Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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A 76-yr-old man underwent carinal resection for squamous cell carcinoma through the right posterolateral thoracotomy approach. Ventilation was maintained by the use of two high-frequency jet ventilators, each attached to a separate catheter during the time of resection and reconstruction of the tracheal carina. ⋯ During two-lung jet ventilation there was good oxygenation, normocapnia and no cardiovascular complications. The principle advantage of using two separate high-frequency ventilators is that it allows for maximum ventilatory efficiency with lungs of different compliance.
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Blood or plasma glucose concentration can be measured accurately and rapidly. However, after a glucose challenge metabolism may modify glucose kinetics, so that glucose has not been used as an indicator for dilution volumetry. To test the hypothesis that the initial distribution volume of glucose (IDVG) reflects cardiac output rather than glucose metabolism in the critically ill, the relationship between IDVG and thermodilution cardiac output was evaluated at 27 points in 13 non-surgical, critically ill patients without congestive heart failure. ⋯ Correlations were obtained between the IDVG and cardiac output (r = 0.89, n = 27, P < 0.001), and between the incremental plasma glucose concentrations three minutes after the injection and the IDVG (r = 0.94, n = 27, P < 0.001). No difference was found between the IDVG with or without continuous insulin infusions. The results indicate that the IDVG reflects cardiac output rather than glucose metabolism in patients without congestive heart failure.
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Desflurane is a volatile anaesthetic that combines low blood gas solubility (blood/gas partition coefficient = 0.42 at 37 degrees C), moderate potency (MAC = 6-7%), and high volatility (vapour pressure = 681 mmHg at 20 degrees C, boiling point = 23.5 degrees C). The volatility and potency of desflurane prevent its safe use in vaporizers of traditional design. We present a mathematical model which demonstrates the potential for desflurane overdose if contemporary vaporizers are misfilled with desflurane. ⋯ The calculated desflurane output of a misfilled enflurane vaporizer at a dial setting of 1% and a temperature of 22 degrees C is 57.8%, or 9.6 MAC. For misfilled enflurane, isoflurane, and halothane vaporizers at dial settings equivalent to one MAC at 22 degrees C, the calculated desflurane output is 14.0, 10.2, and 7.8 MAC, respectively. We conclude that the safe delivery of desflurane will require engineering safeguards, additional monitoring, and education of the anesthesia community.
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We report a malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patient who required investigation for a large, symptomatic anterior mediastinal mass. Multiple attempts at tissue diagnosis under local anaesthesia were unsuccessful. ⋯ Diagnostic mediastinotomy was performed without incident. We conclude that ketamine anaesthesia is appropriate for patients with anterior mediastinal masses, and is considered safe in malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patients.