Der Anaesthesist
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Cutaneous O2 and CO2 pressures were monitored for 16 h in 55 female patients recovering from major gynaecological surgery performed under neurolept anaesthesia. Postoperative pain was managed either with an antipyretic analgesic (i.m. or i.v. metamizol up to 2.5 g/4 h; group NLA) or with i.v. patient-controlled analgesia using fentanyl (demand dose 34 micrograms, infusion rate 4 micrograms/h, hourly maximum dose 0.25 mg, lock-out time 1 min; group NLA/PCA). In addition, 11 patients received a single i.v. bolus injection of 150 mg amiphenazole, a respiratory stimulant, at the beginning of PCA treatment (group NLA/PCA/AMI). Data were collected and stored by a personal computer, using the TCM3 system with a combination electrode for simultaneous measurement of cutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures (TINA, Radiometer) at 30-s intervals. The overall observation period was four times 240 min; patients from the NLA group who required additional opioids were excluded from the analysis. Means and standard deviations were calculated for individual data and data pooled for 15- or 60-min intervals. Groups were compared by means of the chi-square test, Student's t-test or analysis of variance (level of significance, P < or = 0.05). ⋯ The present study confirmed that spontaneous respiration in the early postoperative period can be monitored non-invasively by measuring cutaneous partial pressures of carbon dioxide and, less precisely owing to wide individual variations, oxygen. It showed that spontaneous respiration is less effective immediately after termination of surgery under neurolept anaesthesia and recovers slowly over the next 4 h. During the first observation period, ventilation was no worse with i.v. PCA using fentanyl than with conventional pain management using the antipyretic analgesic metamizol, confirming the hypothesis that opioid-induced respiratory depression occurs only at overdosage (which is not a problem with individualized dose titration using PCA). Since all patients in the NLA group required additional opioids after the first observation period and had to be excluded from further analysis, it cannot be decided from the present data whether late hypercapnia was due to PCA or to residual effects of surgery and anaesthesia. The respiratory stimulant amiphenazole (150 mg i.v.) was not helpful in improving ventilation; there was no indication of analgesic effects or interactions of amiphenazole.
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Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for the treatment of pseudarthrosis is a new indication for anaesthesia. In a clinical trial of 65 treatments in 53 patients, the anaesthetic procedure is shown. Regional anaesthesia, mainly plexus blocks of the upper and lower extremities, was performed in nearly all cases. ⋯ A typical set-up for the treatment is shown in Fig 1. In 67% of the patients fracture healing was significantly improved by the new therapy. Acceptance of therapy and anaesthesia by the patients was very good.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[The effect of sedation on oxygen uptake during spontaneous breathing].
Sedation may be used in intensive care and emergency medicine to improve the oxygen demand/delivery ratio. The influence of sedation has most frequently been investigated in a dose-related manner. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect-related influence of different sedatives on oxygen uptake (VO2) in relation to defined resting conditions. ⋯ This may be attributable to a more pronounced reduction in single-organ VO2 or to an undetected difference in level of sedation. Fentanyl did, in contrast to most publications on opioid effects, seem to increase VO2. Underlying mechanisms may be sought in an increased rate-pressure product and sympathetic activity on the basis of hypercapnia and changes in muscle tension.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
[Emesis and the oculocardiac reflex. Drug prophylaxis with droperidol and atropine in children undergoing strabismus surgery].
Although droperidol is often used to prevent emesis, vomiting is still common in children undergoing strabismus surgery. METHODS. One hundred children aged 3 to 12 years admitted for strabismus surgery were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind study to investigate the influence of the timing of the administration of droperidol (75 micrograms/kg i.v.) and the effect of atropine (10 micrograms/kg i.v.) on postoperative vomiting and the occurrence of the oculocardiac reflex (OCR). ⋯ The application of atropine (10 micrograms/kg) prior to surgery did not influence vomiting after strabismus surgery. Atropine (10 micrograms/kg) reduced the incidence of the OCR significantly. There was no statistical relationship between the occurrence of the OCR and postoperative vomiting.
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Alarm systems of ventilators enhance detection of possible critical events during artificial ventilation. Due to their significance, in some countries the alarm detection of ventilators is regulated by federal law. Up to now, no recommendations for the adjustment of alarm limits exist and only a few detailed investigations of the accuracy of alarm detection are available. ⋯ All respirators were able to recognise severe critical situations such as hose disconnection, failure of gas supply, and total airway obstruction within a short time (< 15 s). The recognition of small airway leaks was more difficult for the ventilators even when the alarm thresholds were close. The alarm detection of the EVITA (software 10.0 or less) under conditions of partial airway obstruction may be a source of risk for the patient as the machine continued supplying inspiration with pressure-limited ventilation even when the pressure threshold was reached.