Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The effect of positive airway pressure during pre-oxygenation and induction of anaesthesia upon duration of non-hypoxic apnoea.
Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) applied during induction of anaesthesia may prevent atelectasis formation in the lungs. This may increase the duration of non-hypoxic apnoea by increasing the functional residual capacity. We studied the benefit of PEEP applied during the induction of anaesthesia on the duration of apnoea until the SpO2 reached 90%. ⋯ The duration of apnoea until SpO2 reached 90% was measured. Non-hypoxic apnoea duration was longer in the PEEP group compared to ZEEP group (599 +/- 135 s vs. 470 +/- 150 s, p = 0.007). We conclude that the application of positive airway pressure during induction of anaesthesia in adults prolongs the non-hypoxic apnoea duration by > 2 min.
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Tracheal airway pressures were measured via a transduced fibrescope during transtracheal jet ventilation in 10 patients. Ravussin transtracheal jet ventilation catheters were inserted under local anaesthesia. Following induction of general anaesthesia, tracheal airway pressures were measured at three anatomical levels during fibreoptic intubation. Overall pressure changes during transtracheal jet ventilation were small with the maximal pressure increase (13 mmHg) measured at the carina.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of desflurane uptake into the brain and body by comparing desflurane concentrations in internal jugular-bulb blood (Jdes), arterial blood (Ades) and pulmonary arterial blood (PAdes) at a fixed inspired desflurane concentration. Thirteen patients (aged 42-72 years) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were enrolled in this study. They were anaesthetised using a constant 5% inspired desflurane concentration (CIdes) during the first hour of anaesthesia. ⋯ It took 24 min for the Jdes to equilibrate with Ades. Both CIdes-CEdes and Ades-PAdes gradients persisted during the study period. There was no further uptake of desflurane into the brain after 24 min but there was near-constant uptake into the body.
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Angioedema of the face and neck is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy. This condition is of particular concern to the anaesthetist as it can rapidly progress to upper airway obstruction. We describe the presentation and management of five cases of ACE inhibitor related angioedema, all of which were associated with significant upper airway obstruction.
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Viral gastroenteritis is usually a mild, self-limiting illness. We report a case of a previously well 74-year-old woman who suffered a grave complication of this common condition, and caused a significant outbreak of illness amongst staff involved in her care. This case highlights the risks of Hospital Acquired Infection and raises important infection control issues. It illustrates the hazards associated with exposure to potentially infectious secretions and presents a clear message to medical and nursing staff involved in the care of the acute surgical emergency.