European journal of anaesthesiology
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The importance of monitoring the breathing pattern during sedation of children undergoing magnetic resonance scans is indicated in guidelines, but no appropriate magnetic resonance-compatible devices are available. We report preliminary findings from a technique referred to as remote pressure sensor respiratory plethysmography. ⋯ Breathing pattern monitoring is feasible through pneumatic devices, which are well tolerated. The resulting correlation with changes in tidal volume can be better when compared to visual inspection. Proportion of inspiratory time over cycle time and sigh rate convey information related to the state of the sedated patient. These results are not specific to the technology employed, and large-scale studies on the clinical usefulness of breathing pattern monitoring are motivated.
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There is an increasing body of evidence that volatile anaesthetics protect myocardium against ischaemic insult by a mechanism termed 'anaesthetic preconditioning'. Anaesthetic preconditioning and ischaemic preconditioning share several common mechanisms of action. ⋯ After a brief review on myocardial preconditioning, experimental and clinical data on preconditioning in non-cardiac tissues will be presented. Potential benefits of anaesthetic preconditioning during non-cardiac surgery will be addressed.
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In most studies of cardiac output changes after spinal anaesthesia, the time-resolution is limited. The aim of this study was to demonstrate cardiac output changes with high time-resolution during onset of spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients. ⋯ Using this high time-resolution method, we detected biphasic changes in cardiac output during onset of spinal anaesthesia. Initially, cardiac output increased. Subsequently, it was significantly reduced from baseline, although this decrease was of minor clinical importance.
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To examine a possible mechanism for the antinociceptive action of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ifenprodil, we compared its effects with those of ketamine on tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, which play an important role in the nociceptive pain pathway. ⋯ The observed suppressive effects on tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ channel activity may, at least in part, underlie the antinociceptive effects of these N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists.