Der Anaesthesist
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
[Comparison of sevoflurane and isoflurane in ambulatory surgery. Results of a multicenter study].
A multicenter, randomized, comparative phase III study evaluating the effect of sevoflurane versus isoflurane in adult outpatients was performed. The aim of the study was to compare (1) maintenance of anaesthesia and (2) how rapidly and easily the patients emerge from the anaesthetic and recover. ⋯ Sevoflurane was as safe as isoflurane for anaesthesia in adult outpatients. Patients who received sevoflurane had statistically significantly shorter recovery parameters than isoflurane patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Changes in somatosensory evoked potentials after sevoflurane and isoflurane. A randomized phase III study].
Monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) is used to identify critical phases of cerebral ischaemia by means of characteristic changes in the signal patterns. A correct interpretation of the results is possible, however, only if the influence of drugs that act on the central nervous system is known. We were able to show that volatile anaesthetics have an impact on latencies and stimulus amplitudes. ⋯ Under the influence of N2O, there were marked reductions in amplitude of the cortical stimulus response. Thus, it can be recommended that supplementation with N2O should be avoided in the presence of low initial amplitudes. Based on our results, the use of isoflurane and sevoflurane concentrations up to 1.0 MAC seems to be compatible with intraoperative monitoring of SEP.
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Sevoflurane may be an interesting substance for paediatric anaesthesia due to its combination of a very low blood-gas partition coefficient and non-pungency. This review discusses the status of sevoflurane in paediatric anaesthesia on the basis of studies published so far. The blood-gas partition coefficient of sevoflurane in children is 0.66, and hence markedly lower than those of isoflurane (1.25) and halothane (2.26) [15]. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after sevoflurane anaesthesia is comparable to that after halothane (Table 2). Sevoflurane may be a user-friendly alternative to halothane and is more preferred by children than halothane [32]. The status of sevoflurane in paediatric anaesthesia will depend on several factors: its own benefit/risk-ratio, a possible re-evaluation of the known risks of halothane and the financial limitations of the hospitals.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
[Measurement of expired alcohol concentrations with a new electrochemical sensor. A model investigation to determine interference with volatile anesthetics and clinical application].
Absorption of irrigating fluid in transurethral prostatic resection (TURP) and percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PNL) into veins or delayed absorption due to fluid extravasation may result in a TURP syndrome. The measurement of end-tidal breath alcohol concentration (et AC) as a monitor of absorption of irrigating fluid labelled with 2% ethanol is limited by the disturbance of infrared sensors by volatile anaesthetics and nitrous oxide (N2O) (Fig. 2). An electrochemical sensor is acceptable for this method. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of breath alcohol measurements using an electrochemical sensor device (Alcomed 3010, Envitec). The stability of the sensor in the presence of volatile anaesthetics was examined using a lung model. In a clinical investigation, the device was then applied to spontaneously breathing or mechanically ventilated patients inhaling volatile anaesthetics during endoscopic urological surgery. ⋯ The tested electrochemical sensor does not interfere with volatile anaesthetics and N2O as demonstrated by a lung model. There is a good correlation between etAC and BAC measurements in patients breathing spontaneously with special regard to the slope of the regression (s = 0.57).
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Case Reports
[Anesthesia and intensive care management of severely burned children of Jehovah's Witnesses].
A 3.5-year-old girl suffered from a thermal injury affecting 37% of the body surface area. The parents, being Jehovah's witnesses, refused permission for their child to receive blood transfusions. As the haemoglobin level was only 7.5% and a necrectomy was planned, the patient was likely to need blood transfusions. ⋯ The lowest Hb was 3.3 g/dl on the 22th day after injury (3rd postoperative day). In this phase the patient was still playing and riding a tricycle. On the 45th day after injury the child was discharged home with Hb of 10.9 g/dl and reticulocytosis of 33%.