European journal of anaesthesiology
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The caffeine/halothane contracture test in North America and the in vitro contracture test in Europe are currently the only validated bioassays for diagnosing malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and phenotyping families. Both tests are invasive requiring surgical muscle biopsy. Here, we report first use of the selective ryanodine receptor type I agonist ryanodine in a percutaneous microdialysis protocol designed to test whether microdialysis-induced local metabolic responses of skeletal muscle due to ryanodine receptor activation can differentiate between malignant hyperthermia-sensitive and normal pigs. ⋯ The in vivo percutaneous microdialysis protocol for skeletal muscle, using ryanodine as the ryanodine receptor type I agonist and dialysed lactate-pyruvate parameters as metabolic index, can reproducibly differentiate between malignant hyperthermia-susceptible and normal swine.
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The alpha-2 adrenergic agonists clonidine and dexmedetomidine are used as an antihypertensive and a sedative, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of these agonists on ovalbumin-sensitized airway tone in guinea pigs. ⋯ Both clonidine and dexmedetomidine can relax the airway even in the hyper-reactive state.
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Functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be performed under either local or general anaesthesia. The objective of this study was to investigate the haemodynamic effects of perioperatively administered dexmedetomidine, a new generation alpha-2-agonist, in patients for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. ⋯ These results suggest that dexmedetomidine provides analgesia, adequate sedation and surgical comfort without adverse effects for patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery under local anaesthesia.
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Levosimendan has a cardioprotective action by inducing coronary vasodilatation and preconditioning by opening KATP channels. The aim of this study was to determine whether levosimendan enhances myocardial damage during hypothermic ischaemia and reperfusion in isolated rat hearts. ⋯ Treatment with levosimendan provided better cardioprotection with cold cardioplegic arrest followed by global hypothermic ischaemia in isolated rat hearts.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Videolaryngoscopy improves intubation condition in morbidly obese patients.
Tracheal intubation may be more difficult in morbidly obese patients (body mass index >35 kg m(-2)) than in the non-obese. Recently, new video-assisted intubation devices have been developed. After some experience with videolaryngoscopy, we hypothesized that it could improve the laryngoscopic view in this specific population and therefore facilitate intubation. The aim of this study was to assess the benefit of a videolaryngoscope on the grade of laryngoscopy in morbid obesity. ⋯ In morbidly obese patients, the use of the videolaryngoscope significantly improves the visualization of the larynx and thereby facilitates intubation.