British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Heart rate variability does not discriminate between different levels of haemodynamic responsiveness during surgical anaesthesia.
Hypnotic depth but not haemodynamic responsiveness is measured with EEG-based monitors. In this study we compared heart rate variability (HRV) in unstimulated patients and stimulation-induced HRV at different levels of anaesthesia. ⋯ HRV parameters discriminate between awake and general anaesthesia, are different after tracheal intubation and a 5 s ulnar nerve stimulation, but do not discriminate between different levels of haemodynamic responsiveness during surgical anaesthesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Emergence and early cognitive function in the elderly after xenon or desflurane anaesthesia: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.
Postoperative cognitive impairment after general anaesthesia, especially in the elderly, is a well-recognized problem. Xenon, known to be an N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist, may be advantageous. In this study, the early cognitive function in the elderly after general anaesthesia with xenon was compared with that after desflurane. ⋯ There was no difference in the postoperative cognitive testing at 6-12 and 66-72 h. Xenon was associated in the elderly with a faster emergence from general anaesthesia than desflurane.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Autonomic cardiac control with xenon anaesthesia in patients at cardiovascular risk.
The cardiovascular stability found with xenon anaesthesia may be caused by absence of circulatory depression. Xenon may also act directly on autonomic cardiovascular control. ⋯ Propofol caused a decrease in arterial pressure as well as autonomic HR modulation, but xenon did not. The higher arterial pressure with xenon anaesthesia may be explained by less suppression of sympatho-vagal balance.
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We describe the use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation combined with spinal anaesthesia to allow the insertion of a dynamic hip screw in an obese patient with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The technique avoided the hazards of intubation and general anaesthesia in this high-risk patient.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effects of ultrasound guidance on the minimum effective anaesthetic volume required to block the femoral nerve.
We tested the hypothesis that ultrasound guidance may reduce the minimum effective anaesthetic volume (MEAV50) of ropivacaine 0.5% required to block the femoral nerve compared with nerve stimulation guidance. ⋯ Ultrasound guidance provided a 42% reduction in the MEAV of ropivacaine 0.5% required to block the femoral nerve as compared with the nerve stimulation guidance.