Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. Increased global travel has resulted in an escalation in the number of imported cases seen in developed countries. Patients with malaria may present for surgery in both endemic and non-endemic countries. This article reviews the perioperative considerations when managing patients with malaria. ⋯ Malaria remains one of the most devastating infectious diseases worldwide. Multiple organ systems can be impacted as a consequence of changes in structure and function of parasitized erythrocytes. Safe perioperative management requires a sound knowledge of all these potential system effects.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the electrical epidural stimulation test (EST) to determine the position of the epidural catheter during combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia for labour analgesia. ⋯ The intrathecal injection of a low dose of bupivacaine-fentanyl does not affect the MTC if the catheter is placed in the epidural space; however, it does affect the threshold if the catheter is placed intrathecally. We also confirm that the EST can help to determine the position of the epidural catheter prior to injection of the test dose. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00464841).
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To investigate the reliability of a point-of-care device, the HEMOCHRON(®) Jr. Signature, for measuring the international normalized ratio (INR) during the three surgical phases of liver transplantation. ⋯ Point-of-care INR was accurate prior to hepatic reperfusion, but reliability decreased in the neohepatic phase.