Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2010
ReviewThe acute management of intracerebral hemorrhage: a clinical review.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disease with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The major risk factors for ICH include chronic arterial hypertension and oral anticoagulation. After the initial hemorrhage, hematoma expansion and perihematoma edema result in secondary brain damage and worsened outcome. ⋯ There is substantial evidence that management of patients with ICH in a specialist neurointensive care unit, where treatment is directed toward monitoring and managing cardiorespiratory variables and intracranial pressure, is associated with improved outcomes. Attention must be given to fluid and glycemic management, minimizing the risk of ventilator-acquired pneumonia, fever control, provision of enteral nutrition, and thromboembolic prophylaxis. There is an increasing awareness that aggressive management in the acute phase can translate into improved outcomes after ICH.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2010
ReviewRapid sequence induction and intubation: current controversy.
The changing opinion regarding some of the traditional components of rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII) creates wide practice variations that impede attempts to establish a standard RSII protocol. There is controversy regarding the choice of induction drug, the dose, and the method of administration. Whereas some prefer the traditional rapid injection of a predetermined dose, others use the titration to loss of consciousness technique. ⋯ Cricoid pressure remains the most heated controversy; some believe in its effectiveness in preventing pulmonary aspiration, whereas others believe it should be abandoned because of the lack of scientific evidence of benefit and possible complications. There is still controversy regarding the best position and whether the head-up, head-down, or supine position is the safest during induction of anesthesia in full-stomach patients. These controversial components need to be discussed, studied, and resolved before establishing a standard RSII protocol.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyLevobupivacaine 0.5% provides longer analgesia after sciatic nerve block using the Labat approach than the same dose of ropivacaine in foot and ankle surgery.
Levobupivacaine and ropivacaine are 2 left enantiomeric molecules frequently used for peripheral nerve blocks because of their safe clinical profile. Levobupivacaine is more lipophilic and theoretically more potent than ropivacaine, but clinical studies show conflicting results in terms of anesthetic and analgesic characteristics. We hypothesized that the pure S-enantiomer of bupivacaine provides longer-lasting analgesia than ropivacaine. ⋯ Twenty milliliters levobupivacaine 0.5% in posterior gluteal (Labat) sciatic nerve block provided longer-lasting analgesia after foot and ankle surgery compared with the same dose of ropivacaine.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2010
ReviewAnesthesia and analgesia protocol during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: a systematic review.
Present practice guidelines recommend sedative-analgesic and neuromuscular blocking administration during therapeutic hypothermia in comatose patients after cardiac arrest. However, none suggests the best administration protocol. In this study, we evaluated intensivists' preferences regarding administration. ⋯ There is great variability in the protocols used for anesthesia and analgesia during therapeutic hypothermia. Very often, the drug and the dose used do not seem the most appropriate. Only 3 ICUs routinely used electroencephalographic monitoring during paralysis. It is necessary to reach a consensus on how to treat this critical care population.