Canadian Anaesthetists' Society journal
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We describe a new catheter for emergency ventilation of patients difficult to intubate. This catheter can be inserted through the crico-thyroid membrane or the first or second intertracheal ringspace with ease in an almost atraumatic fashion. ⋯ A Velcro band attached to two lateral flanges keeps the catheter in place. The results of transtracheal catheterization of 48 patients by means of this new device are discussed.
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Protamine administration may induce arterial hypoxaemia in dogs and humans. However, the responsible mechanism has not been established. Protamine, as it is a pulmonary vasoactive substance, may interfere with normal hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and cause arterial hypoxaemia. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that protamine interferes with effectiveness of pre-existing HPV and suggest that this mechanism, at least in part, may be responsible for arterial hypoxaemia observed after protamine infusion. The marked generalized pulmonary vasoconstriction with protamine appears to be the direct force that interferes with pre-existing auto-regulatory HPV. In addition to the well known haemodynamic effects of protamine, protamine infusion may also cause arterial hypoxaemia in those patients in whom HPV plays a significant role in maintaining arterial oxygenation.
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A two-year-old female child status post-bilateral nephrectomies sustained a cardiac arrest following the central intravenous administration of vancomycin chloride. This report reviews the literature concerning the problems associated with the use of vancomycin chloride in the perioperative period.