Revista brasileira de anestesiologia
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Dexmedetomidine is the newest alpha2-adrenergic agonist for clinical application. It has a fast onset, is metabolized by the liver and mostly excreted by the urine. This review aimed at presenting pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of dexmedetomidine and its clinical applications. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine is an innovative drug for sedation and analgesia. Its major qualities are fast onset and titration, allowing for changes in sedation and analgesia depth. In addition, it has a synergism with commonly used anesthetic drugs, with a low incidence of side effects and minor respiratory depression.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Sep 2002
[Comparison of intravenous and epidural morphine analgesia after thoracotomy.].
Patients undergoing thoracotomy experience severe postoperative pain. This study aimed at evaluating postoperative analgesia with the association of intravenous and epidural morphine as compared to a single route. ⋯ There has been a better analgesic effect with intravenous morphine or the association of intravenous and epidural morphine, with lower drug doses. This difference was significant when lower analgesic doses were used in these groups and represented an effective postoperative analgesic method for thoracotomy, with lower respiratory depression and emetic effects.
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Restricted sympathetic block during spinal anesthesia may minimize hemodynamic changes. In theory, the use of non-isobaric local anesthetics may induce unilateral anesthesia and limit sympathetic blockade to one side of the body. The local anesthetic dose and the time patients need to remain in the lateral position for achieving unilateral spinal anesthesia are not known. This prospective study investigated the incidence of unilateral spinal anesthesia following injection through a 27G Quincke needle of 0.15% hypobaric bupivacaine, prepared with 1.5 ml standard isobaric bupivacaine plus fentanyl (25 microg), in patients in the lateral position with the limb to be operated upwards. ⋯ Hypobaric 0.15% bupivacaine (7.5 mg) associated to fentanyl provided a predominantly unilateral block after twenty minutes in the lateral position. Major advantages of unilateral spinal anesthesia were hemodynamic stability, patient satisfaction and the absence of post-dural puncture headache.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Sep 2002
[The influence of sevoflurane and isoflurane on the recovery from cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular block.].
The effects of neuromuscular blockers on the neuromuscular junction are potentiated by volatile anesthetics. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of sevoflurane and isoflurane on the recovery of cisatracurium- induced neuromuscular block. ⋯ The recovery from cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular block was longer during anesthesia with volatile agents as compared to propofol. The most pronounced effect was observed with sevoflurane.
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Chronic pain is a challenge for modern medicine. New methods and drugs have been proposed to control pain. Intrathecal administration is a feasible and safe option, but still requires further investigations. This study aimed at reviewing available and well established drugs as well as new promising alternatives for the daily practice. ⋯ Several advances were achieved in controlling pain with intrathecal administration of the above-mentioned drugs. Certainly some will be used, thus enriching therapeutic armamentarium, and others will be temporarily or permanently abandoned. However, several clinical and experimental studies will still be needed for knew knowledge to be incorporated and safely used by professionals dealing with chronic pain.