British journal of anaesthesia
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The technology and clinical understanding of anatomical sonography has evolved greatly over the past decade. In the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, ultrasonography has become a routine technique for regional anaesthetic nerve block. Recent studies have shown that direct visualization of the distribution of local anaesthetics with high-frequency probes can improve the quality and avoid the complications of upper/lower extremity nerve blocks and neuroaxial techniques. ⋯ The advantages over conventional guidance techniques, such as nerve stimulation and loss-of-resistance procedures, are significant. This review introduces the reader to the theory and practice of ultrasound-guided anaesthetic techniques in adults and children. Considering their enormous potential, these techniques should have a role in the future training of anaesthetists.
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation with motor evoked potential monitoring is a non-invasive method for monitoring motor tracts during surgery. However, anaesthetic agents such as propofol and volatile agents reduce responses to single transcranial magnetic stimulation. We assessed an intravenous technique for anaesthesia to allow motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to be monitored using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). ⋯ It is possible to monitor intraoperative MEP using rTMS during anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil.
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The primary goal of this study was to investigate the relation between the core temperature of critically ill patients and hot ambient temperatures during a heat wave. The second goal was to evaluate the impact of such a heat wave on the number of microbiological tests ordered. ⋯ During a sustained high ambient temperature, hyperthermia can occur in critically ill infected patients and to a lesser extent in non-infected patients and health-care workers. The number of blood cultures requested rises substantially, leading to increased costs. Installation of air-conditioning is therefore recommended.
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Our aim was to assess the occurrence, aetiology, and clinical significance of a platelet count greater than 600 x 10(3)/mm(3) in trauma patients. ⋯ Reactive thrombocytosis is a common finding after severe trauma and was found to be associated with a better survival than predicted by severity of illness score. Unless additional risk factors are present, reactive thrombocytosis is not associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events.