Anaesthesia
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A tubular gauze mask suitable for inhalational anaesthesia for bronchoscopy, designed by Wilhelm Brünings, is described.
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Ten patients, with a range of illness severity, received a continuous 8-hour infusion of undiluted propofol for sedation while undergoing mechanical ventilation in a general intensive care unit. The level of sedation was assessed hourly and measurements were made of haemodynamic, respiratory, haematological and biochemical variables. Sedation remained satisfactory in most patients throughout the study period, with only occasional alterations in infusion rate, and eight patients required further sedative therapy within 45 minutes of discontinuation of the propofol infusion. ⋯ Adrenal steroidogenesis was not inhibited significantly. Propofol infusion proved to be a useful and readily controllable sedative agent, and discontinuation of the drug was followed by rapid recovery in most cases. The critically ill may be particularly sensitive to the cardiovascular depressant properties of the drug.
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An exercise in quality assurance during neuroanaesthetic procedures identified uncontrolled re-use of armoured latex rubber tracheal tubes as a risk factor associated with equipment failure. We recommend that such tubes should be used once only. Alternatively, tubes made from more stable materials, such as polyvinyl chloride and silicone rubber, are available for clinical evaluation.
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Twenty-one patients scheduled to undergo thoracotomy or median sternotomy had intercostal catheters inserted pre-operatively. During thoracotomy, under direct vision, the spread of 20 ml of a solution containing bupivacaine and methylene blue was followed. ⋯ In three cases, dye was seen crossing the anterior surface of the vertebrae to reach the contralateral aspect. It is concluded that a major component of dermatomal block during intercostal catheterisations may be secondary to paravertebral spread.