Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 1996
Comparative StudyImportant aspects in the treatment of severe accidental hypothermia: the Innsbruck experience.
The purpose of this paper is to review important aspects in the treatment of accidental hypothermia, based on our own experience in rewarming 55 patients with severe accidental hypothermia and a core temperature < 30 degrees C. We used three different methods of rewarming, adjusted to the patients' hemodynamics: airway rewarming, warmed fluids and insulation in patients with stable hemodynamics (group 1, n = 24), peritoneal dialysis in patients with unstable hemodynamics (group 2, n = 7) and extracorporeal circulation in patients with cardiocirculatory arrest (group 3, n = 24). ⋯ The method used to rewarm a patient with severe accidental hypothermia should be adjusted to the hemodynamic status. The prognosis is excellent in patients in whom no hypoxic event precedes hypothermia and no serious underlying disease exists.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 1996
Case ReportsCerebral ischemia after venous air embolism in the absence of intracardiac defects.
Cerebral air embolism occurred in a patient undergoing posterior fossa surgery performed in the sitting position for acoustic neuroma removal. The patient experienced two episodes of venous air embolism, as evidenced by precordial Doppler, end-tidal carbon dioxide reduction, and oxygen desaturation. In both cases, air was aspirated from the central venous catheter; during the second episode there was arterial hypotension and electrocardiogram changes, and air bubbles were visualized in the cerebellar arteries. ⋯ Intracardiac septal defects were not detected by transesophageal echocardiography, and computerized tomography of the brain demonstrated multifocal discrete ischemic areas in the cerebral hemispheres. The patient died 6 days after surgery without having regained consciousness. This case appears to represent the occurrence of transpulmonary passage of venous air embolism.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 1996
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialThe effects of surgical stimulation on intracranial hemodynamics.
This study investigates the effects of surgical stimulation on cerebral blood flow velocity using transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) in 1 and 2 maximum alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane anesthetized patients. Sixty ASA I and II patients undergoing breast surgery were studied. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.6% isoflurane (groups 1 and 2) or 1.2% isoflurane (groups 3 and 4) and nitrous oxide in oxygen (FIO2, 0.33). ⋯ These data show that cerebral blood flow velocity increases with surgical stimulation in 1 and 2 MAC isoflurane-anesthetized patients. This is not a function of changes in MAP. These data suggest that surgical stimulation increases cerebral blood flow, possibly because of arousal.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 1996
Mild resuscitative hypothermia and outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Recovery without residual neurological damage after cardiac arrest with global cerebral ischemia is still a rare event. Severe impairment of bodily or cognitive functions is often the result. The individual, emotional, and social aspects of brain damage and rehabilitation are seldom taken into account. ⋯ For accurate temperature monitoring, however, a central pulmonary artery thermistor probe should be inserted. Temperature monitoring is needed to avoid temperature < 30 degrees C. Mild hypothermia may prove to be an important and secure component for cerebral preservation and resuscitation during and after global ischemia; it may also prove to be a useful method of cerebral resuscitation after global ischemic states, thereby promoting the prevention of neuromental diseases.