Revista brasileira de anestesiologia
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2009
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyNeuroaxis block compared to general anesthesia for revascularization of the lower limbs in the elderly. A systematic review with metanalysis of randomized clinical studies.
Currently, it is controversial on whether neuroaxis block (NB) is more effective than general anesthesia (GA) in elderly individuals undergoing non-cardiac surgeries. The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of NB in comparison to GA for revascularization of the lower limbs (RLL) in the elderly. ⋯ This metanalysis did not generate enough evidence to demonstrate that NB is more efficient, equivalent, or less efficient than GA for RLL in the elderly.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2009
Comparative StudyAnalysis of the effects of the alveolar recruitment maneuver on blood oxygenation during bariatric surgery.
BACKGROUND AND METHDS: Alveolar recruitment maneuver (ARM) is indicated in the treatment of intraoperative atelectasis. The objective of the present study was to compare two techniques of ARM using the response of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and [PaO2 + PaCO2] in patients with grade III obesity. ⋯ Alveolar recruitment maneuver with sudden increase of PEEP to 30 cmH2O showed a better response of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2009
Biography Historical ArticleSigmund Freud (1856-1939) and Karl Köller (1857-1944) and the discovery of local anesthesia.
The understanding, occasionally recognized, that Sigmund Freud had the intuition to use cocaine as local anesthetic for surgical procedures, or even that he played any role in the discovery of local anesthesia is not true. The objective of Freud's studies were different, and based in irrefutable evidence, Karl Köller was the real inventor of local anesthesia. In face of those facts, proper knowledge of this historically important subject is due. ⋯ This report refers to the long-known properties of cocaine. It also remembers personal data, and the professional and scientific activities of Sigmund Freud and Karl Köller. It presents Freud's researches on the pathophysiological effects of cocaine. It exposes the reasons for the harsh criticism of Freud's concepts. It describes the sudden, but conscious and justified, idea of Karl Köller to study scientifically the use of cocaine as a local anesthetic in animals and humans. It indicates how those pioneering studies, that culminated with the discovery of local anesthesia by Köller and two presentations in Vienna on the subject, were done. It also reports the first ophthalmologic surgery under local anesthesia. It shows the immediate dissemination throughout the world of the discovery that marked the beginning of regional blocks. It comments several documents corroborating the role of Köller in this discovery. And, finally, it mentions the numerous homages received by Köller in different areas of the world. COCLUSIONS: Regional block was introduced by Karl Köller in 1884, when he demonstrated the feasibility of performing painless ophthalmologic surgeries by using cocaine as a local anesthetic. Sigmund Freud studied cocaine extensively, but he did not have direct participation in this important discovery.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2009
Regional anesthesia and non-preeclamptic thrombocytopenia: time to re-think the safe platelet count.
Although regional anesthesia is widely used for pain control in obstetrics, it may not be appropriate for patients with thrombocytopenia due to the risk of neuraxial hematoma. There is no strong evidence to suggest the minimum platelet count that is necessary to ensure the safe practice of regional anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to review the safety of regional anesthesia in non-preeclamptic thrombocytopenic parturients at our institution over a 5-year period. ⋯ In our series, regional anesthesia was safely administered in pregnant patients with platelet counts between 50-79 x 10(9).L(-1). Our results are in keeping with other series in the literature. We suggest that in non-preeclamptic patients with stable platelet counts and no history or clinical signs of bleeding, the lower limit of platelet count for regional anesthesia should be 50 x 10(9).L(-1).