European journal of anaesthesiology
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Comparative Study
Ethnic differences in propofol and fentanyl response: a comparison among Caucasians, Kenyan Africans and Brazilians.
Differences in sensitivity to anaesthetic drugs may exist among human races. Allelic variants for drug metabolizing isoenzymes and other pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic differences may account for a variable response to anaesthetic drugs. This study was designed to investigate comparatively the anaesthetic requirements and the recovery trends of three different ethnic groups: Caucasians, African blacks and Brazilians. ⋯ The recovery of Kenyan African blacks from anaesthesia with propofol and fentanyl is much slower, in comparison with Caucasians. The recovery time of Brazilians is much more variable, in comparison with Caucasians.
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Comparative Study
Postoperative changes in the full-field electroretinogram following sevoflurane anaesthesia.
We tested the hypothesis that disturbances of the visual pathway persist following general anaesthesia, even after normal clinical discharge criteria have been met. ⋯ Postoperative electroretinogram abnormalities are consistently present in patients who have undergone N2O/sevoflurane anaesthesia. These abnormalities persist beyond the time at which standard clinical discharge criteria have been met.
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The kneeling prone position is often used for low back surgery in order to decrease intraoperative bleeding and increase the surgical exposure of the vertebral canal. The aim of this study was to assess effects of the kneeling prone position on respiratory gas exchange focusing on oxygen consumption and early changes in oxygenation. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that the kneeling prone position improves oxygenation and that the mechanisms involved are fast in onset. Furthermore, the prone position does not change oxygen consumption although alveolar ventilation is significantly reduced. The changes in alveolar ventilation could possibly be the result of circulatory changes caused by the prone position, but further studies are needed to clarify that hypothesis.
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Comment Letter Historical Article
Historical data on the neuraxial administration of opioids.