Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 1999
Ventilatory adequacy and respiratory mechanics with laryngeal mask versus tracheal intubation during positive pressure ventilation.
The ventilatory adequacy and respiratory mechanics during positive pressure ventilation (PPV) via the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) are compared with the respiratory mechanics via the tracheal tube (TT). Thirty patients undergoing breast surgery were studied. After induction of anesthesia and muscle relaxation an LMA was inserted. ⋯ Significant differences were found among the V1.0% measurements (P = 0.030) but not between individual comparisons. Leak was similar with the LMA or TT airway management. It is concluded that, in patients with normal airway pressure and compliance, PPV using the LMA is comparatively effective with the use of TT.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 1999
Case ReportsTreatment for postdural puncture headache associated with late postpartum eclampsia.
Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common complication of accidental or deliberate dural puncture. It also occurs after epidural or spinal analgesia for labor and delivery. ⋯ Definitive treatment can be accomplished with an epidural blood patch (EBP). We present a case of postpartum convulsions which were temporally related to a caffeine infusion and an EBP.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 1999
Influence of methane on infrared gas analysis of volatile anesthetics.
Contemporary multigas analyzers determine anesthetic gas concentrations using (near) infrared analysis at either 3.3 or 8-9 microns. Methane also absorbs infrared light at 3.3 microns, but not at 8-9 microns. Consequently, erroneous anesthetic agent readings may result when methane is present in the circuit (e.g. during closed circuit anesthesia), potentially compromising patient safety. ⋯ At 3.3 microns wavelength the influence on the measurement of halothane was important, whereas the influence on that of enflurane and isoflurane was less pronounced. For desflurane and sevoflurane measurements, the influence of methane at 3.3 microns wavelength proved to be minimal. At higher wavelengths (8-9 microns) no influence of methane could be demonstrated.