Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Physiological immaturity of the respiratory musculature and central respiratory control centres leads to an increased risk of apnoea and respiratory complications following general anaesthesia in neonates. Regional anaesthetic techniques may obviate the need for general anaesthesia and lessen the risks of perioperative morbidity. ⋯ We present our experience with four infants in whom either caudal epidural or spinal anaesthesia was administered via indwelling catheters for operative procedures that lasted 90 to 180 min. We believe this technique is an alternative to general anaesthesia in these patients.
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We have constructed a simple system for field anaesthesia by using a Farman entrainer and a semi-open circuit to convert a draw-over apparatus to a continuous flow air/O2 system. Compressed O2 was the driving gas for the entrainer; fresh gas (FG) delivered to the semi-open circuit was a mixture of O2, entrained air and anaesthetic vapour. The purpose of this study was to examine FG flow rate and CO2 rebreathing during intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV). ⋯ Thirty-seven adult patients having intra-abdominal or pelvic surgery under general tracheal anaesthesia were studied. Four FG flow rates (5.7, 8.0, 9.3, and 10.4 L.min-1), corresponding to driving gas pressures of 40, 60, 80, and 100 mmHg, were introduced in random order. Although inspired CO2 was detected at FG flow rates of 5.7-9.3 L.min-1, there were no differences in PETCO2 among the four groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The purpose of this study was to measure thoracic epidural pressure at the time of insertion of an epidural needle. The pressure was measured using a closed pressure measurement system after insertion of a Tuohy needle at the T7-8 intervertebral level. This system is unique because it has a pressure transducer equipped with a device which regulates flow through the transducer and prevents the heparinized saline in the system from being evacuated into the epidural space due to sudden pressure change. ⋯ Similar results were observed when the procedure was repeated within a few minutes to the same patients. This suggests that negative epidural pressures at the moment of epidural puncture are artifacts induced by tenting of the dural membrane. Subsequent adaptation of the surrounding tissue results in restoration of the normal positive epidural pressure.
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We present a case of pulmonary artery perforation in a patient who developed a pneumothorax after cardiac surgery. In the process of inserting a chest tube the patient became tachypnoeic, and developed haemoptysis. The trachea was intubated, and right bronchial intubation was performed with persistent bleeding. ⋯ The bronchial blocker was removed the following day with no bleeding. The aetiology of perforation was secondary to the pneumothorax, which caused a shift of the mediastinum to the right, elevated pulmonary artery pressures, and the distal migration of the catheter through the pulmonary artery. It is recommended that treatment include tracheal intubation, inflation of the pulmonary artery catheter balloon, and the placement of a right lower lobe bronchial blocker.