Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine after combined spinal epidural anaesthesia in infants and neonates.
The unbound and bound plasma concentration of bupivacaine in 50 infants less than 55 weeks postconceptual age was determined following combined spinal and epidural anaesthesia (csea). Plasma concentrations were determined at 15-min intervals up to 60 min postspinal anaesthesia. Maximum plasma bupivacaine levels were recorded between 45 and 60 min post CseA. ⋯ Unbound bupivacaine levels were greater than a presumed toxic level of 0.25 microg.ml(-1) in 16% of cases and above 0.3 microg. ml(-1) in 14% of cases. A wide range of protein binding was measured (varying from 53.8-98.2%) and could not be correlated with standard indicators of local anaesthetic binding. Two neonates had brief apnoeas in the immediate perioperative phase but no adverse cardiac or central nervous system events attributable to the performance of Csea were demonstrated.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
The laryngeal mask airway in the difficult paediatric airway: an assessment of positioning and use in fibreoptic intubation.
The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was used in 34 children who presented with difficult airways and difficulty in intubation. All 34 children were a grade 3 or grade 4 Cormack and Leehane view at conventional laryngoscopy. The laryngeal mask airway was used as part of the anaesthetic technique. ⋯ Of the 34 patients, 21 patients were intubated on 31 separate occasions. There were no failures. The complications of the fibreoptic intubation technique described are outlined.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Clinical TrialThe effect of induced hypothermia on the duration of action of atracurium when given by infusion to critically ill children.
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of induced hypothermia on the offset time of atracurium when given by continuous infusion to critically ill children. Over a period of 8 months, six mechanically ventilated children had a steady-state infusion of atracurium discontinued. The offset time of atracurium was assessed by train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve; recording the time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9. ⋯ This was significantly longer than in patients with temperatures within the normal physiological range. When considering all assessments, performed both in hypothermic and normothermic patients, there is a strong correlation between rectal temperature and the offset time of atracurium. Prolonged moderate hypothermia has a very significant effect on the offset time of atracurium when given by infusion to critically ill children.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Clinical TrialDuration of action of atracurium when given by infusion to critically ill children.
The aim of the study was to investigate the offset time of atracurium when given by continuous infusion on a paediatric intensive care unit and to look for evidence of tolerance. Over a period of 8 months, 20 mechanically ventilated children had a steady-state infusion of atracurium discontinued to enable the assessment of their level of sedation. The offset time of atracurium was assessed by train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve. ⋯ The duration of infusion was negatively correlated with the offset time of atracurium, and this effect was most prominent in children who had received infusions for longer than 48 h. When given by continuous infusion, the offset time of atracurium is very variable between individual patients. Infusions administered for longer than 48 h are associated with a significant reduction in the offset time as a result of increasing tolerance.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Anaesthesia for manipulation of forearm fractures in children: a survey of current practice.
Despite recent recommendations that all children presenting for urgent or emergency surgery should be treated as though they have a full stomach, a local audit had shown a wide variation in technique used for anaesthesia in children after trauma. Therefore, a postal questionnaire was sent to 500 anaesthetists regarding their preferred anaesthetic technique for a 6-year-old child requiring manipulation of a forearm fracture. ⋯ Only 19.3% would perform a rapid sequence induction for surgery on the day of injury if the child had not eaten for 6 h before the injury. We conclude that not all anaesthetists believe that rapid sequence induction is necessary for anaesthesia after forearm fractures, despite recent recommendations.