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Biomedical subjects

E Cremonesi

Publications and source records attributed to E Cremonesi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Sufentanil added to hyperbaric bupivacaine for subarachnoid block in Caesarean section.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Subarachnoid block is a widely used technique for Caesarean section. Its quality can be improved by adding opioids to the local anaesthetics. We studied the quality of the block and its maternal-fetal repercussions when different doses of sufentanil were combined with hyperbaric bupivacaine using the intrathecal route in pregnant women undergoing Caesarean section. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with 80 pregnant women, ASA I-II, who were scheduled for elective Caesarean section under subarachnoid block. Patients were distributed into four groups according to the dose of sufentanil used: no sufentanil (Group 1, control) or 2.5, or 5.0 or 7.5 microg sufentanil (Groups 2-4, respectively). In every group, the local anaesthetic used was hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) and the total volume of the solution 4 mL. The onset time of the block, maximum level of sensory block, motor block level, duration of analgesia, maternal side-effects and maternal-fetal cardiovascular repercussions were evaluated. RESULTS: Onset of the block was significantly shorter in the groups receiving opioids compared with the control group. Analgesia was significantly prolonged in Groups 3 and 4. The occurrence of pruritus and somnolence was significantly higher in the group receiving sufentanil 7.5 microg than in other groups. With the exception of pruritus, no differences were observed between groups with respect to cardiovascular or other maternal effects. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of sufentanil 5.0 and 7.5 microg to hyperbaric bupivacaine provided adequate anaesthesia for Caesarean section and good postoperative analgesia. Pruritus was the most common side-effect and had a significantly higher incidence when a dose of sufentanil 7.5 microg was used.

Adult↗

The effect of different doses of propofol on tracheal intubating conditions without muscle relaxant in children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Situations may occur in anaesthetic practice where the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs is unsuitable or contraindicated. We investigated the use of propofol given 5 min after fentanyl to permit endotracheal intubation in children. METHODS: We studied the intubating conditions and cardiovascular parameters in 60 ASA I and II children. Intravenous midazolam (0.1 mg kg(-1)) was given as premedication 5 min before the induction of anaesthesia. The children received different doses of propofol (group I, 2.5 mg kg(-1); group II, 3.0 mg kg(-1); group III, 3.5 mg kg-1) preceded by fentanyl (3.0 microg kg(-1)) given 5 min earlier. No neuromuscular blocking agents were administered. The intubating conditions were assessed using a four-point scoring system based on the degree of difficulty of laryngoscopy, the position of vocal cords and the intensity of coughing. RESULTS: Tracheal intubating conditions were adequate in 20% of the patients in group I, in 75% of the patients in group II and in 80% of the patients in group III (P < 0.05 for group I vs. groups II and III). Haemodynamic changes were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol (3.0 mg kg(-1)) preceded by fentanyl (3.0 microg kg(-1)) was adequate for the induction of anaesthesia in children and provided adequate tracheal intubating conditions without significant haemodynamic changes. This method represents a useful alternative technique for tracheal intubation when neuromuscular blocking drugs are contraindicated or should be avoided.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗

Rapid inhalation induction with halothane-nitrous oxide for myasthenic patients.

Rapid inhalation induction (RII) was successfully employed for patients without myopathy. Inhalatory agents can be used for anaesthetic induction of myasthenics, avoiding the use of neuromuscular blocking agents. We studied the use of RII in 15 myasthenics (MG) and in 15 normal subjects (nMG), measuring induction time (TI), cardiorespiratory effects, complications, and evaluated the patient's reaction to RII. The patients were submitted to elective transsternal thymectomy (MG) and gynaecological or lower abdominal surgery (nMG). No premedication was used. After preoxygenation, RII was started using a mixture of 4% halothane and O2:N2O (1:2). They performed three vital capacity breaths, followed by normal spontaneous ventilation. The TI was assessed by timing the loss of verbal command (TLVC) and loss of eyelid reflex (TLER). Systolic and diastolic pressure, pulse oximetry, capnometry, respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) were measured during induction at each minute, for four minutes. After a postanaesthetic questionnaire only two normal subjects did not like the RII technique. Mean values for TLVC and TLER were 67 and 73 sec for MG and 64 and 69 sec for nMG, respectively. There was no change in HR for MG or blood pressure. The RR increased in both groups, but no change in PetCO2 was observed; SaO2 was > 97%. In conclusion, RII can be performed rapidly and safely in myasthenic patients and is a technique that should be considered for the induction of anaesthesia in myasthenic patients.

Adult↗