Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
-
The two major neurological complications of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) due to an intracranial aneurysm are rebleeding and delayed cerebral ischaemia related to cerebral vasospasm. The best way to prevent rebleeding is early surgery. Even when surgery is performed within the first 72 hours posthaemorrhage, the risk of cerebral ischaemia due to vasospasm is high. ⋯ To conclude, together with lumbar CSF drainage and transient clipping, the anaesthetic management of the patients should include: maintenance of the arterial blood pressure close to its preoperative level, maintenance of PaCO2 between 30 and 35 mmHg and of normovolaemia through replacement of fluid and blood losses. After completion of surgery, recovery from anaesthesia should be rapid to allow fast diagnosis of neurological complications. The monitoring of the status of consciousness is the key of the diagnosis of early postoperative complications.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1994
Review[Antibiotic prophylaxis of penetrating injuries of the abdomen].
Antibiotic prophylaxis for a penetrating injury of the abdomen has a distinctive feature as contamination occurs before administration of antibiotics and because important blood loss can modify the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics. Due to the rate and severity of infectious complications, no controlled study has been undertaken. ⋯ Various antibiotic regimens have been administered, but it seems that those using an antibiotic active against anaerobes are more efficient to prevent postoperative infectious complications than without them. There is no benefit to administer antibiotics for more than 24 hours.
-
The abdominal pressure is a hydrostatic one, which can be measured in the bladder, the rectum and the stomach. In physiologic conditions, the abdominal pressure is variable, with peaks as high as 100 to 200 mmHg at the time of defecation, cough. The increase in abdominal pressure elicited by abdominal distension or compression acts directly on the abdominal compartment, indirectly on the thoracic compartment, and modifies the circulation and the ventilation. ⋯ The risk of regurgitation associated with an increased abdominal pressure must also be kept in mind. The abdominal pressure plays an important role in anaesthesia as well as in surgery. Therefore its measurement, which is easy, should become a routine.
-
In elective colorectal surgery, the benefit of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is well established, with a reduction in wound infection rate to less than 10%. The antimicrobial agent used has to be active against aerobic and anaerobic pathogens such as Escheria coli and Bacteriodes fragilis. The efficacy of three schemes of administration: oral and/or parenteral prophylaxis associated with a mechanical preparation, has been demonstrated. ⋯ Parenteral prophylaxis with a cephalosporin active against Bacteriodes fragilis such as cefoxitin and cefotetan, is preferred in Europe. The issue of whether a systemic prophylaxis should be added to the oral regimen or not has not yet been resolved. However it seems that the association should be proposed in various situations: patients with a high risk factors score (rectal resection and operations lasting more than three hours), patients with incomplete mechanical preparation, delay of the onset of surgery after the last oral dose.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1994
[Training evaluation of the nursing staff in patient-controlled analgesia].
Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is an effective technique to relieve most forms of acute postoperative pain. However it is not easy to apply. An adequate training of the nursing staff has been for a safe and successful use in the recovery room and the wards as well. ⋯ There is no longer any resistance against the introduction of PCA in the wards. Training of nursing staff for the use of PCA devices is essential in order to avoid "human errors". PCA has become routine for the management of postoperative pain.