Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jul 2006
Monitored anesthesia care with a combination of ketamine and dexmedetomidine during magnetic resonance imaging in three children with trisomy 21 and obstructive sleep apnea.
We present a series of three children with trisomy 21 and obstructive sleep apnea who required sedation during magnetic resonance imaging of the upper airway. In an effort to provide effective sedation with limited effects on cardiovascular and ventilatory function, sedation was provided by a combination of ketamine and dexmedetomidine. Sedation was initiated with a bolus dose of ketamine (1 mg x kg(-1)) and dexmedetomidine (1 microg x kg(-1)) and maintained by a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine (1 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1)). ⋯ All three patients developed some degree of hypercarbia with maximum P(E)(CO2) values of 6.4, 6.9, and 6.8 kPa (49, 53, and 52 mmHg), respectively. To date, this is the first report regarding the use of this combination in pediatric patients. Given the preliminary success noted in our three patients, prospective trials evaluating the efficacy of a dexmedetomidine-ketamine combination appears warranted.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jul 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyLevobupivacaine caudal anesthesia in children: a randomized double-blind comparison with bupivacaine.
Levobupivacaine is the pure S-enantiomer of bupivacaine. Despite obvious benefits in the event of accidental intravascular injection there has been no studies demonstrating a clinically significant benefit to levobupivacaine over racemic bupivacaine for pediatric regional anesthesia. Given the similar pharmacokinetic profiles of both drugs the studies to date have been underpowered to demonstrate what is likely to be a small difference in clinical effectiveness. Our aim was to determine if there are significant differences in the clinical effectiveness of levobupivacaine compared with racemic bupivacaine for caudal anesthesia in children having lower abdominal surgery. A secondary aim was to determine if there are differences in the incidence of postoperative motor blockade between these agents. ⋯ Levobupivacaine is an effective agent for caudal anesthesia in children at a recommended dose of 2.5 mg x kg(-1). The rapidity of onset was suitable for establishment of surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia was achieved in greater than 97.5% of patients. It appears to be of equivalent potency to racemic bupivacaine in children requiring lower abdominal surgery.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jul 2006
Review Case ReportsAnesthesia and Prader-Willi syndrome: preliminary experience with regional anesthesia.
The constellation of neonatal hypotonia, developmental delay, hypogonadism and obesity caused by hyperphagia was first reported in 1956 and subsequently termed Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Genetic analysis has demonstrated abnormalities of chromosome 15. ⋯ A lumbar plexus catheter was used to provide postoperative analgesia in one patient while regional anesthesia (fasica iliaca block, spinal anesthesia, and lateral vertical infraclavicular block) was used to provide primary intraoperative anesthesia in three other patients while avoiding the need for general anesthesia. Previous reports of the anesthesia care of patients with PWS are reviewed and the potential perioperative implications of the sequelae of PWS are discussed.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jul 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialDexmedetomidine decreases emergence agitation in pediatric patients after sevoflurane anesthesia without surgery.
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether prophylactic use of 1 microg x kg(-1) dexmedetomidine affected the incidence of emergence agitation (EA) after sevoflurane based anesthesia without surgery in children. ⋯ We concluded that a 1 microg x kg(-1) dose of i.v. dexmedetomidine reduces EA after sevoflurane anesthesia in children undergoing MRI.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jul 2006
Near infrared spectroscopy monitoring during pediatric aortic coarctation repair.
Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measures regional tissue oxygenation continuously and noninvasively and may allow assessment of changes in regional perfusion in real time. ⋯ Monitoring rSO2-S provides real-time trend information of regional oxygenation below the aortic cross-clamp. The decline in rSO2-S during aortic cross-clamp was rapid and large in most neonates and young infants <1 year which suggests impairment of regional perfusion presumably because of a lack of adequate collateral circulation to the monitored regional tissue. In contrast, the rSO2-S changed only to a minor degree in most infants and children >1 year, possibly because they had time to develop a more adequate collateral circulation around incomplete aortic obstruction.