Revista brasileira de anestesiologia
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Nov 2011
Review Case ReportsMyasthenia gravis: two case reports and review of the literature.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neurologic disease that affects the postsynaptic portion of the neuromuscular junction. It represents a challenge for anesthesiologists due to the diversity of disease manifestations and possibility of postoperative respiratory complications. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the importance of adequate monitoring of the neuromuscular blockade (NMB) due to the multiple presentations of MG. ⋯ We suggest that, due to the multiple presentation and treatment of MG, neuromuscular transmission monitors are fundamental when using NMB.
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Sex is an important factor in painful experience modulation. Large volume of evidence shows that experience is different for males and females, as well as the answer to some classes of analgesics. ⋯ The differences in pain perception related to sex may be associated with hyperalgesia in women, but also to the hypoactivity of the inhibitory system of pain in females. The purpose of this review besides showing some relationship for gonadal hormones, central nervous system and pain is to provide reference points for the discussion of one of the most intriguing aspects of the pathophysiology of pain: the differences in the presence of painful stimuli related to gender.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Nov 2011
Case ReportsImportance of pre-anesthetic evaluation: case report of a patient with obstructive sleep apnea.
The objective of this report was to show the importance of pre-anesthetic assessment in reducing morbidity and mortality of surgical patients and alert to problems and anesthetic care associated with obstructive sleep apnea. ⋯ The pre-anesthetic outpatient clinic is extremely important in reducing morbidity as well as mortality of surgical patients and, especially, in evaluating patients with obstructive sleep apnea, showing to be fundamental for the anesthetic-surgical schedule, orienting conducts to be followed, and interfering positively on patient prognosis.
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Rev Bras Anestesiol · Sep 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of enflurane and propofol in electroconvulsive therapy, a randomized crossover open preliminary study on seizure duration and anaesthetic recovery.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is commonly used for treatment of depression, mania and affective disorders. Anaesthetics for general anaesthesia during ECT should have rapid onset, rapid emerge, not interfere with seizure activity and not shorten seizure duration. The aim of this study is to compare effects of enflurane, a pro-convulsive anaesthetic agent, and propofol on seizure durations, postictal suppression index and recovery times during electroconvulsive therapy. ⋯ Although sufficient seizure for the treatment was provided during enflurane anaesthesia, any additional benefit was not revealed regarding seizure times or postictal suppression index when compared to propofol anaesthesia. On the other hand, recovery times after enflurane anaesthesia were shorter than propofol anaesthesia. However, there is still a need for further study in different ETCO(2) levels.
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Mechanical ventilation (MV) strategies have been modified over the last decades with a tendency for increasingly lower tidal volumes (VT). However, in patients without acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) the use of high VTs is still very common. Retrospective studies suggest that this practice can be related to mechanical ventilation-associated ALI. The objective of this review is to search for evidence to guide protective MV in patients with healthy lungs and to suggest strategies to properly ventilate lungs with ALI/ARDS. ⋯ Consistent studies to determine which would be the best way to ventilate a patient with healthy lungs are lacking. Expert recommendations and current evidence presented in this article indicate that the use of a VT lower than 10 mL.kg(-1), associated with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ≥ 5 cmH(2)O without exceeding a pressure plateau of 15 to 20 cmH(2)O could minimize alveolar stretching at the end of inspiration and avoid possible inflammation or alveolar collapse.