Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jan 1992
Comparative Study[Usefulness of pulse oximetry in thoracic surgery].
Saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood was simultaneously measured by co-oximetry (SaO2) and by pulse oximetry (SpO2) in 228 samples from 42 patients undergoing general anesthesia for thoracic surgery. Data was referred to SaO2 obtained with arterial catheterization. We found a significant correlation (r: 0.949 and p less than 0.001) and the mean differences were 0.77 +/- 1.84. ⋯ Although there was a significant correlation, the method loses reliability and accuracy in patients with hypoxemia. In these patients oximetric values are slightly lower than those obtained with arterial cannulation. We emphasize the clinical usefulness of this technique since it is instantaneous and allowed immediate therapeutic actions.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jan 1992
Case Reports[Acute pulmonary edema secondary to acute upper airway obstruction].
We report a 72 years old woman with mild arterial hypertension and no other pathological history who presented an acute pulmonary edema due to acute obstruction of the upper airway secondary to vocal chord paralysis developing during the immediate postoperative phase of thyroidectomy. The acute pulmonary edema resolved after application of tracheal reintubation, mechanical ventilation controlled with end expiratory positive pressure, diuretics, morphine, and liquid restriction. We discuss the possible etiopathogenic possibilities of this infrequent clinical picture and we suggest that all patients who suffered and acute obstruction of the upper airways require a careful clinical surveillance in order to prevent the development of the pulmonary syndrome.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jan 1992
Case Reports[Chylothorax. An infrequent complication in surgical exeresis of the esophagus].
We report a case of massive bilateral chylothorax occurring after surgical resection of the esophagus in a patient with esophageal neoplasm. The surgical approach consisted of a thoracotomy and a cervicostomy. The relevance of this case is based on the low incidence of chylothorax after esophageal surgery. ⋯ During the first 24 hours we collected a total volume of 2,500 ml of chyle. The patient was treated with conservative procedures including parenteral nutrition and intravenous reposition of fluids. After 48 hours the total volume of chyle reached 8,500 ml and the patient died.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jan 1992
Letter Historical Article[The 1st self-experiments with ether performed by Spanish physicians in the year 1847].