Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2009
Performance of the Airtraq laryngoscope after failed conventional tracheal intubation: a case series.
The Airtraq, a new disposable indirect laryngoscope, was evaluated in patients with difficult intubation. ⋯ In patients with difficult airway, following failed conventional orotracheal intubation, Airtraq allows securing the airway in 80% of cases mainly by improving glottis view. However, the Airtraq does not guarantee successful intubation in all instances, especially in case of laryngeal and/or pharyngeal obstruction.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2009
Prognostic factors and outcome after drowning in an adult population.
Drowning remains an actual problem. Although medical assistance has improved, it still has high rates of morbidity and mortality. We set out to explore the clinical characteristics and outcome of drowning patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of tertiary-care university hospital. ⋯ The outcome is closely related to the patient's clinical status on arrival to the hospital. We have found that submersion time, age, GCS, pupillary reactivity and APACHE II at ICU admission were related to mortality. Further research in prospective studies is needed.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2009
Influence of hypobaric hypoxia on bispectral index and spectral entropy in volunteers.
Hypoxia has been shown to change electroencephalogram parameters including frequency and amplitude, and may thus change bispectral index (BIS) and spectral entropy values. If hypoxia per se changes BIS and spectral entropy values, BIS and spectral entropy values may not correctly reflect the depth of anaesthesia during hypoxia. The aim of this study was to examine the changes in BIS and spectral entropy values during hypobaric hypoxia in volunteers. ⋯ These data suggest that hypoxia of oxygen saturation around 70% does not have a strong effect on BIS and spectral entropy.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2009
Soft tissue landmark for ultrasound identification of the sciatic nerve in the infragluteal region: the tendon of the long head of the biceps femoris muscle.
The sciatic nerve block represents one of the more difficult ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. Easy and reliable internal ultrasound landmarks would be helpful for localization of the sciatic nerve. Earlier, during ultrasound-guided posterior approaches to the infragluteal sciatic nerve, the authors recognized a hyperechoic structure at the medial border of the long head of biceps femoris muscle (BFL). The present study was performed to determine whether this is a potential internal landmark to identify the infragluteal sciatic nerve. ⋯ The hyperechoic BFL tendon might be a reliable soft tissue landmark for ultrasound localization of the infragluteal sciatic nerve.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2009
Case ReportsUltrasound-guided technique allowed early detection of intravascular injection during an infraclavicular brachial plexus block.
The reported incidence of complications after peripheral nerve blocks is generally low and varies from 0% to 5%. The injuries related to brachial plexus block are perhaps more commonly reported, than after peripheral blocks of the lower extremity nerves. Recent reports suggest that expert ultrasound guidance may reduce but not completely eliminate complications as intraneural or intravascular injection. We report a case of accidental intravascular injection of local anesthetic during infraclavicular brachial plexus block, in spite of the use of ultrasound guidance technique, and negative aspiration for blood.