Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Case ReportsPersistent anaphylactic reaction after induction with thiopentone and cisatracurium.
A 6-year-old boy presented for surgery for phimosis. The anaesthetic technique included intravenous induction with thiopentone and neuromuscular blockade with cisatracurium. Severe persistent bronchospasm and central cyanosis followed the administration of these drugs. ⋯ Through increased serum eosinophil cationic protein, tryptase and histamine levels and IgE levels specific to cisatracurium, we demonstrated an IgE-mediated anaphylactic reaction to cisatracurium in the child's first exposure to this new neuromuscular blocking agent. Anaphylactic reactions to new anaesthetic drugs may be challenging to recognize and treat during general anaesthesia in children. The pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of life threatening persistent allergic reactions to intravenous anaesthetics are discussed.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Investigations using logistic regression models on the effect of the LMA on morphine induced vomiting after tonsillectomy.
The effect of intraoperative airway management on postoperative vomiting after tonsillectomy is unknown. Logistic regression was used in a retrospective study to investigate the effect of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) on a morphine dose-vomiting response curve. Charts were reviewed in 351 children in whom the airway was managed with either a LMA (n=177) or a tracheal tube (n=174). ⋯ A covariate analysis investigating propofol for induction or isoflurane for the intraoperative maintenance of anaesthesia, however, showed that both drugs shifted the curve to the right. The probability of vomiting was 50% after morphine 0.17 mg.kg(-1) and 0.21 mg.kg(-1) for the isoflurane and propofol use curves, respectively. The concomitant use of propofol and isoflurane, but not the use of the LMA, decreases the probability of vomiting due to morphine.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Haemodynamic depression by halothane is age-related in paediatric patients.
The hypothesis that young infants are more sensitive to the haemodynamic depressant effects of halothane compared with older children was tested. One hundred and sixty unpremedicated, ASA physical status I or II paediatric patients without cardiac or pulmonary disease were divided into five age groups: term neonates, 1-6 months, 6-24 months, 2-6 years and 6-12 years. Anaesthetic induction was achieved with halothane in oxygen and air via mask. ⋯ During normocapnic manual ventilation by mask, endtidal halothane concentration was maintained at either 2xage-specific MAC (Method I) or 1.7% (Method II) in 20 patients in each age group for 10 min. In both Method I and Method II, systolic and mean blood pressure of term neonates and infants aged 1-6 months decreased significantly (P < 0.01) compared with other age groups. The results of this study demonstrate that neonates and young infants are more susceptible to haemodynamic depression during halothane anaesthesia than are older children, confirming clinical experience.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Haemodynamic, acid-base and electrolyte changes during plasma replacement with hydroxyethyl starch or crystalloid solution in young pigs.
We investigated haemodynamic, acid-base and electrolyte changes during almost total plasma replacement with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and physiological balanced electrolyte solution (PBE) by using a cell saver in ten young pigs. In the PBE group an additional 3550 (444) ml crystalloid solution [Mean (SD)] was infused over the course of the study in order to maintain pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. ⋯ There were only moderate acid-base changes in both groups, but at the end, anion gap was significant lower in HES. In conclusion, maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure close to the physiological range of infants seems to be advantageous during major paediatric surgery.
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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.