Der Anaesthesist
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
[Circulatory reactions under spinal anesthesia. The catheter technique versus the single dose procedure].
Life-threatening cardiovascular complications are a serious risk even for healthy patients during spinal/epidural anaesthesia. The incidence of fatal cardiovascular complications for epidural anaesthesia is 1:10000, for spinal anaesthesia 1:7000. In contrast, general anaesthesia has an overall mortality of only 1:28000. Administration of IV fluids to minimise the haemodynaemic reactions of beginning sympatholysis is not always sufficient. In this study, we examined whether fractionated application of local anaesthetics via a spinal catheter would provide better haemodynamic stability. ⋯ With the use of CSA, the haemodynamic effects of sympatholysis can be minimised. This method thus has advantages, especially for high-risk cardiovascular patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Transcranial doppler sonography. Effect of sevoflurane in comparison to isoflurane].
Using transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD), we studied the effects of sevoflurane compared to equipotent doses of isoflurane on blood-flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) before, during, and after general anaesthesia. In random order, 30 patients received sevoflurane (n = 15) or isoflurane (n = 15) given in stepwise-increasing doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 MAC in oxygen/air (FiO2 = 0.5). Oxygen/air was then replaced by oxygen/nitrous oxide 33%/65% with decreasing doses (1.5, 1.0, 0.5 MAC) of sevoflurane or isoflurane. During each step, ventilation was controlled to provide first normocapnia (end-tidal pCO2 = 38 mmHg) and then hypocapnia (end-tidal pCO2 = 27 mmHg). MCA blood-flow velocity and pulsatility, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature were recorded simultaneously at the end of each period. For statistical analysis, within-group comparison was made by one-way ANOVA. Differences between groups were determined by two-way analysis of variance. Age, weight, and height of the patients were compared using Student's t-test; P < 0.05 was considered significant. ⋯ We conclude from our TCD data that equipotent doses of sevoflurane and isoflurane comparably affect cerebral perfusion, especially when nitrous oxide is given simultaneously.
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Clinical Trial
[Intubation conditions and the development of neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium in endoscopic ORL surgery].
Rocuronium is a new nondepolarizing muscle relaxant for which a fast onset has been described. The goal of this study was to examine whether the characteristics of rocuronium could make it an appropriate relaxant for the anaesthetic management of operations of intermediate duration such as endoscopic upper airway surgery. These operations, which require the anaesthesiologist and surgeon to "share" the patient's airway, require good muscle relaxation for endotracheal intubation and placement of endoscopic instruments. In addition, the time course of neuromuscular blockade and its relation to the quality of intubating conditions were analysed. ⋯ Good to excellent intubating conditions can be expected 90 s after injection of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg. Diaphragmatic reactions cannot be excluded. Complete relaxation of the adductor pollicis muscle is not necessary for endotracheal intubation. Intubation at a certain time interval, for example, 90 s after injection of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg, can be recommended. Onset and recovery characteristics of rocuronium make it an appropriate relaxant for the anaesthetic management of operations of intermediate duration such as endoscopic upper airway surgery. Care should be given, however, to detect inadequate recovery of neuromuscular transmission, as there are considerable interindividual differences in recovery.
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Comparative Study
[Economic aspects of modern inhalation anesthetics with sevoflurane as an example].
The economic impact of the new German health care laws requires an awareness of cost-effectiveness when using newer drugs. The main goal in patient care, i.e., effective treatment, must be achieved by the rational use of restricted resources at a maximum degree of effectiveness. Economic aspects of the new inhalational anaesthetics such as sevoflurane are discussed in this article. ⋯ We conclude that volatile anaesthetics account for only a minor portion of the anaesthesia department budget and the cost of anaesthesia delivery. The higher market price of the new agents may be compensated for by the economic impact of fewer side effects and a shorter post-anaesthesia stay in the hospital. In analysing data for sevoflurane, this agent may be cost-effective, for example, for outpatient anaesthesia.
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Deferoxamine is known to reduce the iron-dependent generation of toxic oxygen-derived radicals during reperfusion of ischaemic tissue. The present study investigates the antioxidative properties of a deferoxamine-conjugated hydroxyethyl starch solution and its effects on the hepatic microcirculation in a haemorrhagic-shock rat model. ⋯ DFO significantly attenuates shock-induced oxidative stress, thereby reducing the early inflammatory reaction and improving the hepatic microcirculation.