Der Anaesthesist
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Transfusion of homologous blood components is associated with immunological (incompatibility, alloimmunization, immunosuppression) and infectious risks (hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, HIV and other agents). Endoprosthetic surgery of the hip and knee frequently requires transfusion. Preoperative deposit of autologous blood can reduce homologous transfusion requirements. ⋯ Forty-six patients (23 men, 23 women) underwent total hip arthroplasty, 12 (4 men, 8 women) exchange of total hip arthroplasty, and 5 (3 men, 2 women) endoprosthetic knee surgery. In total hip arthroplasty men required 0 to 500 ml homologous packed red cells (median=0), women 0 to 1250 ml (median=0;p less than or equal to 0.05). Thirty-nine (69.6%) of the patients, 19 (82.6%) men and 13 (56.5%) women, did not require homologous transfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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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
[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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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)
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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.