British journal of anaesthesia
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When managing patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory system compliance is usually considered first and changes in resistance, although recognized, are neglected. Resistance can change considerably between minimum and maximum lung volume, but is generally assumed to be constant in the tidal volume range (V(T)). ⋯ In the remaining patients, resistance decreased, increased or showed complex changes. We conclude that resistance within V(T) varies considerably from patient to patient and that constant resistance within V(T) is not always likely.
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An association between intercostal nerve block and the development of a total spinal is rare. Usually, subarachnoid injection is considered to have followed intraneural placement or inadvertent entrance into a dural cuff extending beyond an intervertebral foramen. ⋯ This was a life-threatening event that occurred on two occasions before the definitive diagnosis was made. It is considered likely that the paravertebral catheter entered an intervertebral foramen and the tip perforated the dura.
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The pharmacokinetics and time course of action of vecuronium in normal children and children receiving anticonvulsant drugs for prolonged periods were characterized. A bolus dose of vecuronium 0.15 mg kg(-1) was administered i.v. to 10 non-epileptic children and to 10 children on phenytoin and 10 children on carbamazepine, who were matched for age and weight. Plasma concentrations of vecuronium, 3-OH desacetylvecuronium (the primary metabolite of vecuronium) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were determined. ⋯ Children on chronic anticonvulsant therapy had a significantly shorter RI than control [control 21.8 (11), phenytoin 12.5 (8.3), carbamazepine 10.6 (5.9) min, P<0.05]. Concentrations of vecuronium at different degrees of recovery of T1, volumes of distribution and AAG concentrations were not different between groups. Our data confirm anticonvulsant-induced resistance to vecuronium in children and support a pharmacokinetic component contributing to the resistance.
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Due to the growing importance of quality assurance and cost containment in healthcare, eliciting patients' preferences for post-operative outcomes may be a more economical and reliable method of assessing quality. Three hundred and fifty-five day surgery patients completed a pre-operative written questionnaire to identify patients' preferences for avoiding 10 particular post-operative symptoms: pain, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, shivering, sore throat, drowsiness, gagging on the tracheal tube, thirst and a normal outcome. ⋯ Avoiding post-operative pain, gagging on the tracheal tube and nausea and vomiting are major priorities for day-case patients. Anaesthetists should take patients' preferences into consideration when developing guidelines and planning anaesthetic care.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of relaxant effects of propofol on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in dogs with and without vagotomy.
Propofol has been suggested to have in vivo airway relaxant effects, although the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we determined whether propofol could antagonize methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction and determined whether vagotomy modifies this relaxant effect. Fourteen mongrel dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbital and pancuronium were assigned to a control group (n=7) and a vagotomy group (n=7). ⋯ The two groups did not differ significantly in the maximal inhibitory effect of propofol [control group, 61.1% (46.3-75.9%), vagotomy group, 64.2% (40.1-88.3%)] or pIC50 [control group 5.03 (4.55-5.51), vagotomy group 4.86 (4.49-5.24)]. Therefore, the relaxant effects of propofol on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction may not be mediated centrally. Propofol may relax airway smooth muscles directly or through the peripheral vagal pathway.