Revista brasileira de anestesiologia
-
Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2011
Case ReportsNeuraxial hematoma after epidural anesthesia. Is it possible to prevent or detect it? Report of two cases.
Spinal hematomas are rare and they affect the central nervous system. They can cause permanent neurologic sequelae and death if they are not treated properly. Early diagnosis and treatment are fundamental for a good neurologic prognostic. The objective of this report was to emphasize for anesthesiologists the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of spinal hematomas, besides improving their prevention. ⋯ The clinical cases presented here showed different outcomes, indicating the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for a good evolution. Diagnosis by MRI with early decompression shortly after the development of the first clinical manifestations remains the standard treatment. Identification of patients at risk for neuraxial bleeding and change in anesthetic technique, as well as the establishment of postoperative neurologic evaluation protocols in patients undergoing neuraxial anesthesia can contribute for prevention of severe neurologic sequelae.
-
Epilepsy is one of the most frequent chronic neurological diseases. Although anesthesia for epilepsy patients is more common in neurosurgery, this group of patients needs, just as the general population, anesthesia for different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This article aims to address the issues of greatest interest to the anesthesiologist in the perioperative management of epileptic patients undergoing anesthesia for non-neurosurgical procedures. ⋯ In the perioperative management of epileptic patients is important for anesthesiologists to identify the type of epilepsy, the frequency, severity and the factors triggering the epileptogenic crises; the use of anticonvulsant drugs and possible interactions with drugs used in anesthesia; the presence of ketogenic diet and stimulatory of the vagus nerve, and its implications in anesthetic techniques. It is essential the understanding of pro- and anticonvulsant properties of drugs used in anesthesia, minimizing the risk of seizure activity in the intra- and postoperative. Finally, it is important to outline the diagnosis and initiate treatment of seizures, perioperative, which offers lower both morbidity and mortality.
-
Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2011
Case ReportsContinuous bilateral posterior lumbar plexus block with a disposable infusion pump: case report.
The number of bilateral total hip arthroplasties (THA) has been increasing every year. Postoperative analgesia by continuous perineural infusion of local anesthetic has been shown favorable results when compared to systemic analgesia. The use of elastomeric pumps has increased patient satisfaction when compared to electronic models. The objective of this report was to describe a case of continuous bilateral posterior lumbar plexus block with an elastomeric infusion pump in a patient submitted to bilateral hip arthroplasty. ⋯ Continuous peripheral blockade with infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine with elastomeric pumps is a safe and effective procedure in adults.
-
Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2011
Assessment of neuromuscular blockade in children at the time of block reversal and the removal of the endotracheal tube.
Studies show the importance of monitoring neuromuscular function in preventing the residual block. However, most anesthesiologists in their daily practice base their evaluation of the recovery of neuromuscular function on clinical data. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of neuromuscular blockade in children undergoing general anesthesia at the time of block reversal and the removal of the endotracheal tube. ⋯ When deciding to remove the endotracheal tube based on clinical criteria, 10% of children had T₄/T₁ < 0.9 regardless the blocker received. A considerable number of patients had the neuromuscular blockade incorrectly reversed when the blockade was still too deep or even already recovered.
-
Rev Bras Anestesiol · Mar 2011
Vasomotor effect after acute intoxication with bupivacaine and levobupivacaine in rats via intraperitoneal route analyzed via digital infrared imaging.
The study of the vasomotor effect of local anesthetics (LA) is of paramount importance for the analysis of the occurrence of cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects, and drug interactions. In order to find a safer drug than racemic bupivacaine, this study aimed to analyze digital infrared imaging of acute vasomotor effect of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine in rats intraperitoneally. ⋯ The results demonstrated that the vasomotor effect of the acute toxicity of levobupivacaine was similar to Group C with saline, through macroscopic studies by infrared digital filmmaking, and that there were vasomotor changes (vasoconstriction), with bupivacaine intoxication in relation to both Group C and Group L.