British journal of anaesthesia
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Target-controlled infusions (TCI) are used to simplify administration and increase precision of i.v. drugs during general anaesthesia. However, there is a limited relationship between preset targets and measured concentrations of drugs and between measured concentrations and measures of brain function, such as the bispectral index (BIS). ⋯ TCI devices for remifentanil and propofol result in large variation in measured serum concentrations. The lack of correlation between BIS and serum concentrations of propofol adds to the debate about whether BIS measures hypnosis as a graded state during surgery. This study confirms that women wake up faster than men, but provides no explanation for this repeatedly shown difference.
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Comparative Study
Increased carbon dioxide absorption during retroperitoneal laparoscopy.
Retroperitoneoscopy for renal surgery is now a common procedure. We compared carbon dioxide absorption in patients undergoing retroperitoneoscopy for adrenal or renal surgery with that of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. ⋯ Retroperitoneal carbon dioxide insufflation causes more carbon dioxide absorption than intraperitoneal insufflation, and controlled ventilation should be increased if hypercapnia should be avoided.
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Case Reports
Non-invasive ventilation to avoid tracheal intubation in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
A 72-yr-old man presented with respiratory failure secondary to Guillain-Barré syndrome. Although the criteria for mechanical ventilation were satisfied, the absence of weakness of the bulbar muscles allowed the safe use of non-invasive ventilation for 2 weeks in this patient. Invasive ventilation and tracheostomy were avoided and the patient made a good recovery.
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Letter Case Reports
Another death after percutaneous dilational tracheostomy.