Journal of clinical anesthesia
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The Grieshaber Air System was designed to maintain intraocular pressure during ophthalmologic surgery. It also has been used to maintain pressure in leaking endotracheal tube cuffs. It is a very useful device, especially if the intubation is difficult or the patient's position precludes replacement of the endotracheal tube. Two patients are presented in whom the system was used to maintain endotracheal tube cuff pressure.
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Warming of intravenous fluids may help to prevent shivering and hypothermia in the surgical patient. Increasing the fluid temperatures to as high as 60 degrees C has been suggested. An in vitro study was performed in which temperature changes following the rapid infusion of heated lactated Ringer's solution within a vein were measured. ⋯ This effect of possible regional tissue heating may well occur in vivo. It is known that the rate of human blood cell hemolysis and membrane enzymatic function is affected by temperature. Further efforts need to be directed toward appreciating the effects of warmed intravenous fluids upon intact physiologic preparations and red blood cells.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of labetalol or lidocaine on the hemodynamic response to intubation: a controlled randomized double-blind study.
Labetalol, a combined alpha 1- and nonselective beta-adrenergic blocking drug, was compared to lidocaine or saline to minimize the hypertensive and tachycardic response to intubation in a controlled randomized double-blind study in patients undergoing surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Forty adult patients were divided into four groups of 10 each: placebo (saline), lidocaine 100 mg, labetalol 5 mg, or labetalol 10 mg. The double-blind preparation was administered as an IV bolus just prior to induction and 2 min before the stimulus of laryngoscopy and intubation. ⋯ Labetalol 10 mg prevented a rise in heart rate after intubation compared to patients who received placebo, lidocaine 100 mg, or labetalol 5 mg. The hypertensive response to intubation was similar in all four groups. Labetalol 10 mg IV just prior to induction of anesthesia is a safe and cost-effective means of preventing tachycardia but not hypertension in response to laryngoscopy and intubation.