Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 1997
The claims of compensation for awareness with recall during general anaesthesia in Finland.
Awareness during anaesthesia has been estimated to occur in 0.2%-0.4% of patients undergoing general surgery. In Finland, according to the Patient Injury Act, compensation is paid for an injury caused by medical treatment. We have analysed the claims for compensation involving awareness under anaesthesia filed between May, 1987 and December, 1993. ⋯ Claims of compensation for awareness during anaesthesia were surprisingly few, possible reasons of which are discussed. Compensations paid were low in comparison with some other countries.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 1997
Alleviation of the peripheral hemodynamic effects of dexmedetomidine by the calcium channel blocker isradipine.
Alpha 2-adrenergic agonists have peripheral vasoconstrictive effects and central sympatholytic and sedative effects. Whereas the latter are the basis of their use in anesthesia, the former could limit their clinical application. ⋯ Isradipine could alleviate the peripheral hemodynamic actions of dexmedetomidine while having no effect on its central sympatholytic properties.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAnesthetic quality during cesarean section following subarachnoid or epidural administration of bupivacaine with or without fentanyl.
It is often assumed that subarachnoid administration of local anesthetics produces a more profound blockade than epidural anesthesia. Furthermore, the addition of fentanyl has been reported to increase preferentially intraoperative analgesia. In the present study we set out to study these two issues in a randomized and controlled study with respect to perceived pain and discomfort during surgery and postoperative pain. ⋯ We conclude that subarachnoidal (12.5 mg) and epidural (100 mg) injections with bupivacaine both produced adequate anesthetic quality in women undergoing elective cesarean section. The addition of fentanyl (10 micrograms subarachnoidally or 100 micrograms epidurally) did not significantly improve the quality of these already profound blockades.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Mar 1997
Changes in pulmonary mechanics during laparoscopic gastroplasty in morbidly obese patients.
Obesity is an important respiratory risk factor after abdominal surgery. Laparoscopic surgical techniques seem beneficial in obese patients in terms of respiratory morbidity, with a faster return to normal respiratory function. However, there is little information about intraoperative respiratory mechanics and about patient tolerance to abdominal insufflation in the morbidly obese. ⋯ These alterations in pulmonary mechanics are less than those observed with comparable degrees of abdominal inflation in non-obese patients, and were well tolerated. From the point of view of intraoperative respiratory mechanics, laparoscopic surgery is safe in morbidly obese patients.