Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyBlood loss during posterior spinal fusion surgery in patients with neuromuscular disease: is there an increased risk?
Scoliosis surgery in paediatric patients can carry significant morbidity associated with intraoperative blood loss and the resultant transfusion therapy. Patients with neuromuscular disease may be at an increased risk for this intraoperative blood loss, but it is unclear if this is because of direct vascular pathophysiological changes or the fact that neuromuscular patients typically have more extensive orthopaedic disease and more vertebral segments involved. This study examined the risk of extensive blood loss (>50% of total blood volume) in patients with neuromuscular disease compared with patients who did not have neuromuscular disease when the extent of the surgery (number of segments fused), age and preoperative coagulation profile where taken into consideration. ⋯ Patients with neuromuscular disease can present various anaesthetic challenges during scoliosis surgery, among these is the inherent risk of extensive blood loss. Recognizing this may help anaesthesiologists and surgeons more accurately prepare for and treat intraoperative blood loss during scoliosis surgery in patients with neuromuscular disease.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Nov 2003
Case ReportsProlonged cannulation of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) for blood pressure monitoring in a child after cardiopulmonary bypass.
Cannulation of the radial artery percutaneously or by cut down is frequently used to monitor blood pressure in infants and children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. When radial artery cannulation is difficult because of previous cannulation attempts, and/or surgical cut downs, posterior tibial artery cannulation is sometimes undertaken. ⋯ There were no complications with the placement and/or the removal of this arterial line on the 25th postoperative day. When standard arterial monitoring sites are not accessible, internal mammary artery cannulation can provide reliable access for prolonged arterial blood pressure monitoring in the postoperative period in children.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Nov 2003
Influence of EEG monitoring on intraoperative stapedius reflex threshold values in cochlear implantation in children.
Cochlear implantation is a widely used means of treating deafness and severe hearing disorders. The surgical procedure includes inserting the cochlear implant electrode array into the cochlea and embedding the corresponding signal receiver in the mastoid bone behind the ear. Postoperative fitting of the externally worn speech processor is very important for successful use of the cochlear implant. For this purpose, electrically elicited stapedius reflex threshold values can be used. However, stapedius reflex threshold values measured intraoperatively are influenced by anaesthetics. The goal of this retrospective study was to find out whether electroencephalogram (EEG) control of anaesthesia produces more reliable reflex threshold values as a basis for the fitting of the speech processor. ⋯ Electroencephalogram monitoring in cochlear implantation is of considerable value in controlling anaesthesia and improving speech processor fitting based on more reliable intraoperative neurophysiological data.