Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2000
Clinical TrialEffects of mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass on EEG bispectral index.
We studied the effect of mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (30 degrees C) on the EEG Bispectral Index in 10 patients undergoing elective CABG. BIS was recorded at 11 event-related time points during the procedure. ⋯ BIS was neither affected by surgical stimulation nor by CPB and mild hypothermia. We conclude that we did not find any reason to preclude the use of BIS to assess the hypnotic effects of anaesthetics during normothermic or mild hypothermic CPB.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2000
Effects of a hydroxyethylstarch solution on plasma colloid osmotic pressure in acutely ill patients.
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions can represent an alternative to human albumin solutions in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but their effects on the plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) have not been well defined. We studied the changes in COP in 61 critically ill patients; 39 patients received 500 ml HES 6% (Elo-Haes Fresenius solution) and 22 received 400 ml of a human albumin solution (4% albumin Belgian Red Cross) over 60 to 90 min. COP was determined with an oncometer, using a semi-permeable membrane at 30 Kd, before the infusion, at the end of the infusion, and one hour and four hours after the end of the infusion. ⋯ Hence, this standard HES solution has greater effects on COP than natural colloids. In view of their lower costs, HES solutions can represent a valuable alternative to human albumin. However, it is necessary to consider the secondary effects of HES and the physiologic functions of albumin.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2000
Case ReportsSuxamethonium-induced rhabdomyolysis in a healthy middle-aged man.
A 43-year-old man developed rhabdomyolysis after uvulo- palatopharyngoplasty. After induction with thiopentone and suxamethonium the anesthesia was maintained with halothane. The patient responded to treatment and made an uneventful recovery. ⋯ Our patient did not have mutations in the four MH-associated genes tested, but the total amount of different mutations is by now about twenty. Therefore, despite these negative tests rhabdomyolysis may be a sign of subclinical malignant hyperthermia which cannot be ruled out by our investigations. This rare case of rhabdomyolysis in a healthy man suggests careful monitoring of the patient when-ever suxamethonium is used.