Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Suppl · Jan 1998
Intrathecally, Caine may dis-Able. Reflections on lidocaine for spinal anesthesia.
This paper was presented in September 1997 during a Round Table Discussion on lidocaine toxicity, held at the Nobel Forum, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The occasion was in honor of Professor emeritus Torsten Gordh, who in August 1997 celebrated his 90th birthday. Torsten Gordh, also present at the Round Table Discussion, was the first anesthesiologist who used lidocaine clinically. Today, when some clinical problems with the intrathecal use of lidocaine are discussed, we are indeed fortunate to have Torsten Gordh still most vital and active in our midst.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Suppl · Jan 1998
Biography Historical ArticleXylocain (lidocaine, lignocaine), its discovery and Gordh's contribution to its clinical use.
Hans v. Euler, while investigating how genes and enzymes were chemically related in some chlorofylldefective mutants of barley, isolated gramine, an indole. Erdtman synthetized isogramine and found it to have weak anesthetic properties. ⋯ Xylocain, however, has had an excellent record of safety. Only during the last years have there been reports on possible toxic irritation and damage by Xylocain used for spinal anesthesia. The aetiology is still not clear In this connection two early observations by Gordh and his coworkers are discussed.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Suppl · Jan 1998
Comparative StudyWhitacre or Quincke needles--does it really matter.
Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and backache are well known complications of spinal anaesthesia. The incidence of PDPH may be significant in young people (< 50 years). The present study was undertaken in order to compare the utility and complication rate of the Whitacre and Ouincke spinal needles. ⋯ For routine clinical use the Whitacre needle appears to be associated with better performance and increased reliability. In younger patients the Whitacre needle have the additional advantage of decreasing the risk of postdural puncture headache.