Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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A main indication for intracranial pressure monitoring is severe head trauma, where it acts as a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic guide. Others indications for intracranial pressure monitoring are patients with CSF circulation disturbances, whatever the cause, and various pathologies inducing intracranial hypertension, such as encephalopathies. Intracranial pressure monitoring must be associated with the measurement of mean arterial pressure, arterial and jugular venous oxygen saturation and blood flow velocity in major intracranial arteries with transcranial Doppler sonography.
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Intracranial pressure waves include fast waves (pulse and respiration) and slow waves. Only the latter are considered here. Since the definition of three wave types in the pioneering works of Janny (1950) and Lundberg (1960), their study of frequential characteristics shows they are included in a spectrum where three contiguous frequency bands are individualised: the B wave band (BW) between 8 x 10(-3) Hz and 50 x 10(-3) Hz; the Infra B band (IB) below 8 x 10(-3) Hz; and the Ultra B band (UB) beyond 50 x 10(-3) Hz to 200 x 10(-3) Hz. ⋯ They are linked with slow peripheral arterial pressure waves, with biological rhythms and with biomechanics and vasomotricity in the craniospinal enclosure. They are pathological for the slowest (IB), particularly if they are plateau waves, but the physiologic-pathologic boundary is not yet established for each type of slow waves. They can cause severe consequences if they result in major cerebral perfusion pressure changes, and if they induce or worsen herniations.
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Intracranial pressure depends on cerebral tissue volume, cerebrospinal fluid volume (CSFV) and cerebral blood volume (CBV). Physiologically, their sum is constant (Monro-Kelly equation) and ICP remains stable. When the blood brain barrier (BBB) is intact, the volume of cerebral tissue depends on the osmotic pressure gradient. ⋯ Hyperthermia is an aggravating factor for ICHT, whereas moderate hypothermia seems to be beneficial both for ICP and cerebral metabolism. Hyperglycaemia has no direct effect on cerebral volume, but it may aggravate ICHT by inducing cerebral lactic acidosis and cytotoxic oedemia. Therefore, infusion of glucose solutes is contra-indicated in the first 24 hours following head trauma and blood glucose concentration must be closely monitored and controlled during ICHT episodes.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1997
[Tracheal intubation in prehospital resuscitation: importance of rapid-sequence induction anesthesia].
To investigate complications of emergency endotracheal intubation (EEI), possibly facilitated by rapid-sequence induction, in the prehospital critical care setting: 1) the difficulty of intubation; 2) the cardiorespiratory consequences of intubation; 3) the relationship between the occurrence of complications and prognosis. ⋯ In this study, EEI in SC patients was frequently facilitated by rapid sequence induction and was associated with a high success rate at the first attempt, as in CA patients. Morbidity was low. All physicians involved in emergency airway management should be skilled in this technique.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1997
[Ambulatory anesthesia practice in a University Hospital Center: what is done; what could be done. Ambulatory Anesthesia Study Group].
To estimate the number and type of patients, who could be managed on a day-care basis in a University Hospital. Cases of ambulatory anaesthesia (AA) which could be managed in optimal conditions and current AA practice. To assess patients' opinion on inpatient or outpatient practices. ⋯ At the time of this survey only one fourth of the possible oupatients for AA had in fact been treated on a day-case basis. Its development requires an improvement of the structures, team organisation and patients' information.