Der Anaesthesist
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Two patients were rewarmed from hypothermia (esophageal temperature 27.2 degrees C, 27.5 degrees C respectively). The first case suffered from head-injury after alcohol ingestion and was deeply comatose. A metabolic or cardiovascular regulatory response to cold was not observed in this patient. ⋯ In contrast to the first case his norepinephrine levels were elevated to 1,500 pg/ml and his epinephrine levels only to 450 pg/ml. After onset of surface rewarming an additional increase in norepinephrine levels was observed and an increasing rate of PVC's (15/min) recorded, which ceased when temperature returned to normal. Our observations indicate that part of the cardiac complications during rewarming from deep hypothermia may result from thermoregulation and additional catecholamine liberation.
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Case Reports
[Carotid aneurysm following apparent complications in catheterization of the internal jugular vein].
During resuscitation of a patient wih ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm his right internal jugular vein was cannulated with a 12 gauge catheter-through-cannula assembly (Cavafix 458, Braun-Melsungen), using a high central approach, without any apparent complications. Five weeks later a dissecting aneurysm of the right common carotid artery developed. From clinical, angiographic and histological data it is very likely that the aneurysm resulted from the catheterization procedure.
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A method is described for reversible controlled ventilation of rats by transtracheal catheter (20 or 22 G). A small rodent ventilator is used, rather then a jet ventilator, because the former enables the mixing of inhalation anesthetics with the carrying gas mixture. The method proved to be the most successful one for weaning from controlled ventilation after cardiac arrest and resuscitation of rats. In general, the method can be considered as an alterative to oral intubation and tracheotomy for controlled ventilation in rats.