Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Feb 2010
Forearm IVRA, using 0.5% lidocaine in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg with ketorolac 0.15 mg/kg for hand and wrist surgeries.
Local anesthetic toxicity remains one of the most dreaded complications of the intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) technique. It results from the sudden release of a large amount of local anesthetic (LA) into the systemic circulation. This release can occur when the tourniquet deflates accidentally during the procedure or when it is deflated intentionally at the end of the procedure to terminate the anesthesia. The forearm tourniquet IVRA technique may offer distinct advantages over the conventional upper arm tourniquet IVRA technique. Use of a forearm tourniquet allows the dosage of local anesthetic to be decreased to almost half of what is required with an upper arm tourniquet, and the incidence of tourniquet pain has been reported to be less with forearm tourniquet. In this study, authors assessed the clinical efficacy of administering IVRA with lidocaine plus ketorolac using either a forearm or upper arm tourniquet. ⋯ In conclusion, forearm IVRA provides effective perioperative anesthesia and analgesia. The technique results in a similar clinical profile as upper arm IVRA while using half the dose of both lidocaine and ketorolac.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Feb 2010
Transcatheter implantation of an aortic valve: anesthesiological management.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emergent alternative technique to surgery in high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Here, we describe the anesthesiological management of patients undergoing TAVI at our institution over an 18-month period. ⋯ TAVI is feasible in high-risk patients who would not be able to undergo surgical valve replacement. Hemodynamic management is the main concern of intraoperative anesthesiological management. General or local anesthesia plus sedation are both valid alternative techniques that can be titrated according to patient characteristics. Close postoperative monitoring in the ICU is required.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Feb 2010
Case ReportsThe Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome: a case report.
The HGPS (Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome) is a rare genetic disorder with an incidence of 1 per 8 million live births. Originally described in 1886, less than 100 cases have been reported. ⋯ The diagnosis is usually made by age 2, the mean survival age is 13.4 years and the most common cause of death is myocardial infarction. Recent genetic advances have identified the cause as a defect in the LMNA gene of chromosome 1.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jan 2010
Etiology of respiratory failure is related to mortality in critically ill patients affected by a hematological malignancy: a retrospective study.
The outcomes of patients affected by hematologic malignancies (HM) admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) because of life-threatening complications are still considered to be poor. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and impact of cardiac dysfunction on the outcome of these patients. ⋯ ICU patients with HM have high mortality. Respiratory failure caused by cardiac dysfunction seems to be associated with a lower risk of death.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jan 2010
Case ReportsEfficacy and safety of quinine-artesunate in an HIV-positive patient with severe falciparum malaria.
Severe falciparum malaria is a medical emergency that is associated with a high rate of mortality, even when treated in an Intensive Care Unit. Until recently, intravenous quinine was the standard treatment; however, artemisin derivatives are now regarded as the first-line treatment for multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. Although several studies have demonstrated the superiority of Artesunate, this drug is not licensed in many countries. ⋯ Parasite clearance was rapidly achieved; however, on day IV, the patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome that required mechanical ventilation. The patient was extubated on day XIV and discharged on day XXV. Due to its rapid action, artesunate was likely responsible for the good clinical outcome in this case; however, in order to clarify the role of this new combination therapy, further studies are required.