Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1988
[Systemic toxicity of local anesthetics. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors].
Local anaesthetics can have systemic adverse effects, mostly affecting the central nervous system and the heart. The physicochemical characteristics of the different local anaesthetics are recalled, for they determine the relationship between structure, activity and toxicity. The pharmacokinetic factors involved in the toxic effects of local anaesthetics, whether the drug is given in a single extravascular dose or, accidentally, within a blood vessel, are discussed. ⋯ Systemic maternal effects and transplacental passage probably explain their foetal toxicity. Specific toxic effects are seen with some drugs, such as methaemoglobinaemia and allergic reactions (rarely for amide agents). Overall, local anaesthetic accidents are rare, but they must be prevented.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1988
Case Reports[Acute intracranial subdural hematoma after accidental dural puncture in epidural anesthesia].
A case is reported of an acute intracranial subdural haematoma following an accidental dural puncture during an epidural anaesthesia. A seventy-year old man, class ASA I, was operated on for prostatic adenoma under epidural anaesthesia. Dural puncture occurred during the first introduction of the needle into the L4-L5 epidural space. ⋯ After removing the epidural catheter at 24 h postoperatively, the patient received calcium heparinate. 26 h later, he complained of worsening headache and became rapidly deeply comatose. The computer tomographic scan showed air in the ventricles and a large right-sided subdural haematoma which was immediately discharged. Although the link between subdural haematoma and dural puncture is well known, the acuteness and rapidly fatal evolution of this case were exceptional and may have been facilitated by the big size of the needle, dehydration and hypercoagulability.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1988
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Comparative repercussions of general and spinal anesthesia on the psychological functions of the aged subject].
Although worsening cerebral function in the elderly is often said to be due to anaesthesia, it still remains to be proved that anesthesia acts on an elderly patient's psychological make-up. This study aimed to compare the psychological effects of general or spinal anaesthesia on 35 patients more than 70-yr old under repair of a subcapital femoral fracture, after having excluded 63 patients. They were randomly divided into two groups, the first receiving a spinal anaesthetic with 1.5 mg.kg-1 prilocaine (RA; n = 19), and the others a general anaesthetic with 5 mg.kg-1 thiopentone, dextromoramide, nitrous oxide and enflurane (GA; n = 16). ⋯ Individual psychological scores did not differ either. In the RA group, the postoperative tests were even better carried out than before surgery (p less than 0.05). It could therefore be concluded that anaesthesia alone has little impact on the psychological status of elderly patients.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1988
Comparative Study[Measurement of cardiac output by thoracic electrical bioimpedance or thermodilution].
The present study was designed to assess a new non invasive method for measuring cardiac output. The thoracic electrical bioimpedance method was compared with the reference one, thermodilution. The measurements were made simultaneously with NCCOM3 (bioimpedance) using the freeze data mode, and with a Swan-Ganz catheter and a haemodynamic computer (thermodilution). ⋯ Thoracic electrical bioimpedance appeared a safe method for measuring cardiac output, providing the limits of the method are kept. The objective is not to replace the Swan-Ganz catheter, but to propose an alternative method for measuring cardiac output. This method is very interesting in many circumstances, particularly for intensive care patients: it is a non invasive technique, continual measurement is not time-limited, and its use is very easy.
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1988
[Development of anesthetic technics for resection-anastomosis of the trachea].
A series is reported of 109 patients, 45 +/- 18 yr old, undergoing tracheal sleeve resection. 101 patients had iatrogenic tracheal stenosis, 5 tracheal cylindroma, 2 tracheal cancer and 1 tracheal trauma. 84 patients underwent preoperative laser coagulation to increase the airway internal diameter. Anaesthesia for the sleeve resection was induced by thiopentone, and maintained by an opiate, nitrous oxide and, if necessary, a volatile anesthetic. Patients were intubated, after having been given a muscle relaxant, with either a normal length and diameter tube with a low pressure cuff, or a narrow (internal diameter less than 6 mm) 50 cm long tube with or without a low pressure cuff. ⋯ Preoperative photocoagulation reduced the risk of induction and intubation; the choice of endotracheal tube no longer depended on the tracheal diameter, but on the method of ventilation chosen. However, HFJV has tended to be phased out, except for the surgery of lesions close to the carena; it has been replaced by intermittent positive pressure ventilation via long tubes. Because laser photocoagulation can completely cure small stenoses, these patients requiring surgery were those with long stenoses which were difficult to treat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)