarding the normal appearance of a MRI after a continuous epidural infusion. In this prospective cohort study, we defined the characteristic appearance of MRI findings after uneventful epidural analgesia. ⋯ The lack of significant collections or mass effects seen in the MRIs of our patients after continuous infusion of epidural analgesia suggests that the presence of these findings in a patient with new neurologic symptoms after administration of epidural analgesia should be considered pathologic and warrant immediate attention.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2010
Development and validation of predictors of respiratory insufficiency and mortality scores: simple bedside additive scores for prediction of ventilation and in-hospital mortality in acute cervical spine injury.
Numerous studies have developed a "severity score" or "risk index" for mechanical ventilation and mortality, but there are few to predict outcomes for cervical spine injury (CSI) patients. Our objective in this study was to develop a simple bedside additive predictive score for requirement for ventilation and early in-hospital mortality for patients with CSI. ⋯ PRIM scores enable accurate prediction of individual patient risk of need for mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality in association with acute CSI.