Journal of clinical anesthesia
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To identify indicators of prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and to test the following hypotheses: (1) that patient age, pain medication administration at the time of PACU admission, length of surgery, and cardiovascular, pulmonary, and pain responses postoperatively predict prolonged PACU LOS and (2) that cardiovascular and pulmonary symptoms preoperatively predict cardiovascular and pulmonary symptoms postoperatively. ⋯ Patient history and postoperative symptoms predict only a small percentage of prolonged PACU stays. Organizational factors may be a more important predictor of prolonged PACU stay. Additionally, assessment of cardiovascular and pulmonary history needs refinement to improve prediction of patient responses postoperatively.
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(1) To introduce anesthesia clinical pathways as a management tool to improve the quality of care; (2) to use the Procedural Times Glossary published by the Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors (AACD) as a template for data collection and analysis; and (3) to determine the effects of anesthesia clinical pathways on surgical processes, outcomes, and costs in common ambulatory orthopedic surgery. ⋯ Clinical pathway patient management systems in anesthesia care are likely to produce useful outcome data of current practice patterns when compared with historical controls. This management tool may be useful in simultaneously containing costs and improving process efficiency and patient outcomes.
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Case Reports
Bilateral continuous 3-in-1 nerve blockade for postoperative pain relief after bilateral femoral shaft surgery.
We tested the effectiveness of bilateral continuous paravascular femoral nerve blocks in a patient following bilateral femoral shaft surgery in whom other analgesic regimens were considered contraindicated or of limited effectiveness. Bilateral continuous femoral paravascular nerve blocks were performed using a previously described technique. General anesthesia was subsequently used to facilitate surgery, which was a bilateral osteosynthesis using dynamic hip screws for osteolytic metastases of the proximal extremities of both femurs. ⋯ Plasma concentrations of lidocaine were consistently below toxic levels (1.35 to 1.65 micrograms/ml). Radiographic contrast studies failed to demonstrate movement of contrast to the level of the lumbar plexus. Bilateral continuous femoral paravascular nerve blocks can be used to provide effective and safe analgesia in patients requiring aggressive analgesia in whom other techniques may be contraindicated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Stress responses in three different anesthetic techniques for carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
To evaluate and compare the stress hormone responses during laparoscopic cholecystectomy during general anesthesia, general anesthesia supplemented by fentanyl, and general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. ⋯ The fentanyl supplemented group received relatively small doses insufficient to inhibit an increase in catecholamines. Thoracic epidural anesthesia depressed the sympathetic response presumably by blocking afferent sympathetic pathways under the conditions of this study. However, it did not attenuate an increase in cortisol, one of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress hormones, during carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our study. This action may be due to the inability of epidural anesthesia to block phrenic nerves that can convey noxious surgical stimulation to the central nervous system.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of techniques for placement of double-lumen endobronchial tubes.
To compare two methods of double-lumen endobronchial tube placement for thoracic surgery and to identify factors that provide a rational basis for placement method selection. ⋯ Both the blind and directed approaches resulted in successful left mainstem placement of the endobronchial tube in the majority of patients but either method may fail when used alone. More time was required using the directed approach. Operator experience with both methods will increase the likelihood of success. The choice of the initial approach may be influenced by patient factors as well as available equipment and personnel.