Der Anaesthesist
-
We present a case of spontaneous recovery after failed intraoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a patient with a cardiac pacemaker. Of the various mechanisms discussed in the literature, that which seems most relevant in our case of a Lazarus phenomenon, is that of impeded venous return in the course of positive pressure ventilation and hypovolemia. ⋯ Corresponding to previous authors,we recommend continued monitoring for 10 min after cessation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In addition, we propose a further attempt by disconnecting ventilation and external myocardial stimulation in the case of unresponsiveness to resuscitation efforts.
-
The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of muscle relaxants during induction of anesthesia in patients without risk of aspiration of stomach contents. Of the 2,996 questionnaires sent out, 2,054 (68.6%) could be analysed and the results show that succinylcholine is used regularly in 13.6% of anesthesia departments. The next most commonly used muscle relaxants are atracurium, vecuronium and mivacurium, followed by cis-atracrium, rocuronium and pancuronium. ⋯ This survey could not show a definite standard of use in terms of muscle relaxants for an elective case. Precurarization, priming and timing are used frequently in patients not at risk of aspiration. This should be reduced by on-going teaching.
-
The combination of proportional assist ventilation (PAV) and automatic tube compensation (ATC) is a promising concept for partial ventilatory support. In contrast to conventional pressure support ventilation (PSV), PAV+ATC provides dynamic pressure support depending on the patient's initial inspiratory effort. ⋯ Patients have the ability to modify the tidal volume in response to changes in ventilatory demand, thereby improving patient-ventilator interaction and breathing comfort when compared with PSV. However, since routine measurements of respiratory mechanics during augmented spontaneous breathing are currently unavailable but would be necessary for setting the support level as a function of respiratory system mechanics during PAV, this mode cannot yet be generally recommended for routine clinical use.
-
Local anesthetics provoke reversible blockade of nerves by interaction with sodium channels in membranes of nerves. The uncharged molecular configuration of the local anesthetic penetrates the membrane from the outside and the charged configuration then interacts with the sodium channel from the inside. The potency of a local anesthetic is determined mainly by lipid solubility, the time of onset by the pK(a) of the substance and the duration of action by protein binding. ⋯ Local anesthetics show dose-dependent CNS and cardiac toxicity. Reports of toxicity, mainly involving bupivacaine and etidocaine initiated the development of ropivacaine which is the first aminoamide marketed as a pure S-enantiomer. Recently introduced was levo-bupivacaine, the S-enantiomer of bupivacaine.