Der Anaesthesist
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The paravertebral approach is the most common technique for local anaesthetic and neurolytic lumbar sympathetic blocks. However, guidelines on the site of needle insertion differ. As there have been several case reports on accidental trauma to the ureter and the kidney, this study was undertaken to evaluate the site of paravertebral needle insertion and the fluoroscopic landmarks for lumbar sympathetic blocks by computed tomographic puncture simulation. ⋯ However, a paravertebral approach of less than 6 cm may cause a lateral and ventral deviation of the needle from the sympathetic chain. Under fluoroscopy a correct needle position is obtained at an average distance of 0.5-0.8 cm dorsal to the anterior vertebral border, advancing the needle to the ventral border may cause an accidental puncture of the vena cava in more than 20% of patients undergoing nerve block of the right sympathetic chain. Furthermore, at the level of L2 inadvertent placement of the needle tip within the vertebral insertion of the diaphragm must be considered as a reason for atypical spread of contrast medium.
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Molecular genetic findings indicate genetic heterogeneity in susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH). At present the in vitro contracture test (IVCT) is still the most reliable diagnostic procedure for MH susceptibility. It must be performed in a standardized fashion. METHODS. We investigated 350 patients (233 children and 117 adults) using the protocol of the European MH Group for the IVCT. The test results were classified as susceptible to MH (MHS), non-susceptible to MH (MHS), non-susceptible to MH (MHN) and equivocal (MHE), with an abnormal caffeine result designated MHEc and an abnormal halothane result designated MHEh. Reasons for the IVCT were a positive family history for MH susceptibility (n = 94), a MH reaction (n = 157), creatine kinase elevation unknown aetiology (n = 53) and different neuromuscular diseases (NMD, n = 46). Physical, neurological and laboratory work-up included serum enzymes, nerve conduction studies, electromyography and muscle biopsy evaluated by different techniques. Thirty-one children and 11 adults were MHS, while 152 children and 80 adults were MHN. MHE findings were obtained in 50 children and 26 adults. While the MHS and MHN groups are diagnostically safe, the equivocal group is not, with possible false-negative or false-positive interpretation. The high number of MHE findings most probably is explained by the high proportion of patients with NMD (53% of the children, 69% of the adults). RESULTS. In a group of 18 boys with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy, ranging in age from 1.5 to 24 years, the IVCT results were twice MHS, once MHE, and MHN in the remaining 15 cases. In seven other boys with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy, proven by molecular techniques, there were anaesthetic complications with MH-like symptoms. After administration of trigger substances, five out of the seven suffered a cardiac arrest, two of whom died. In the surviving five boys the IVCT results were three times MHN, once MHE and once MHS. Most probably these boys suffered from effects of succinylcholine, possibly potentiated by other trigger substances. The adverse cardiac reactions are attributed to triggered rhabdomyolysis with associated hyperkalemia but not a primary hereditary disposition to MH. ⋯ In patients with NMD, MHS and MHE test results do not indicate a hereditary, heterogeneous disposition to MH; the majority will be caused by a secondary induced disturbance of calcium homoeostasis in the diseased muscle cells. These results do, however, indicate the following: (1) Patients with NMD exposed to trigger substances are at higher risk than the general population for MH-like episodes, including sudden death. (2) NMD therefore should be diagnosed as early as possible and patients should not be exposed to trigger substances when alternatives are at hand. (3) Diagnostic procedures in patients having suffered an MH-like episode should include IVCT and special investigations to exclude or substantiate other NMD. The work-up may be changed if a family member is properly classified as MH susceptible. (4) In patients with known NMD there is no indication for performing IVCT, since the results may even be misleading.
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The Christiansen-Douglas-Haldane effect describes the reduced CO2 binding capacity of oxygenated compared to deoxygenated haemoglobin. Under the condition of a "closed system", for example hyperoxic apnoea after adequate preoxygenation (continuous O2 uptake with lack of CO2 delivery), specific effects on the arterial and mixed venous blood gas status, due to the Haldane effect, are seen: within 30 s after onset of apnoea, "paradoxical pCO2" (paCO2 exceeds pvCO2) and "pH reversal" (pHa falls under pHv) can be observed. It was the aim of this study to demonstrate how fast arterial and mixed venous pCO2 and pH normalize when a change from apnoea ("closed system") to controlled ventilation ("open system") takes place. ⋯ Considering the expected decrease of paO2 during hyperoxic apnoea, insufficient pulmonary N2 elimination prior to the onset of apnoea, as well as direct N2 delivery into the alveoli, due to the so-called a ventilatory mass flow, will limit unrestricted pulmonary O2 uptake. The continuing decrease of the paCO2 after the onset of controlled ventilation can be regarded as indirect proof of a ventilatory mass flow. The course of pCO2 and pH after the onset of controlled ventilation shows that normalization in arterial and mixed-venous blood gas status takes place in about 18.2 s after the cessation of apnoea.
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At present the in vitro caffeine-halothane contracture test is the only test to predict susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH) with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. Anaesthesia is necessary for the excision of muscle bundles from the vastus lateralis muscle. MATERIAL AND METHODS. ⋯ Complete monitoring is necessary, even for this minor procedure: ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnometry, measurement of body temperature and blood gas status. Differential diagnosis in negative test results. In patients who suffer an anaesthetic incident, the following disease must be considered: myopathies (especially the congenital myopathies and muscular dystrophies), respiratory problems due to pulmonary infection and obstruction, metabolic disorders of various origins, and the problem of masseter spasm.
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Oximetric measurements are influenced by several mechanisms. Severe jaundice is one of these mechanisms with some clinical interest. In the literature it is pointed out that a high bilirubin concentration may falsify oximetric measurements and is often accompanied by elevated COHb levels. ⋯ With increasing bilirubin levels the MetHb concentration measured with the CO 2500 rises, while the OSM3 gives constant MetHb values. 5. In severe jaundice the O2Hb values measured with multiwavelength oximeters are not identical with the real blood concentration of this haemoglobin derivative. In this situation multiwavelength oximeters cannot be used as a reference method for in vivo oximetric systems such as pulse oximeters or fibreoptic pulmonary artery catheters.