British journal of anaesthesia
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Although obese patients are thought to be susceptible to postoperative pulmonary complications, there are only limited data on the relationship between obesity and lung volumes after surgery. We studied how surgery and obesity affect lung volumes measured by spirometry. ⋯ Postoperative reduction in spirometric volumes was related to BMI. Obesity had more effect on VC than the site of surgery.
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Although volatile anaesthetics afford protection against bronchospasm, their potential to reverse a sustained constriction of hyperreactive airways has not been characterized. Accordingly, we investigated the ability of halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane to reverse lung constriction induced by prolonged stimulation of the muscarinic receptors in guinea pigs sensitized to ovalbumin. ⋯ Volatile agents can reverse sustained MCh-induced airway constriction only transiently in sensitized guinea pigs. Isoflurane proved most beneficial in temporally improving lung function in the presence of a severe constriction of allergic inflamed airways. Desflurane displayed potential to induce further airway constriction.
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Ilio-inguinal nerve block is commonly used in children to provide analgesia after surgery in the groin. Several case reports and clinical studies have described leg weakness after this technique and suggest that it may caused by inadvertent femoral nerve block. No prospective studies describing the incidence of this complication have been published. ⋯ Leg weakness consistent with a femoral nerve block occurs after ilio-inguinal nerve block in approximately one in nine children.
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The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of an inhaled anaesthetic describes its potency as a general anaesthetic. Individuals vary in their sensitivity to anaesthetics and we sought to determine whether an individual animal's sensitivity to inhaled anaesthetics would be maintained across different agents. ⋯ These findings show that an individual has a consistent degree of sensitivity to a variety of inhaled anaesthetics, suggesting a genetic basis for sensitivity to inhaled anaesthetic effects.