Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2015
ReviewCan the dopaminergic-related effects of general anesthetics be linked to mechanisms involved in drug abuse and addiction?
General anesthetics (GA) are well known for the ability to induce a state of reversible loss of consciousness and unresponsiveness to painful stimuli. However, evidence from animal models and clinical studies show that GA exposure may induce behavioral changes beyond acute effects. Most research and concerns are focused on changes in cognition and memory. ⋯ A review of available evidence strongly suggests that there may be a link between the effects of GA on the brain and substance abuse, partly explained by their influence on the dopaminergic system.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialNaloxone added to bupivacaine or bupivacaine-fentanyl prolongs motor and sensory block during supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade: a randomized clinical trial.
In this study, the effect of naloxone on duration of supraclavicular brachial plexus block was evaluated. It was hypothesized that naloxone can increase the duration of neural blockade. ⋯ Addition of naloxone to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block prolonged the duration of the neural blockade.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2015
Prediction of survival in patients suspected of disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Although antithrombin (AT), protein C (PC), and antiplasmin (AP) are consumed during disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), their association with mortality in patients initially suspected of acute DIC is unknown. We examined how these proteins associate with mortality in consecutive patients initially suspected of DIC, fulfilling or not fulfilling overt DIC criteria. ⋯ Lowered AT and in particular PC activity was predictive of mortality risk upfront in critically ill patients suspected of acute DIC. Mortality in patients suspected of acute DIC increased progressively across the spectrum of the overt ISTH score and not only in those fulfilling overt DIC criteria.