PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J E Sternlo

Publications and source records attributed to J E Sternlo.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Recurrent respiratory depression after total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and alfentanil.

Since first commented upon by Lamarche in 1984, several cases of recurrent respiratory arrest after alfentanil infusions have been reported. In all these cases the alfentanil infusions have been used to supplement conventional anaesthetic techniques with nitrous oxide and/or inhalational agents and in most cases rather high total alfentanil doses have been administered. We have seen two cases of severe recurrent respiratory depression in healthy patients after relatively minor procedures performed under total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol-alfentanil infusions, air-oxygen ventilation and muscle relaxation, where the alfentanil doses administered were quite small. These cases are presented in detail and compared within a tabulated presentation with the earlier published cases of alfentanil-related recurrent respiratory depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Local anaesthesia and propofol-fentanyl sedation for carotid artery surgery.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing carotid artery surgery with local anaesthesia (LA), a sedative/analgesic pharmacological supplement is appropriate in most cases in order to provide comfort. This adjunct should not preclude continuous clinical neurological monitoring. The aim was to investigate if a combination of fentanyl and propofol to supplement LA would provide comfort for the patient, allow continuous clinical neurological monitoring and absence of difficulties for the anaesthetist, and good conditions for surgery, including insertion of a shunt if this should become necessary. METHODS: During a 1-year period low doses of propofol and fentanyl were used to supplement LA in 36 cases of carotid artery surgery in 34 consecutive patients. A shunt was only used if neurological dysfunction occurred. Data on haemodynamics, pulmonary gas exchange, clinical neurological monitoring, and subjective opinions from patients, surgeons and anaesthetists were obtained. Morbidity within 30 days was documented. RESULTS: Conversion to general anaesthesia was undertaken in one patient, previously operated on the same artery, who became unconscious due to a stroke during manipulation of the artery before arteriotomy. No other adverse outcome was found within 30 days. In the remaining 35 cases the procedures were carried out under LA. Stump pressures below 50 mmHg were found in 17/35 cases. Intraoperative neurological dysfunction was detected in 10/35 cases (stump pressures between 23 and 60 mmHg). Shunting was easily performed, and rapidly relieved the neurologic symptoms in all these patients. Intraoperative respiratory and haemodynamic control was satisfactory. Ease of performance, including clinical neurological monitoring, was acknowledged by both anaesthetists and surgeons, and all 33 patients (35 operations) who were accessible for a postoperative interview stated that they would prefer the same regimen in the case of further surgery. CONCLUSION: The number of cases in this open, uncontrolled study does not permit an evaluation of this anaesthetic and sedative technique in terms of neurological and cardiac outcome. Thus, we simply want to inform about our positive experiences regarding patient acceptance and ease of performance in all relevant respects when fentanyl and propofol are used to supplement LA for carotid artery surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Prophylactic i.m. ephedrine in bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, we have investigated the efficacy of i.m. ephedrine in 98 elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty under spinal anaesthesia with plain bupivacaine. Fifty patients received ephedrine 0.6 mg kg-1 body weight, deep in the paravertebral muscles immediately after injection of bupivacaine, and 48 received an equal volume of saline. Patients in both groups were given the same volumes of fluid before anaesthesia. Systolic arterial pressure during the first 60 min after anaesthesia remained significantly more stable in the ephedrine-treated group, and there was also a significantly smaller number of patients in this group who had decreases in pressure of more than 30% of pre-block levels, and fewer required rescue i.v. ephedrine. An increase in heart rate or systolic pressure of > or = 20% from baseline was found in two patients in the ephedrine group and in one patient in the placebo group. We conclude that ephedrine 0.6 mg kg-1 body weight administered in the paravertebral muscles immediately after plain bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia is a simple and effective means of reducing the incidence of hypotensive episodes in the elderly patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Spinal subdural bleeding after attempted epidural and subsequent spinal anaesthesia in a patient on thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin.

Despite the extensive use of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for thromboprophylaxis, only two serious complications have thus far been reported where spinal haematomas were incurred after epidural and spinal blocks in patients on such treatment. In our patient, who was on thromboprophylaxis with the LMWH drug enoxaparin, catheter epidural anaesthesia was abandoned due to a bloody tap and superseded by spinal anaesthesia. More than 40 hours later she had developed a paraparesis and complete sensory loss in the lower extremities. The MRT image showed haematomas epi- and subdurally, as well as subarachnoidally, but no epidural bleeding was seen at laminectomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Diclofenac for pain relief after arthroscopy: a comparison of early and delayed treatment.

The effect of diclofenac on pain after arthroscopy of the knee joint was investigated in 64 patients. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was to compare administration before surgery with delayed treatment. The effect on postoperative pain was evaluated by means of a Visual Analogue Scale and recording of the need for additional analgesics postoperatively. After surgery, hourly assessments were performed within 6 h after the anaesthetic block (approximately 5 h after start of surgery), and on the morning after surgery. Both treatment with diclofenac before surgery and delayed treatment were superior to placebo concerning pain scores within 6 h after onset of anaesthesia (P < 0.0065 and P < 0.0005, respectively). On the morning after surgery, only delayed treatment was superior to placebo (P < 0.02). No differences in pain scores were evident between the different groups treated with diclofenac. No differences in the need for additional analgesics were found.

Arthroscopy↗
PubMed1992

Perineuronal morphine in intercostal block.

In a double-blind, randomised study the potential benefits of combining low-dose morphine with bupivacaine for intercostal nerve blocks for analgesia after biliary surgery were investigated. There was no significant improvement in pain scores or consumption of supplementary analgesics when morphine was added to bupivacaine. This investigation supports the findings of other workers who showed that perineural morphine was ineffective for postoperative pain relief.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Interscalene plexus block for arthroscopy of the humero-scapular joint.

Interscalene plexus block was performed in nine patients subjected to shoulder arthroscopy. The operating conditions, including muscle relaxation, were fully adequate in all patients (after additional local anaesthesia of the skin in four patients). With the exception of one patient who experienced temporary hoarseness (probably due to a concomitant block of the recurrent laryngeal nerve), no side effects were found and the patients tolerated the surgical procedure well. Interscalene block might be a suitable alternative to general anaesthesia for shoulder arthroscopy. However, additional local anaesthesia at the site where the arthroscope is to be inserted is frequently required.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Anaesthesia for cardioversion--clinical experiences with propofol and thiopentone.

A 1-year population of anaesthesias for cardioversion of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias was studied. Propofol and thiopentone were used alternately for every other procedure, and the anaesthetic-, and monitoring procedures were prospectively standardized. Twenty-one thiopentone- and 23 propofol-anaesthetized patients, who had been subjected to elective cardioversions of atrial fibrillation were compared, particularly regarding possible differences in the energy requirements for cardioversion and in the time intervals to initial awakening. There were no significant differences between the two drugs in the maximum systolic blood pressure drop, in the total mean energy requirements per kg bodyweight, or in the distribution of the number of patients over the various energy levels needed for restoration of sinus rhythm. Somewhat unexpectedly, however, the mean time interval to initial awakening was significantly longer in the propofol-anaesthetized group. Apart from this minor drawback, propofol proved to be as useful an anaesthetic agent as thiopentone for the cardioversion procedure, and may be considered as an alternative drug in selected cases.

Aged↗