Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Comparative Study
Uniport soft-tip, open-ended catheters versus multiport firm-tipped close-ended catheters for epidural labor analgesia: a quality assurance study.
To compare a multiport, firm-tipped, close-ended, epidural catheter (Portex catheter) with a uniport, open-ended, soft-tipped, wire-reinforced catheter (Arrow catheter) in obstetric patients. ⋯ In obstetric patients, the softer uniport Arrow catheter produces paresthesias and venipunctures less frequently than the firm multiport Portex catheter.
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Comparative Study
Effects of the phosphodiesterase-III inhibitor enoximone on skeletal muscle specimens from malignant hyperthermia susceptible patients.
To study the in vitro effects of the phosphodiesterase-III inhibitor enoximone on skeletal muscle specimens from malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) and normal (MHN) patients. ⋯ Diagnosis of MH by an IVCT test with a single bolus administration of enoximone seems to be possible using a concentration of 0.6 mmol/L. The findings of this study may indicate an involvement of the phosphodiesterase-III and cAMP system in pathogenesis of MH. Further in vivo investigation should determine the trigger potency of enoximone in MH susceptible individuals.
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Comparative Study
Gender is an essential determinant of blood transfusion in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft procedure.
To determine factors that account for gender difference in the need for blood transfusion in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. ⋯ Gender is an independent essential determinant of blood transfusion in CABG patients, and it may interact with age, weight, preoperative Hct, duration of surgery, and other factors in determining the probability of transfusion.
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To evaluate the relationship between perioperative ischemia and serial concentrations of D-dimer, which is a sensitive and specific marker of fibrinolytic activity. Myocardial ischemia and infarction are well-recognized complications of peripheral vascular surgery. We hypothesized that patients at increased risk of perioperative myocardial ischemia might be identified preoperatively by abnormal hemostatic indices. ⋯ PATIENTS with an impaired fibrinolytic response, as defined by reduced generation of D-dimer, experienced an increased incidence of perioperative myocardial ischemia.
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To measure the incidence of awareness during induction of anesthesia with etomidate and fentanyl, and to model its frequency as a function of dose of etomidate. ⋯ The incidence of awareness during bolus induction can be modeled as dose dependent. However, when combining a short-acting induction drug and a delayed-onset neuromuscular blocker, the continuous infusion of the hypnotic drug may prevent awareness during induction.