Anesthesia and analgesia
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Prolongation of the QTc interval indicates abnormal cardiac repolarization. A recent study has shown that postoperative QTc prolongation is common. However, it is unknown whether QTc prolongation is an isolated postoperative phenomenon or occurs regularly during surgery, or whether the type of anesthesia influences its incidence. ⋯ These results indicate that QTc prolongation is not an isolated postoperative phenomenon and is common during surgery under general and spinal anesthesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2016
Risk Factors for Dexmedetomidine-Associated Hemodynamic Instability in Noncardiac Intensive Care Unit Patients.
The reported incidence of hypotension and bradycardia in patients receiving dexmedetomidine for sedation commonly exceeds 50%. In this study, we describe the incidence of, patient- and treatment-specific risk factors for, and clinical significance of dexmedetomidine-associated hemodynamic instability. ⋯ Hemodynamic instability commonly occurs in critically ill adults receiving dexmedetomidine, with more than two thirds of this cohort experiencing hypotension and/or bradycardia within 24 hours of initiation. Increasing age and low baseline arterial blood pressure were associated with the development of hemodynamic instability. These findings suggest that clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of hemodynamic instability when using dexmedetomidine in patients with advanced age or low baseline arterial blood pressure.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2016
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mode of Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery.
Racial and ethnic disparities have been identified in the provision of neuraxial labor analgesia. These disparities may exist in other key aspects of obstetric anesthesia care. We sought to determine whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in mode of anesthesia for cesarean delivery (CD). ⋯ Based on data from the Cesarean Registry, African American women had the highest odds of undergoing general anesthesia for CD compared with Caucasian women. It is uncertain whether this disparity exists in current obstetric practice.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2016
Intermittent Hypoxia Causes Inflammation and Injury to Human Adult Cardiac Myocytes.
Intermittent hypoxia may occur in a number of clinical scenarios, including interruption of myocardial blood flow or breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Although intermittent hypoxia has been linked to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, the effect of intermittent hypoxia on the human heart is not fully understood. Therefore, in the present study, we compared the cellular responses of cultured human adult cardiac myocytes (HACMs) exposed to intermittent hypoxia and different conditions of continuous hypoxia and normoxia. ⋯ Intermittent and constant severe hypoxia, but not constant mild hypoxia or normoxia, induced inflammation and cell injury in HACMs. Cell injury occurred earliest and was greatest after intermittent hypoxia exposure. Our in vitro findings suggest that intermittent hypoxia exposure may produce rapid and substantial damage to the human heart.