Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2013
Early developmental exposure to volatile anesthetics causes behavioral defects in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Mounting evidence from animal studies shows that anesthetic exposure in early life leads to apoptosis in the developing nervous system. This loss of neurons has functional consequences in adulthood. Clinical retrospective reviews have suggested that multiple anesthetic exposures in early childhood are associated with learning disabilities later in life as well. Despite much concern about this phenomenon, little is known about the mechanism by which anesthetics initiate neuronal cell death. Caenorhabditis elegans, a powerful genetic animal model, with precisely characterized neural development and cell death pathways, affords an excellent opportunity to study anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity. We hypothesized that exposing the nematode to volatile anesthetics early in life would induce neuron cell death, producing a behavioral defect that would be manifested in adulthood. ⋯ These data indicate that anesthetics affect neurobehavior in nematodes, extending the range of phyla in which early exposure to volatile anesthetics has been shown to cause functional neurological deficits. This implies that anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity occurs via an ancient underlying mechanism. C elegans is a tractable model organism with which to survey an entire genome for molecules that mediate the toxic effects of volatile anesthetics on the developing nervous system.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2013
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyIntermittent epidural bolus compared with continuous epidural infusions for labor analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Intermittent epidural bolus when compared with continuous epidural infusion for labour analgesia results in slightly reduced local anaesthetic use and a small improvement in maternal satisfaction. Caesarean section and instrumental delivery rates were not significantly statistically different.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2013
Review Meta AnalysisDexamethasone to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Dexamethasone provides effective PONV prophylaxis (NNT 3.7). There is however no benefit of an 8 to 10 mg IV dose over a lower 4 to 5 mg dose.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyValidation of a stand-alone near-infrared spectroscopy system for monitoring cerebral autoregulation during cardiac surgery.
Individualizing arterial blood pressure (ABP) targets during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) based on cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation monitoring may provide a more effective means for preventing cerebral hypoperfusion than the current standard of care. Autoregulation can be monitored in real time with transcranial Doppler (TCD). We have previously demonstrated that near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rS(c)O(2)) provides a clinically suitable surrogate of CBF for autoregulation monitoring. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of a stand-alone "plug-and-play" investigational system for autoregulation monitoring that uses a commercially available NIRS monitor with TCD methods. ⋯ Monitoring CBF autoregulation with an investigational stand-alone NIRS monitor is correlated and in good agreement with TCD-based methods. The availability of such a device would allow widespread autoregulation monitoring as a means of individualizing ABP targets during CPB.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy of intrathecal baclofen on different pain qualities in complex regional pain syndrome.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by severe debilitating chronic pain. Patients with CRPS may experience various pain sensations, which likely embody different pathophysiologic mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the differential effects of central γ-aminobutyric acid (B) receptor stimulation on the different pain qualities in CRPS patients with dystonia. ⋯ γ-Aminobutyric acid (B) receptor stimulation by ITB exerts differential antinociceptive effects on specific pain qualities in CRPS patients with dystonia.