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Biomedical subjects

P W Lebowitz

Publications and source records attributed to P W Lebowitz.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cardiovascular changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Although the technique of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has increasing appeal, physiologic data to support the safety of this procedure are lacking. We studied the cardiovascular changes in 16 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using impedance cardiography as a noninvasive means of continuous monitoring of cardiac output. Serial measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), intraperitoneal pressure and expired carbon dioxide tension (PECO2) were also recorded. Results revealed a decrease of 30 percent (p < 0.001) in cardiac index and 5 percent (p = 0.089) in HR, along with increases of 15 percent (p < 0.001) in MAP and of 79 percent (p < 0.001) in the calculated total peripheral resistance index. This elevation in afterload could lead to both an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and to the potential risk of myocardial ischemia and possibly infarction or congestive heart failure, or both, in patients who are susceptible. The data suggest that patients with a history of cardiac disease should have preoperative cardiac evaluation and be closely monitored during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as in any other extensive operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Refractory bradycardia during retrograde pyelography and spinal anesthesia.

Bradycardia commonly occurs during spinal anesthesia as a result of vagally mediated slowing of sinoatrial (SA) node firing. Peritoneal traction or urinary bladder distension, for example, may serve as a stimulus for SA node inhibition, particularly when thoracic levels of spinal anesthesia interrupt function of the sympathetic limb of the autonomic nervous system. Although atropine dependably reverses such heart rate slowing, we recently encountered, during spinal anesthesia for cystoscopy and retrograde pyelography, bradycardia that was unexpected and refractory to treatment with atropine.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Cardiovascular effects of midazolam and thiopentone for induction of anaesthesia in ill surgical patients.

The cardiovascular effects of midazolam (0.15 mg kg-1) and thiopentone (3.0 mg kg-1) were compared during induction of anaesthesia in 20 American Society of Anesthesiologists class III patients. In patients given thiopentone (N = 11), cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and systemic vascular resistance all decreased significantly over the course of the study period; mean right atrial pressure rose slightly, and stroke volume remained the same. Patients receiving midazolam (N = 9) experienced similar haemodynamic changes which were significant relative to baseline only for the fall in mean arterial pressure and the rise in mean right atrial pressure at ten minutes. There were no significant differences between the two groups. Midazolam thus appears to be at least as acceptable an induction agent as thiopentone in ill patients, from a haemodynamic point of view.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗
PubMed1983

Comparative renal effects of midazolam and thiopental in humans.

Midazolam is a water-soluble benzodiazepine whose quick onset after intravenous injection, short duration of action, absence of venous irritation, and mild cardiovascular and respiratory effects suggest its use for induction of anesthesia. The renal effects of midazolam-N2O-O2 anesthesia, as determined by renal clearance of injected inulin and para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), in hydrated ASA Class I-II surgical patients (N = 8) were compared in a double-blind fashion with a similar group of patients (N = 9) anesthetized with thiopental-N2O-O2. Except for glomerular filtration rate, there were no significant changes in any of the measured variables (blood pressure, effective renal plasma flow, renal blood flow, and renal vascular resistance). The per cent reduction in glomerular filtration rate in patients given thiopental differed significantly from that in patients given midazolam. This study suggests that midazolam, as opposed to thiopental, offers minimal advantage in maintaining renal performance at least during the period of anesthetic administration.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1982

Pharmacokinetics of d-tubocurarine in patients with thermal injury.

d-Tubocurarine (dTc) requirements are increased following thermal injury. Significant increases in plasma binding only partially account for the altered requirement. To characterize the pharmacokinetic component of the increased requirement, the disposition of dTc was studied in eight patients with burns ranging from 15% to 80% of body surface area and compared with that in six nonburned surgical patients of comparable age and weight. Plasma levels of dTc were measured by radioimmunoassay at multiple times for 24 hours after a single bolus dose. Derived pharmacokinetic parameters were corrected for the predicted (not measured) fraction bound to plasma. The plasma disappearance curve of dTc was explained by linear sum of two or three exponential terms. The unbound central volume of distribution and renal excretion at 24 hours were significantly increased in burned patients (0.11 +/- 0.03 L/kg vs 0.057 +/- 0.015 L/kg, p less than 0.05, 57% +/- 7% vs 40% +/- 11%, p less than 0.05, respectively). On the other hand, comparable elimination half-lives (6.5 +/- 1.8 hr vs 6.2 +/- 1.3 hr, p greater than 0.05), unbound volume of distribution (0.86 +/- 0.2 L/kg vs 0.96 +/- 0.5 L/kg, p greater than 0.05), and intrinsic clearances (1.62 +/- 0.6 ml/kg/min vs 1.56 +/- 0.4 ml/kg/min, p greater than 0.05) were present in burned patients and control patients, respectively. Thus, altered kinetics contributes little to the increased doses required. Similar clearances and elimination half-lives in both groups suggest that loss of dTc through burned tissue is minimal.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Comparative cardiovascular effects of midazolam and thiopental in healthy patients.

Midazolam, a water-soluble benzodiazepine that is shorter-acting, more potent, and less irritating to veins than diazepam, has been suggested for use for induction of anesthesia. The cardiovascular effects of an induction-sized dose (0.25 mg/kg) of midazolam in A.S.A. class I or II surgical patients (N = 11) sedated with morphine and N2O-O2 were compared in a double-blind fashion with a similar group of patients (N = 9) receiving thiopental (4.0 mg/kg). Consistent with earlier studies, patients given thiopental experienced downward trends from base line in mean arterial pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and heart rate; mean right atrial pressure increased slightly, whereas systemic vascular resistance did not change. Induction of anesthesia with midazolam was associated with more gradual and less pronounced hemodynamic alteration; the only significant changes from base line were decreases in mean arterial pressure 5 and 10 minutes after injection. When the two groups were compared, no significant differences were found. Midazolam is, then, as acceptable for induction of anesthesia as thiopental from a hemodynamic point of view in A.S.A. class I and II patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Twitch, tetanus and train-of-four as indices of recovery from nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade.

This study was undertaken to compare the sensitivities of the train-of-four response (2 Hz for 2 s), the single twitch (0.15 Hz), and the tetanic response (50 Hz for 5 s) as indices of residual nondepolarizing block. Spontaneous or induced recovery of evoked thumb adduction in response to ulnar nerve stimulation was studied. One hundred and seven adult surgical patients were divided according to the relaxant used, into six groups. We found that when the single twitch recovered to control height, the train-of-four ratio was well below 1.0. This ratio was significantly lower during spontaneous recovery than following neostigmine antagonism of the block (P less than 0.01). The tetanic response was fully sustained when the train-of-four ratio was above 0.7. When the ratio was less than 0.7, variable degrees of fade of tetanus were evident. Analysis of variance indicated similar train-of-four ratios among the six groups at complete recovery of the single twitch irrespective of the relaxant technique used (P less than 0.1). It is concluded that a train-of-four ratio of 0.7 or higher reliably indicates the recovery of the single twitch to control height and a sustained response to tetanic stimulation at 50 Hz for 5 s. The clinical significance of this study is as follows: the train-of-four response provides the same indication of clinical recovery from nondepolarizing block as obtained from tetanic stimulation at a physiological frequency; and reliance on the recovery of the single twitch to control height as a criterion of spontaneous return to normal clinical neuromuscular function may be misleading.

Electric Stimulation↗
PubMed1981

Combination of pancuronium and metocurine: neuromuscular and hemodynamic advantages over pancuronium alone.

Combination of pancuronium and metocurine or pancuronium and d-tubocurarine produces potentiation of neuromuscular blocking effects such that administration of relatively small doses of these drugs can yield clinically effective neuromuscular blockade. The clinical characteristics of the block produced in A.S.A. class I-II patients during N2O-narcotic-thiopental anesthesia by the pancuronium-metocurine combination at the calculated ED95 (N = 8) and at twice the ED95 (N = 9) were compared with the block produced by pancuronium alone at its ED95 (N = 20) and at twice the ED95 (N = 6). Onset time (from drug injection to 95% twitch suppression) and the maximum twitch depression achieved were comparable between corresponding groups, but the 25% recovery time (from drug injection to 25% recovery of twitch height) was significantly shorter in the groups that received the pancuronium-metocurine combination. Furthermore, at twice the ED95, heart rate increased significantly more in the pancuronium group than in the pancuronium-metocurine combination group. Mean systemic blood pressure did not change significantly in either group. We conclude that patients given a combination of pancuronium and metocurine in large doses experience less hemodynamic change and more rapid recovery of neuromuscular function than do patients given equivalent doses of pancuronium alone.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1980

Clinical characteristics of long-term succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade during balanced anesthesia.

Thumb adductor twitch response to train-of-four (2 Hz for 2 seconds) stimulation of the ulnar nerve was used to assess the clinical characteristics of long-term neuromuscular blockade induced with continuous infusion of succinylcholine during balanced (N2O-O2-narcotic-thiopental) anesthesia. Twitch depression of 80 to 90% was maintained for 86 to 365 minutes by continuous infusion of succinylcholine at 86 +/- 5(SEM) micrograms/kg/min. Of 32 patients, 24 developed phase II block, defined as a train-of-four ratio of less than 50%. There was a large degree of individual variability in sensitivity to development of phase II block. This precluded defining a narrow dose range where transition from phase I to phase II occurred. Tachyphylaxis occurred in 25% of patients and was independent of the type of block. Neither dose nor duration of infusion was predictive of spontaneous recovery rate from phase II block. Of 24 patients who developed phase II block, 50% recovered spontaneously at a rate comparable to the recovery rate from a phase I block. The other 50% manifested prolonged recovery of neuromuscular function. After observing spontaneous recovery in these patients for 31 +/- 5(SEM) minutes, successful antagonism of residual phase II block with anticholinesterase agents was achieved.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Potentiation of neuromuscular blockade in man produced by combinations of pancuronium and metocurine or pancuronium and d-tubocurarine.

Simultaneous administration of combinations of pancuronium, metocurine, and d-tubocurarine (dTc) were given to A.S.A. class I-II surgical patients during N2O-narcotic-thiopental anesthesia to determine the degree of neuromuscular blockade produced. The pancuronium-metocurine and the pancuronium-dTc combinations were each significantly more potent (p < 0.05) than the additive effects of each of the individual drugs given alone. This greater than additive neuromuscular blocking effect was not seen with the metocurine-dTc combination. Despite the potentiation of neuromuscular blocking intensity by the pancuronium-metocurine and the pancuronium-dTc combination, the duration of blockade was not prolonged. Possibly, such potentiation of neuromuscular blockade might be attributed to simultaneous pre- and postjunctional receptor inhibition. Additional mechanisms might involve augmented conformational attachment to pre- and postjunctional cholinergic receptors or altered protein binding such that a greater than expected proportion of unbound drug reaches its neuromuscular site of activity. Regardless of mechanism, combining pancuronium with dTc or with metocurine can provide surgical relaxation or ideal conditions for endotracheal intubation with smaller amounts of each drug than would be anticipated if their effects were simply additive.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗