Journal of anesthesia
-
Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2014
Multicenter StudySafety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine for long-term sedation in critically ill patients.
We evaluated the safety and efficacy of long-term administration of dexmedetomidine in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Primary endpoint was the incidence of hypotension, hypertension, and bradycardia. Secondary endpoints were withdrawal symptoms, rebound effects, the duration of sedation with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) ≤ 0 relative to the total infusion time of dexmedetomidine, and the dose of additional sedatives or analgesics. ⋯ Long-term safety of dexmedetomidine compared to its use for 24 h was confirmed. Dexmedetomidine was useful to maintain an adequate sedation level (RASS ≤ 0) during long-term infusion.
-
Monitoring is crucial to assure safety during difficult airway management. Several reports have indicated that the most of the adverse outcomes associated with difficult airway management could have been avoided with the use of necessary monitors, such as a pulse oximeter and a capnometer. Nevertheless, airway complications continue to be major problems during anesthesia, in particular, in patients with difficult airways. In this brief review, I stress the role of monitoring in detecting inadvertent esophageal intubation, during sedation for awake tracheal intubation, during general anesthesia, and during emergence from anesthesia, in patients with difficult airways.
-
Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2014
Controlled Clinical TrialTo assess the changes of tracheal cuff pressure after a calibrating orogastric tube insertion.
Insertion of a medical instrument into the esophagus may affect tracheal tube pressure. This study evaluated the potential effect of a calibrating orogastric tube insertion on tracheal cuff pressure in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Adult patients who were scheduled for elective bariatric surgery requiring insertion of a calibrating orogastric tube were assessed for eligibility for this study. ⋯ The change of tracheal cuff pressure was recorded after the calibrating orogastric tube had been left in situ for 3 min. After insertion of the calibrating orogastric tube, the median tracheal cuff pressure increased from 28 [27-28 (25-30)] to 36 [30-42 (26-64)] cmH2O (P < 0.001) and was greater than 35 cmH2O in 30 of 60 patients (50 %). Our results suggest that the tracheal cuff pressure should be routinely monitored in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery requiring insertion of a calibrating orogastric tube.
-
Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2014
Case ReportsSuspected intraoperative formation of left atrial thrombus in a patient with atrial fibrillation receiving bridging anticoagulation therapy.
We present a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) in whom a left atrial (LA) thrombus might have formed during laparotomy despite bridging anticoagulation therapy. No evidence of thrombus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at the start of surgery; however, a thrombus measuring 13 × 10 mm was found in the LA appendage by the end of the procedure, suggesting that thrombus might develop intraoperatively in patients with AF even when bridging anticoagulation is properly established. Intraoperative TEE can assist in detecting intracardiac thrombus in patients with AF regardless of their anticoagulation status and provides a tool for intervention to prevent systemic embolization.
-
Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2014
Case ReportsDevelopment of takotsubo cardiomyopathy with severe pulmonary edema before a cesarean section.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an acute syndrome involving apical ballooning and consequent dysfunction of the left ventricle. Most cases of left ventricular dysfunction resolve within 1 month. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman who developed severe heart failure caused by takotsubo cardiomyopathy with severe left ventricular dysfunction during the perinatal period. ⋯ Full recovery of cardiac function required almost 1 month, after which she was discharged from the hospital without further complications. This is the first reported case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy induced by a failed intubation during a scheduled cesarean section. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy usually shows a good prognosis, but if this myopathy develops during the perinatal period, it can worsen because of excessive preload following the termination of fetoplacental circulation.