Canadian Anaesthetists' Society journal
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Expired carbon dioxide measurements (PeCO2) were used (1) to assess the adequacy of initial alveolar ventilation, and (2) to document intraoperative airway events and metabolic trends. Three hundred and thirty-one children were studied. Thirty-five intraoperative events were diagnosed by continuous PeCO2 monitoring; 20 were potentially life-threatening problems (malignant hyperthermia, circuit disconnection or leak, equipment failure, accidental extubation, endobronchial intubation, or kinked tube); only two of these were also diagnosed clinically. ⋯ Hypocarbia (peak expired PeCO2 less than or equal to 30) was more frequent in intubated cases (11 per cent) than in unintubated cases (three per cent) (p = 0.03). There was a high incidence of hypocarbia in infants less than one year of age (p = 0.02). We conclude: (1) life-threatening airway problems are common during anaesthesia in paediatric patients; (2) quantitative measurement of PeCO2 provides an early warning of potentially catastrophic anaesthetic mishaps; (3) the incidence of events increases with duration of anaesthesia.
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Review Comparative Study
Newborn anaesthesia: pharmacological considerations.
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An overall management plan for malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) parturients is presented based on the experience of managing 14 of these patients. A summary of the pertinent features of their deliveries and care plus a case report of one of these parturients is described. Discussion centres around the problems of diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility in pregnancy, the differential diagnosis and management of fever and tachycardia in a MHS parturient during labour and the use of dantrolene prophylaxis. ⋯ The importance of being prepared for a potential crisis is stressed with particular emphasis on early diagnosis by monitoring of temperature at two sites, of heart rate and rhythm with a continuous ECG and of end-tidal carbon dioxide, should a general anaesthetic be required. Recommendations are made for appropriate anaesthetic agents for both regional and general anaesthesia. Treatment of a MH crisis is outlined, with emphasis on availability of appropriate resuscitative drugs.