British journal of anaesthesia
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Sevoflurane reduces blood pressure, the regulation of which requires an intact sympathetic neurotransmission. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of sevoflurane on the coupling between peripheral sympathetic neurones and vascular smooth muscle in isolated human omental vessels. ⋯ Sevoflurane depresses sympathetic neuromuscular transmission in human omental vessels by reducing neuronal NE release and NE sensitivity in arteries and by reducing NE release in veins. This could contribute to the hypotension seen during sevoflurane anaesthesia, at least at concentrations above 1 MAC.
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A patient developed persistent symptoms and signs suggestive of partial spinal cord infarction after an operation involving the use of the hyperlordotic position. This position involves extension at the waist, such that both the head and feet are below the level of the waist. It is employed to increase surgical access to the abdomen. Where this position is adopted for a prolonged surgical procedure, existing risk factors for spinal cord ischaemia should urge caution in the use of epidural analgesia.
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We describe the case of a 9-yr-old child with undiagnosed long QT syndrome who experienced an intraoperative cardiac arrest after accidental intravascular injection of bupivacaine with epinephrine via a misplaced epidural catheter.
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The effects of halogenated anaesthetics on cross-bridge (CB) kinetics are unclear. As halogenated anaesthetics do not markedly modify the intracellular calcium transient in the diaphragm, we used an isolated rat diaphragm preparation to assess the effects of halothane and isoflurane on CB kinetics. ⋯ In the rat diaphragm at therapeutic concentrations, halogenated anaesthetics do not significantly modify CB mechanical and kinetic properties.