Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jun 2005
Comparative Study[Effectiveness of postoperative autologous blood transfusion after knee replacement surgery and influence of preoperative hemoglobin level].
To evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative autologous blood transfusion on reducing the need for allogenic transfusion during recovery from total knee arthroplasty until hospital discharge, and to determine whether effectiveness is related to preoperative hemoglobin level. ⋯ Autologous blood transfusion is effective for reducing the need for allogenic transfusion after knee replacement surgery, particulary when a patient's hemoglobin level is less than 13 g x dL(-1).
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jun 2005
Case Reports[Intracoronary air embolism detected during intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography].
A 39-year-old hypertensive man with severe aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement monitored by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Upon weaning the patient off extracorporeal circulation, hemodynamics became severely compromised, with hypotension, tachycardia, and elevated precordial electrocardiographic tracings. The echocardiographic images were instrumental during the episode to demonstrate that the anterior wall presented hypokinesis consistent with ischemia in the region but that there were also images of hyperrefringence highly suggestive of intracoronary air embolism. ⋯ Perfusion pressure was increased to treat the air embolism. The echocardiographic image demonstrated success, specifically restoration of left ventricular regional contractility. This experience revealed the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in intraoperative monitoring to diagnose ischemia, assess the cause, and guide treatment.