Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Sep 1996
ReviewThromboprophylaxis, coagulation disorders, and regional anaesthesia.
The surgery and trauma-induced modulation of the coagulation system includes a considerable risk of perioperative thromboembolic complications unless effective thromboprophylactic treatment is given. In the present survey the patient at risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is characterized and the documented efficacy of different currently used thromboprophylactic regimens is summarized. Systemic thromboprophylactic treatment may include a risk of an increased bleeding tendency which may lead to haemorrhagic complications. ⋯ Pregnancy is associated with changes in the haemostatic system, which in the preeclamptic or eclamptic patient may be rather pronounced and constitute a clinical problem since regional anaesthetic techniques are often preferred for obstetric anaesthesia/analgesia. The specific problems to be considered prior to the choice of regional anaesthesia/analgesia for a parturient with a suspected coagulation disorder are therefore commented on in more detail. Finally, recommendations are given for safe spinal and epidural analgesic and anaesthetic routines in patients with potential haemostatic disturbances due to thromboprophylactic treatment with anticoagulants or bleeding disorders.
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The incidence of a difficult laryngoscopy or intubation varies from 1.5% to 13%, and failed intubation has been identified as one of the anaesthesia-related causes of death or permanent brain damage. Problems in the airway management can be predicted based on previous anaesthesia records, the medical history of the patient and a physical examination. Several radiological measurements have been reported to be associated with a difficult intubation. ⋯ The figures for the specificity have varied from 66% to 84% and from 25% to 82%, respectively. The other subjective assessments and objective measurements employed for the prediction of a difficult intubation reach comparable sensitivities and specificities. Evidently, the positive predictive value is improved, if combinations of tests are used.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Sep 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe combination of morphine with local anaesthetic in rhinoplasty--no evidence of a peripheral morphine effect.
The recognition of a peripheral opioid action has prompted a number of clinical reports demonstrating a prolonged analgesic effect of peripheral opiate. As most studies have used a model of intraarticular instillation of narcotic we examined direct morphine infiltration of the surgical site in a unique clinical model. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that the preoperative injection of intrawound morphine in combination with the local anesthetic both promotes bleeding and has an early pain-enhancing effect while providing no late analgesic benefit beyond that of IM morphine.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Sep 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIs sufentanil a useful opioid for laryngomicroscopy?
Alfentanil is commonly used as opioid analgesic for short surgical procedures. Little is known about the usefulness of sufentanil for this purpose. We investigated the effects of alfentanil and sufentanil on haemodynamic characteristics, catecholamine levels, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol contents during elective laryngomicroscopy and short laryngeal surgery (LM). ⋯ Clinical recovery is achieved most rapidly with alfentanil in ultra short surgical procedures. However, if surgery is expected to be longer than about 12 min also sufentanil at a dose of 0.25 micrograms/kg seems to be useful for this kind of surgery.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Sep 1996
Age and life-sustaining treatment. Attitudes of intensive care unit professionals.
In Sweden, the official policy is that life-sustaining treatment should not be denied because of chronological age. This policy is also emphasised in a recent official report on priority setting in health care. But is this policy accepted among health care professionals? Do they consider chronological age relevant when decisions to forgo life-sustaining treatment are to be made? ⋯ The results indicate that chronological age is used as a criterion when decisions to forgo life-sustaining treatment are to be made in the ICU. Many health care professionals also believe that chronological age should be used as a criterion. This is clearly discordant with the official policy in Sweden and other countries, which is that age-based rationing is never justified.