Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialDexamethasone in preventing post-dural puncture headache: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Spinal anesthesia is major complication is Post-Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH) which is an intense and debilitating event. We decided to assess if intravenous administration of dexamethasone can decrease the incidence and/or intensity of this kind of headache. For this purpose 178 patients, who were supposed to undergo lower extremity orthopedic surgery, were enrolled in the study. ⋯ There was no statistically significant difference between DMX and PCB groups regarding the incidence of PDPH. However, the intensity of headache differed between the two groups being less severe if IV dexamethasone had been given prophylactically. Dexamethasone can be used to decrease the severity of PDPH in patients who receive spinal anesthesia.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2011
Comparative StudyMaintenance of anesthesia in morbidly obese patients using propofol with continuous BIS-monitoring: a comparison of propofol-remifentanil and propofol-epidural anesthesia.
Aim of this study was to evaluate maintenance of anesthesia using propofol with continuous Bispectral Index (BIS)-monitoring in morbidly obese patients receiving propofol-remifentanil and propofol-epidural anesthesia. ⋯ Using both BIS and hemodynamic parameters as an endpoint, a maintenance dose of propofol of 4-6 mg/kg/hr is proposed for maintenance of anesthesia in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery either in combination with remifentanil or epidural analgesia. There was no difference in propofol concentration-BIS relation in morbidly obese patients receiving propofol-remifentanil or propofol-epidural anesthesia.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2011
Case ReportsUnexpected entropy response to saline spraying at the end of posterior fossa surgery: a few cases report.
The Spectral Entropy proposed to monitor the depth of anesthesia includes the State Entropy (SE) computed from the EEG (0.8-32 Hz frequency band), and the Response Entropy (RE) computed from EEG and facial muscles activity (0.5-47 Hz frequency band). We report an unexpected Entropy response to saline spraying at the end of posterior fossa surgery. Six patients undergoing scheduled functional surgery of the posterior fossa were included in this report. ⋯ We conclude that Entropy can increase during posterior fossa surgery in non-paralyzed patients. This response probably reflects an increase in facial muscle activity rather than a change in depth of anesthesia, as far as it can be attenuated by a small dose of rocuronium. While this hypothesis requires further investigation, these observations suggest that saline spraying may confound interpretation of Entropy during posterior fossa surgery.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2011
Case ReportsFailed intubating laryngeal mask airway-guided blind endotracheal intubation in a severe postburn contractured neck patient.
Securing the airway in patients with severe post burn contracture of the neck is often challenging for attending anesthesiologists. Fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB)-guided endotracheal intubation is considered safe and reliable in this situation. ⋯ We report a case of 30 year old female with mentosternal contracture, where the use of ILMA allowed easy ventilation but failed to enable successful ILMA-guided blind intubation despite multiple attempts, the use of recommended Chandey's maneuver and muscle relaxation. Subsequent FOB revealed marked anterior dislocation of laryngotracheal structures, leading to a slippage of the endotracheal tube back to the esophagus.