Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Mar 1985
Clinical use of continuous monitoring of mixed venous oxygen saturation during and after cardiovascular surgery.
This paper presents the authors' initial experience with a new technique for continuous monitoring of the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) during and after open heart Surgery. The method uses reflectometric measurements of SvO2 via a fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheter with the capability for thermodilution cardiac output estimates. ⋯ Intra-and postoperative examples illustrate these various situations. The very short response time of the System allows for early diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Sep 1984
Absence of electroencephalographic excitation pattern under isoflurane anesthesia.
In twelve patients the EEG was recorded under isoflurane--nitrous oxide inhalation anesthesia. A quiet EEG pattern was registered, without suppressions and seizures of spike activity which are often observed under enflurane. This was the case even when end expiratory CO2 shifted to low values (3-3.6 Vol%). ⋯ After isoflurane was added, these changes disappeared. In another patient, epileptic EEG patterns were observed prior to the induction (confirmed by the history of the patient). During isoflurane anesthesia the epileptic waves disappeared and remained absent.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jun 1984
Epidural anesthesia with plain bupivacaine 0.75% for elective caesarean section.
The clinical effects of epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine 0.75% for elective caesarean section were investigated in 20 healthy pregnant women. The mean total dose of bupivacaine which offers sufficient sensory and motor block, provided the epidural catheter is properly placed, was 137.5 mg. ⋯ No maternal systemic toxicity or local neurotoxicity was found. The results of the Apgar scoring and the neonatal acid-base studies showed that there is no clinically important neonatal depression with this technique.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Mar 1984
Supraclavicular brachial plexus block with the aid of a nerve stimulator.
Hundred supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks according to the subclavian perivascular technique were performed with the aid of a nerve stimulator Neutracer in order to verify the value of the technique and the acceptance by the patients. The technique is extensively described and the results and complications are presented. The rationale for the use of the supraclavicular approach and the advantages of the use of a nerve stimulator in regional anesthesia are discussed.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Mar 1984
Mechanical ventilators for emergency medical care using. A manual resuscitation bag.
It is possible to construct a mechanical ventilator from the parts of a selfinflating resuscitation bag, in combination with a magnetic valve. These ventilators prove to be very helpful for transport of critically ill patients, of all categories, under various conditions. ⋯ The ventilators are cheap and reliable, with a stable performance but more sophisticated patterns of ventilation necessitate the use of volume and pressure monitoring. The mode of action of the ventilator, the compliance of different reservoir bags and the place of the mechanical monitor devices are discussed in this article.