Anaesthesia
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The effect of neostigmine on neuromuscular function was examined after spontaneous recovery from an atracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade, which reached a train-of-four ratio of either 0.5 or 0.9. Two doses of neostigmine 2.5 mg were given 5 minutes apart. Neuromuscular recovery was assessed with train-of-four and tetanic stimuli. ⋯ The train-of-four measured mechanically was adversely affected to a small degree, but when measured with the electromyograph no significant change occurred. Neostigmine may adversely affect neuromuscular function after spontaneous recovery from a non-depolarising block. This is unlikely with a single modest dose and any effects are probably short-lived.
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Case Reports
Termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia by intravenous adenosine in a child.
A fit 6-year-old child developed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia at the end of an operation for adenotonsillectomy. Sinus rhythm was rapidly restored with intravenous adenosine.
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Six patients were referred to our hospital with spinal arachnoiditis after epidural anaesthesia performed one month to 3 years before the onset of symptoms. None had had previous lumbar surgery or trauma, intraspinal haemorrhage, infections or other known causative factors of arachnoiditis. All the patients were free of neurological symptoms before epidural anaesthesia and only two had transient distress in the period immediately following the procedure. ⋯ Three patients were confined to a wheelchair after 3 years of follow-up. To our knowledge, the anaesthetic procedures were performed according to standard methods. Arachnoiditis seems to be due to the epidural injection of foreign substances, and may be related to anaesthetic-vasoconstrictor solution or contaminants.
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The results of pulse oximetry saturation in a patient with a high level of methaemoglobinaemia, who subsequently underwent intravenous methylene blue treatment, are presented. The reasons for the erroneously low values after treatment are explained. Pulse oximeters currently available are not helpful in patients treated with methylene blue and should be used with caution in patients who present with cyanosis of unknown origin.
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Haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) was measured percutaneously with a pulse oximeter, in a group of 150 healthy ambulant volunteers to determine the range of normal values. The measuring site was not arterialised in advance. SO2 was below 94% in 13.3% of cases, while in no case was it below 90%. ⋯ In only 55.3% of those who did not receive additional oxygen was the SO2 above 94%, compared to 86.7% of normal volunteers and 73.9% of patients who received additional oxygen. This study reiterates the need to administer supplemental oxygen to all patients in the recovery room, unless facilities are available to measure SO2. A lower alarm limit of 90% is appropriate for the peri-operative period when using the Criticare Systems 501 oximeter.