Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2019
ReviewLasting effects of general anesthetics on the brain in the young and elderly: "mixed picture" of neurotoxicity, neuroprotection and cognitive impairment.
General anesthetics are commonly used in major surgery. To achieve the depth of anesthesia for surgery, patients are being subjected to a variety of general anesthetics, alone or in combination. It has been long held an illusory concept that the general anesthesia is entirely reversible and that the central nervous system is returned to its pristine state once the anesthetic agent is eliminated from the active site. ⋯ The vulnerability of aging brain to general anesthetics, specifically in the context of cognitive disorders and Alzheimer's disease pathogeneses are also discussed. Moreover, we will review emerging evidence regarding the neuroprotective property of xenon and anesthetic adjuvant dexmedetomidine in the immature and mature brains. In conclusion, "mixed picture" effects of general anesthetics should be well acknowledged and should be implemented into daily clinical practice for better patient outcome.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2019
ReviewHow neuraxial labor analgesia differs by approach: dural puncture epidural as a novel option.
Neuraxial analgesia techniques are not limited to just standard epidural and CSE blocks. A novel approach called dural puncture epidural (DPE) which is a modification of CSE in terms of practice has gained popularity after its description and use in the obstetric population. The aim of this review is to address the practice of DPE technique as a novel option by reviewing its benefits as well as side and/or adverse effects and to understand how neuraxial labor analgesia differs by approach based on the information available in the current literature DISCUSSION: Despite controversies and concerns, more rapid onset of analgesia, early bilateral sacral analgesia, lower incidence of asymmetric block and fewer maternal and fetal side effects are provided with DPE when compared to epidural. ⋯ DPE offers a favorable risk-benefit ratio for management of neuraxial analgesia as a novel option.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2019
ReviewSpinal myoclonus following neuraxial anesthesia: a literature review.
Spinal myoclonus (SM) is a rare neurologic movement disorder following neuraxial anesthesia (NA). SM following NA (SM-NA) has insufficient clinical information and its pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. The aim of this review article was to summarize the past cases and consider SM-NA pathophysiology. ⋯ In the LA elimination process, the large concentration differences in intrathecal LA may induce the partially functioning spinal neurons, resulting in myoclonus generation. The morphological features of the lumbar spine in women can predispose to a higher LA concentration difference. SM-NA is an unpredictable and rare neural complication following NA and should be confirmed by basic experiments and large-scale researches.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2019
ReviewRoles of inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, and neuroinflammation in pain.
Inflammation is the body's response to injury and infection, involving a complex biological response of the somatosensory, immune, autonomic, and vascular systems. Inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines induce pain via direct activation of nociceptors, the primary sensory neurons that detect noxious stimuli. ⋯ A characteristic feature of neuroinflammation is the activation of glial cells in dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, and brain which leads to the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the PNS and CNS that drives peripheral sensitization and central sensitization. Here, we discuss the distinct roles of inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, and neuroinflammation in the regulation of different types of pain conditions, with a special focus on neuroinflammation in postoperative pain and opioid-induced hyperalgesia.
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Journal of anesthesia · Dec 2018
ReviewChallenges and hurdles for patient safety in obstetric anesthesia in Japan.
The use of pain relief for labor has gained popularity in Japan. However, its acceptance is still low among laboring women: only 6.1% of Japanese parturients receive labor analgesia, in contrast with the United States, where approximately 70% receive labor analgesia. ⋯ In this review, we focus on current approaches to labor analgesia in the United States as they compare to existing practices in Japan. We discuss challenges for the introduction and implementation of standard anesthesia practice into the Labor and Delivery Room (LDR; i.e., labor and delivery ward), aiming to secure safety for both mothers and fetus in every part of Japan in the near future.