Der Anaesthesist
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To monitor the quality of care and identify opportunities to improve that care, the Department of Anesthesiology at Hutzel Hospital, Detroit (USA) has developed a quality assurance program. While the use of indicators represents the principal means of obtaining relevant quality of care information, there are several additional data sources that provide the departmental quality assurance committee with the necessary body of information to recognize problems in the delivery of anesthesia care and formulate indicated remedial actions. ⋯ If identified problems are traceable to a specific practitioner, a number of interventional options are available to the chief of the department, ranging from individual counselling to recommending the removal of clinical privileges. The various corrective actions that have been instituted have led to improvements in clinical care, but perhaps of greater importance are the intangible changes in practice patterns that have occurred as a result of everyone's awareness that an effective monitoring process exists.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Air embolism in the sitting position. Oxygen/nitrogen versus oxygen/laughing gas].
Venous air embolism (VAE) is a well-known complication of neurosurgical procedures performed in the sitting position. Nitrous oxide (N2O) intensifies the hemodynamic alterations conditioned by VAE. Therefore the administration of N2O must be discontinued immediately if VAE occurs. Nevertheless, it is still not clear whether N2O should be avoided in such operations as a general policy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence and severity of VAE with O2/N2 as opposed to O2/N2O anesthesia. METHODS. In all, 42 patients (19 men, 23 women) aged 23-80 years were investigated in a randomized order. In all cases an intracranial operation was carried out with the patient in the sitting position. The anesthesiologic management was uniform: modified neuroleptanalgesia (fentanyl, flunitrazepam, droperidol), relaxation with pancuronium, endotracheal intubation, moderate hyperventilation (PaCO2 30-35 mmHg) without PEEP. Half (21) of the patients (group 1) were ventilated with O2/N2 (1:1) and the remaining patients (group 2) with O2/N2O (1:1). Heart rate (HR) arterial blood pressure (AP), central venous pressure (CVP), end-tidal CO2 tension (PE'CO2), and body temperature were monitored continuously. Arterial blood gases were checked once per hour at least. VAE was signaled by changes in the ultrasonic Doppler sounds or a rapid decrease in the end-tidal CO2 tension. The diagnosis of VAE was confirmed by aspirating air bubbles through the right atrial catheter. A vacuum-driven device was used to suction off the embolized air and measure the aspirated air volume. Pulmonary gas exchange was defined by the arterial to end-tidal CO2 difference (PaCO2 - PE'CO2) and by the alveolar arterial O2 quotient (PAO2 - PaO2/PAO2). If a VAE was recognized N2O administration was stopped immediately and ventilation was continued with pure oxygen. Postoperatively all patients were ventilated. ⋯ The incidence of VAE was similar in both groups: VAE occurred in five patients in group 1 and in six patients in group 2. In isolated cases distinct increases in the CO2 difference (PaCO2 - PE'CO2) or the O2 quotient (PAO2 - PaO2/PAO2) resulted, with no significant difference between the groups. In patients with VAE the aspirated gas volume (median 6.0 ml in group 1, 75.5 ml in group 2; P less than 0.01) and the duration of aspiration (median 5.0 min in group 1, 22.5 min in group 2; P less than 0.05) were significantly different in the two groups. HR was significantly lower in group 2 1 and 4 h after the beginning and at the end of the operation. MAP was significantly lower in group 2 3 and 4 h after the beginning and at the end of the operation. CVP was significantly higher in group 2 3 h after the start of the operation. The total dose of fentanyl, flunitrazepam and droperidol administered was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P less than 0.05). The duration of postoperative ventilation was similar in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Sufentanil-N2O2/O2 or halothane-N2O/O2 anesthesia in surgery of infants and children with congenital heart defects. Hemodynamics and plasma catecholamines].
Sufentanil-nitrous oxide/oxygen anesthesia was compared to halothane-nitrous oxide/oxygen anesthesia in 44 infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two techniques studied, with 22 patients in each group. The mean weight was 8.3 (4.4-15.8) kg in the sufentanil (S) group and 11.7 (5.2-18) kg in the halothane (H) group. ⋯ There were dose-dependent decreases in heart rate and small but significant decreases in mean and diastolic arterial pressure in the S group during deepening of anesthesia. There was a significantly greater decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures during the same period in the H group whereas the reduction in heart rate was minimal. In addition, in 5 of 22 patients receiving H there were episodes of nodal rhythms with dramatic decreases in systemic arterial pressure and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation in cyanotic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Various measures have been taken to minimize laser-specific hazards during laryngotracheal microsurgery with CO2-laser equipment. Endorsing Norton's view that only a metal tube ensures complete safety during laser surgery, we tested the "Laser-Flex", a new endotracheal tube (ETT) of high-grade stainless steel. This reconstructed, flexible, gas-tight ETT was designed to avoid perforation and even ignition of the tube with consecutive inhalation of combustion products known to be very strong lung irritants. ⋯ In view of the higher margin of patient safety, this tube might be used even from an economic point of view. In our tests we reused each tube five to eight times, thus lowering the costs with each reuse. Checks following sterilization after each use did not show any dysfunction of the cuffs or valves.
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Few studies have described the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of isoflurane (I) during the postoperative recovery room stay. In this study the influence of balanced anesthesia with I on the postoperative course was investigated by studying pulmonary washout of I and its effect on arterial oxygen saturation. METHODS. ⋯ All patients were extubated after a mean of 22 min at a mean etI of 17% of washout. After extubation, pulse oximetry indicated hypoxygenation in 18 patients (= 36%) during 2 periods (Fig. 4): (1) at a mean cIet of 0.1 Vol.-% (= 15% of washout) after a mean of 8 min; and (2) at a mean cIet of 0.08 Vol.-% (= 12% of washout) a mean of 19 min following extubation. Further episodes of hypoxygenation occurred as much as 40 min post-extubation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)