Anaesthesia
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The increasing use of combined spinal-epidural analgesia in obstetric practice has arisen from a desire to achieve a rapid onset of analgesia while reducing the intensity of the motor block. Although the procedure has an excellent safety profile, as with any technique there are potential problems. ⋯ We present a case in which the use of 0.5% bupivacaine to top-up the epidural component of a combined spinal-epidural resulted in a total spinal block. The possible causes of this complication are discussed.
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We measured the concentrations of serum nitrates/nitrites and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate as markers of nitric oxide synthesis in patients with or without septic shock for 5 days following admission to intensive care. We found that nitrate/nitrite concentrations, when corrected for the effect of renal failure, were significantly higher in patients with septic shock, both on admission and in the final samples drawn. In a logistic regression analysis, the rate of change of nitrate/nitrite concentration was associated with survival to day 28 (falling in survivors). The concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate when corrected for the confounding effects of renal function and platelet count, was only associated with the septic shock group on admission.
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Thirty unpremedicated ASA physical status 1-3 patients aged between 18 and 69 years, scheduled for upper limb surgery, received a conventional supraclavicular brachial plexus block using a nerve stimulator and bupivacaine 0.375% 0.5 ml.kg-1. Spirometric measurements of pulmonary function and ultrasonographic assessments of diaphragmatic function were made before the block and at 10-min intervals after injection until full motor block of the brachial plexus had developed. ⋯ Those with complete paralysis all showed significant decreases in pulmonary function, whereas those with reduced or normal movement had minimal change. All patients remained asymptomatic throughout, with normal oxygen saturation on room air.
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This re-survey of neurosurgical centres was conducted to determine whether the publication of management guidelines has resulted in changes in the intensive care management of severely head-injured patients (defined as Glasgow Coma Score < 9) in the UK and Ireland. Results were compared with data collected from a similar survey conducted 2 years earlier. ⋯ More centres maintain core temperature < 36.5 degrees C. Although wide variations in the management of severely head-injured patients still exist, we found evidence of practice changing to comply with published guidelines.
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To determine the effect of halothane on the cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) with increasing then decreasing concentrations, 11 children scheduled for minor surgery were studied. Anaesthesia consisted of halothane, vecuronium, nitrous oxide in oxygen and a caudal block. ⋯ During the decreasing phase, CBFV decreased significantly from 1.5 to 1.0 MAC of halothane (p <0.001), whereas there was no difference in CBFV when decreasing halothane MAC from 1.0 to 0.5 MAC. In children, the decrease in CBFV during decreasing halothane concentration is not superimposable to the increase in CBFV seen when increasing halothane concentration, suggesting the presence of cerebrovascular hysteresis to halothane.