Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
Case ReportsIntraoperative epidural catheter malfunction in two obese patients.
Using a combined general anesthesia/epidural technique, two cases of intraoperative malfunctioning epidural catheters in obese patients are presented. After the epidural was found to be malfunctioning, the anesthesiologist placed the palm of both hands underneath the patients' lumbar and thoracic area. ⋯ In each case, this simple maneuver made the catheter function again. In conclusion, this simple corrective maneuver should be attempted prior to discarding the epidural anesthetic technique.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
Postoperative analgesia in Italy. National survey on the anaesthetist's beliefs, opinions, behaviour and techniques in postoperative pain control in Italy.
Using a personal, anonymous questionnaire developed ad hoc, we tried to document the role, the problems and the activities of Italian anaesthetists in postoperative pain control. ⋯ This survey shows that Italian anaesthetists do not consider the postoperative period to be their own personal work area and that POA is to be considered as a matter of individual choice.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialThe effect of patient positioning on dynamic lung compliance.
Side-stream spirometry offers a non-invasive method to monitor continuously respiratory mechanics in intubated patients. We studied the effects of different positions on dynamic lung compliance during anaesthesia. ⋯ We found that dynamic lung compliance decreased significantly upon change of posture from supine to lateral or prone position, whereas in the kneeling position no change in compliance was observed. We suggest that the kneeling position might be preferable to the prone position.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1997
GuidelineThe use of central regional anesthesia techniques in Sweden: results of a nation-wide survey. Swedish Association of Anesthesia and Intensive care.
Epidural and subarachnoid anesthesia are well established central regional techniques for surgical anesthesia. Two additional techniques, combined spinal epidural (CSE) block and continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA), have recently become popular. However, data on nation-wide use of central regional blocks are not available. ⋯ Subarachnoid block was preferred for shorter surgical procedures (< 60 min), whereas epidural and CSE blocks were chosen when severe postoperative pain could be anticipated, as continuous epidural analgesia was well established for postoperative pain management. Improved routines for registration of complications to central regional blocks are needed.