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Do heated humidifiers and heat and moisture exchangers prevent temperature drop during lower abdominal surgery?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of using a heated humidifier (HH), a heat and moisture exchanger (HME), or no warming device in maintaining body temperature during surgical procedures of 1 to 4 hours' duration. DESIGN: A randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Operating room, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. PATIENTS: 51 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients, age 16 to 69 years, scheduled for a variety of lower abdominal procedures under general endotracheal anesthesia anticipated to last 1 to 4 hours. INTERVENTIONS: We randomly assigned patients to receiving an HH, an HME, or no warming device during the procedure. We then measured the patient's sublingual temperature every 5 minutes prior to induction, every 15 minutes intraoperatively, and every 15 minutes postoperatively until he or she was discharged from the postanesthesia care unit, (PACU). We also measured the esophageal temperature every 15 minutes intraoperatively. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sublingual temperature or esophageal temperature probes placed at the site of maximal heart tones indicated that the patients' temperatures dropped significantly from baseline values in all three groups during the first 60 minutes of surgery, then remained constant during the next 120 minutes of surgery. Patients who had no warming device shivered and felt cold significantly more often than patients in the HH group but not more often than patients in the HME group. There was no difference in shivering between the HH and HME groups. The patients who received an HH tended to have a higher temperature (a mean of 0.5 degrees C) throughout the study, but this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that these warming devices provide little benefit in preventing a temperature drop during procedures of 1 to 4 hours' duration, although patients with an HH tended to have a higher temperature than those with an HME or no device.

Abdomen↗

Anesthesia rebreathing bags: physical characteristics and use as portable oxygen reservoirs.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the physical characteristics of 3-liter anesthesia rebreathing bags and assess their use for oxygen (O2) storage and delivery during transport of patients from the operating room (OR) to the recovery area. SETTING: Anesthesia laboratory and pulmonary function laboratory. INTERVENTIONS: Five anesthesia rebreathing bags were inflated in 2-liter increments with 50 liters of air and then deflated in 2-liter increments. A sixth bag was inflated twice in 1-liter increments. Five bags were inflated with 60 liters of gas and allowed to deflate through a cannula functioning as a flow restrictor. Five bags were inflated with 100 liters of gas and checked for damage. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pressure measurements done at 2-liter increments during inflation of the bags to 50 liters and deflation showed a consistent pattern of pressure-volume relationships. Assessment of gas flow during deflation through the cannula showed flow rates ranging from 3.1 to 3.8 L/min after 5 minutes of continuous flow and from 2.8 to 3.8 L/min after 10 minutes. No weakness or damage was apparent in bags inflated with 100 liters of gas. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible for anesthesia rebreathing bags distended with O2 to serve as lightweight, inexpensive, and easily monitored alternatives to O2 tanks for O2 delivery during transport of patients from the OR to the recovery area.

Anesthesia Recovery Period↗

Postoperative elevation of serum transaminases following isoflurane anesthesia.

Halogenated inhalational anesthetics have been implicated in hepatotoxicity. Halothane hepatitis results from the biotransformation of the drug to a metabolite that binds to liver proteins, which creates a hapten, which, in turn, causes an immunologic response in the liver. Case reports of hepatic injury resulting from isoflurane, which has a decreased biotransformation compared with that of halothane, have received much criticism. We describe a patient who had elevated liver enzymes and a positive trifluoroacetyl antibody titer following an anesthetic regimen that included isoflurane.

Adult↗

Elderly patients recover more rapidly from desflurane than from isoflurane anesthesia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the hemodynamic, emergence, and recovery characteristics of desflurane-nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia with those of isoflurane-N2O anesthesia in elderly patients. DESIGN: Randomized study. SETTING: Main operating room of a major U.S. teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-four ASA physical status II and III patients aged 65 or older undergoing surgical procedures of greater than 1 hour duration. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 (17 patients) received desflurane in 60% N2O for their surgical procedure. Group 2 (17 patients) received isoflurane in 60% N2O. Thiamylal 2 mg/kg administered intravenously (IV) induced anesthesia, and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg i.v. facilitated intubation. Muscle relaxation was maintained with vecuronium. Titration of the anesthetics maintained hemodynamics to within 20% of the patients' preinduction values. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Measurement of hemodynamics occurred every 2 minutes prior to skin incision and every 5 minutes thereafter. The times for discontinuation of inhaled anesthetics to eye opening, hand grip on command, and recall of name and date of birth were measured in a standardized fashion for both groups. The time to discharge from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) was determined by a blinded PACU nurse using standard published criteria. The two groups did not differ with respect to demographics, hemodynamic stability, and times to eye opening (5 +/- 3 minutes for desflurane vs. 8 +/- 4 minutes for isoflurane), hand grip on command (9 +/- 4 minutes vs. 12 +/- 1 minutes), and recall of name and date of birth (13 +/- 8 minutes vs. 12 +/- 7 minutes). The median duration of PACU stay was significantly shorter (p < 0.03) in the desflurane group (80 minutes) compared to the isoflurane group (128 minutes). CONCLUSIONS: Desflurane may benefit elderly patients by providing a more rapid recovery from anesthesia, leading to a shorter PACU stay.

Aged↗

Comparison of dexmedetomidine and midazolam sedation and antagonism of dexmedetomidine with atipamezole.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist, as an intravenous sedative drug and the effects of atipamezole, an alpha-2 antagonist, on recovery. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study with three parallel groups. An open dose-finding study preceded it to optimize the atipamezole dose. SETTING: Outpatient operating room at the gynecologic and obstetric university hospital in Helsinki, Finland. PATIENTS: Seventy-two healthy women scheduled for legal termination of pregnancy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were assigned to one of three groups of 24 patients each to receive either dexmedetomidine 2 micrograms/kg and atipamezole 50 micrograms/kg; dexmetomidine 2 micrograms/kg and saline; or midazolam 0.15 mg/kg and saline. In addition to paracervical block, each patient received two different study drugs: study drug 1 was a sedative agent (either dexmedetomidine or midazolam), administered before the procedure. If the sedation was not deep enough and the patient reacted to the procedure, a low dose of propofol was administered. Study drug 2 was a reversing agent or a placebo, administered following the procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean time to regain consciousness was shorter in the dexmedetomidine-atipamezole and the dexmedetomidine-saline groups compared with the midazolam group. Postoperative sedation, tested both by subjective and objective assessments, decreased more quickly in the dexmedetomidine-atipamezole group compared with the dexmedetomidine-saline and the midazolam groups. CONCLUSION: Atipamezole is an effective antagonist for reversing psychomotor impairment following dexmedetomidine sedation.

Abortion, Induced↗

The effect of nalbuphine and droperidol on spontaneous movements during induction of anesthesia with propofol in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of droperidol and nalbuphine on spontaneous movements during induction of anesthesia with propofol in children. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Inpatient ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgical clinic at the University Hospital of Geneva. PATIENTS: Forty-five children, ages 4 to 12 years, undergoing routine elective ENT surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Children were randomly assigned to receive either nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg, droperidol 0.025 mg/kg, or isotonic saline 3 minutes before anesthesia induction. Induction was performed with a loading dose of propofol 3 mg/kg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Spontaneous movements were observed in 33%, 87%, and 100% of patients in the nalbuphine, droperidol, and control groups, respectively. The movements were dystonic and choreiform in nature and were similar in all three groups. The frequency of spontaneous movements was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the nalbuphine group as compared with the droperidol and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nalbuphine, but not droperidol, decreases the frequency of spontaneous movements induced by propofol during induction of anesthesia in children; neither quality of induction and recovery nor interval between the end of propofol administration and tracheal extubation were modified by nalbuphine as compared with the control group.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗

Propofol-nitrous oxide versus thiopental sodium-isoflurane-nitrous oxide for strabismus surgery in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of anesthesia and recovery and the frequency of postanesthetic retching and vomiting with propofol anesthesia for pediatric strabismus surgery. DESIGN: Randomized, open, prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Forty children scheduled for strabismus surgery. INTERVENTIONS: The 40 patients were all premedicated with oral midazolam and received intraoperative opioids. They were divided into two groups: Twenty children received propofol at induction, followed by maintenance of anesthesia with propofol infusion and an oxygen-nitrous oxide (O2-N2O) mixture. The other 20 children received thiopental sodium at induction, followed by isoflurane in an O2-N2O mixture. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At induction, pain and spontaneous movements were seen significantly more with propofol (11 of 20 vs. 0 of 20 for pain and 13 of 20 vs. 0 of 20 for spontaneous movements; p < 0.001), whereas thoracic rigidity was observed only with thiopental sodium (4 of 20). During maintenance of anesthesia, significantly more oculocardiac reflexes were seen with propofol (10 of 20 vs. 3 of 20; p < 0.02). The interval between termination of anesthesia and extubation was significantly shorter with propofol (13 minutes vs. 16 minutes; p < 0.02). For the first 24 hours after surgery, significantly less retching and vomiting were observed in the propofol group (4 of 20 vs. 11 of 20; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol induction and maintenance of anesthesia for strabismus surgery in children significantly lowers the frequency of postanesthetic retching and vomiting, but propofol is associated with pain and spontaneous movements at induction and a high frequency of oculocardiac reflexes during maintenance infusion.

Anesthesia Recovery Period↗

Neuromuscular effects of succinylcholine following different pretreatments.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study the neuromuscular effects (onset, intensity, and duration of block) of succinylcholine following different pretreatments. DESIGN: Randomized open study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty ASA physical status I and II adult inpatients undergoing elective ophthalmic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Succinylcholine 0.5 mg/kg was administered after no pretreatment or after pretreatment with d-tubocurarine 0.05 mg/kg intravenously (IV) 3 minutes before, chlorpromazine 0.1 mg/kg i.v. 3 minutes before, alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) 600 mg in three divided doses orally at 6-hour intervals, or aspirin 600 mg orally 1 hour before in groups of ten patients each. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Neuromuscular block by stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist by application of train-of-four stimuli at 2 Hz every 12 seconds and recording the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis muscle. There was no significant difference in the time to occurrence of maximum block (49 to 53 seconds), reappearance of the twitch response (254 to 307 seconds), or complete recovery of twitch response (532 to 607 seconds) between the groups receiving no pretreatment and those pretreated with chlorpromazine, alpha-tocopherol, or aspirin. However, the time to maximum block (71 seconds) was significantly longer and the time to reappearance of the response (172 seconds) was significantly shorter (both p < 0.05) in the d-tubocurarine pretreated group in comparison with the control group. The time to complete recovery (420 seconds) also was shorter but not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Of the pretreatments used, only d-tubocurarine interferes with the neuromuscular blocking effects of succinylcholine. Chlorpromazine, which attenuates the muscle pains as well as the increase in creatine kinase and can be administered with the same convenience, may be a better pretreatment in the prevention of side effects of succinylcholine.

Adolescent↗

A comparison of midazolam, diazepam, and placebo as oral anesthetic premedicants in younger children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To validate the superiority of higher-dose oral midazolam as an anesthetic premedicant in children 6 years of age and younger, to determine whether less expensive diazepam is a viable alternative oral premedicant in this age-group, and to assess the preoperative oxygenation effects of both benzodiazepines. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Outpatient surgery department and operating room (OR) of a freestanding children's hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-five ASA physical status I and II outpatients 1 to 6 years of age. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either midazolam 0.6 mg/kg, diazepam 0.3 mg/kg, or a placebo orally in a timely manner prior to surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Each child's subsequent reaction to separation from his or her parents in the presurgical holding area was scored on a three-point behavioral scale. Once in the OR, an initial room air oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2) was obtained. Each child's initial acceptance of the anesthetic induction mask was then scored on a four-point scale. No significant differences in parental separation scores, initial room air SpO2, or postanesthesia care unit admission time were observed among the three study groups. However, both midazolam and diazepam were observed to be superior to the placebo in facilitating the initial acceptance of the anesthetic induction mask. CONCLUSIONS: Even without premedication, a majority of children did not react negatively to an impending anesthetic. Therefore, neither midazolam nor diazepam appears to be necessary in most children younger than 6 years of age. Rather than implementing the routine use of an oral preoperative sedative, the challenge appears to be the selective identification of those children at risk for preanesthetic difficulties and psychological trauma.

Administration, Oral↗

Accelerated recovery from pipecuronium in patients treated with chronic anticonvulsant therapy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chronic anticonvulsant therapy affects recovery time from pipecuronium. DESIGN: Open-labeled, controlled study. SETTING: Inpatient neurosurgical service at a university medical center. PATIENTS: ASA physical status II and III patients within 30% of their ideal body weight and without significant history of ethanol abuse or renal or hepatic disease. Nineteen patients were admitted into the study and were divided into three groups based on the number of anticonvulsant medications (MED) they were taking: MED = 0, control group (6 patients); MED = 1, one anticonvulsant (6 patients); MED = 2, two or more anticonvulsants (7 patients). INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous (IV) administration of pipecuronium 80 micrograms/kg with general anesthesia after thiopental sodium 4 to 6 mg/kg IV, maintained with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen, 0.2% to 0.3% end-tidal isoflurane, and fentanyl. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The evoked compound electromyogram (ECEMG) of the adductor pollicis brevis muscle was measured after stimulation of the ulnar nerve by train-of-four (TOF) supramaximal impulses at 2 Hz repeated every 20 seconds. Measurements include T-1% (ECEMG signal at 25%, 50%, and 75% of baseline), TR% (TOF ratio), and recovery index (RI). Patients administered chronic anticonvulsant therapy recovered more rapidly from pipecuronium than untreated patients. For instance, time to 25% recovery of baseline (T-1 25%) was 123 +/- 13 minutes for MED = 0, 91 +/- 7 minutes for MED = 1, and 58 +/- 5 minutes for MED = 2 (p < 0.05). TOF recovery to 20% (TR 20%) and RI were similarly affected. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with chronic anticonvulsant therapy recovered from pipecuronium more rapidly than unmedicated patients. Furthermore, there seemed to be a dose-effect relationship between the number of anticonvulsants received and a decreased time to recovery from pipercuronium neuromuscular blockade.

Adolescent↗

A comparison of desflurane and isoflurane in prolonged surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare desflurane with isoflurane in several anesthetic situations. DESIGN: Intubating conditions, hemodynamic response to intubation, maintenance hemodynamics, and speed of recovery from desflurane and isoflurane anesthesia were evaluated. In addition, interaction with a muscle relaxant at low and high concentrations of the anesthetics were compared. SETTING: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-two patients who received general anesthesia for lengthy, mostly orthopedic procedures. INTERVENTIONS: Immediately after induction with thiopental sodium, desflurane or isoflurane in nitrous oxide-oxygen was administered via face mask. Anesthesia was deepened until end-tidal concentration reached 1.7 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). The trachea was intubated without the aid of a muscle relaxant. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded before and at 1, 2, 4, 5, and 10 minutes after intubation. Noninvasive cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were determined while the patient was awake, immediately before intubation, and at 5 and 10 minutes after intubation. Following intubation, the concentration of desflurane or isoflurane was lowered until the end-tidal concentration reached 0.65 MAC (low-MAC group), 1.25 MAC (high-MAC group), or 0 MAC (control group). Pancuronium bromide in 0.005 mg/kg doses was administered incrementally until T1 (first twitch of train-of-four) was depressed more than 90%. ED50 and ED95 for pancuronium with balanced anesthesia and for desflurane or isoflurane in low and high MACs, as well as speed of recovery, were determined. The time to responsiveness and awakening also was determined. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was no significant difference between desflurane and isoflurane in intubating conditions or in BP or HR response to tracheal intubation. Both anesthetics increased HR significantly during induction. BP rose with desflurane at the preintubation point; other points showed no difference. A hyperdynamic response of increased HR and BP above 20% of baseline values was seen more frequently with desflurane (n = 7) than with isoflurane (n = 1). CO was elevated at all times after induction for low and high concentrations of both drugs, while SVR decreased over the same time with no significant difference between drugs. ED50 and ED95 for pancuronium were similar under desflurane and isoflurane at both low and high MAC, but they were significantly lower than under balanced anesthesia. Awakening times were similar for desflurane and isoflurane. CONCLUSIONS: Desflurane is similar to isoflurane in providing anesthesia for intubation and maintenance. Desflurane tends to increase HR and occasionally causes a hyperdynamic response during rapid deepening of anesthesia. It is very similar to isoflurane in its interaction with pancuronium.

Adult↗

A random trial comparing recovery after midazolam-alfentanil anesthesia with and without reversal with flumazenil, and standardized neurolept anesthesia for major gynecologic surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the recovery characteristics of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) using midazolam-alfentanil, with or without reversal with flumazenil to a standardized neurolept anesthesia with nitrous oxide (N2O). DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded clinical study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: 80 ASA physical status I and II women scheduled for major elective gynecologic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were anesthetized with one of three different anesthetic techniques. Patients in the TIVA group with reversal received midazolam-alfentanil reversed with flumazenil (Group 1), the TIVA group without reversal received midazolam-alfentanil reversed with placebo (Group 2), and patients in the neurolept group received anesthesia using thiopental sodium, droperidol, fentanyl, and N2O (Group 3). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Recovery was assessed by an observer blinded to the treatment allocation, using a Modified Steward Recovery Score and judgment of orientation and comprehension, collaboration and degree of sedation for the first 4 hours after extubation. Arterial blood gases were measured 30 minutes after extubation. A questionnaire regarding the degree of perioperative amnesia was presented to the patients 4 and 24 hours after surgery. The recovery scores were better in the TIVA group with reversal than in the other two groups from 0 to 30 minutes postoperatively. No difference between the groups could be found thereafter, although after 30 minutes some resedation occurred in the TIVA group with reversal. The median injected amount of flumazenil in Group 1 was 0.5 mg. Respiratory depression (breathing frequency below 10 breaths/min) was reversed with naloxone in one patient in the TIVA group with reversal, five patients in the TIVA group without reversal, and no patient in the neurolept group (p < 0.001). On blood gas analysis, there was no evidence of hypoxemia or carbon dioxide retention. No difference was seen between the groups regarding consumption of analgesics, degree of amnesia, or patient rating of the quality of anesthesia. One patient in Group 2, however, recorded awareness at skin incision when questioned 4 hours after the operation, but could not recall this 20 hours later. CONCLUSIONS: TIVA with midazolam and alfentanil can be used for major gynecologic surgery. Recovery in the neurolept group was equal to recovery in the TIVA group without reversal, and flumazenil improves the recovery after midazolam anesthesia. Overall, in comparison with the neurolept technique no major advantage could be demonstrated using TIVA with midazolam-alfentanil.

Adult↗

Comparison of intravenous ketorolac and alfentanil as supplements to propofol anesthesia for diagnostic panendoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine if ketorolac tromethamine is an acceptable alternative to alfentanil as a supplement to propofol for diagnostic panendoscopy. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: 40 patients scheduled for panendoscopy and laryngeal tissue biopsy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either alfentanil 14.5 micrograms/kg or ketorolac 1.0 mg/kg in a double-blind fashion, 5 to 10 minutes before induction of general anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate (HR) and noninvasive blood pressure (BP) were measured and recorded before and immediately after injection of the study drug, after laryngoscopy for the endotracheal tube placement, and after initiation of diagnostic panendoscopy. Bleeding in the operative field was rated by the endoscopist. Observation from discontinuation of the propofol infusion and nitrous oxide inhalation to eye opening, head lifting, and orientation to time and place was observed and recorded. The presence of stridor after extubation, and pulse oximeter-determined arterial blood oxyhemoglobin saturation immediately after extubation and 5 minutes later, were noted. In the recovery room, the ability to tolerate oral fluids, sit, stand, and walk were recorded. Supplementation with ketorolac provides faster recovery from anesthesia as evidenced by shorter time to eye opening, head lifting, and orientation to time and place. However, no intergroup differences were found in measured intraoperative variables (BP and HR following laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, diagnostic panendoscopy, and tissue biopsy). Operative site bleeding was comparable in both groups. The variables reflecting street readiness and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were statistically comparable. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of propofol anesthesia with ketorolac is an efficacious alternative to supplementation with alfentanil. The faster recovery in the ketorolac group is explained by the mostly peripheral effect of this drug, whereas the slow decline in the alfentanil concentration at the effective site may be responsible for slower emergence from anesthesia.

Alfentanil↗

The effect of d-tubocurarine priming on an ED95 dose of vecuronium bromide.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine how priming with ED10 d-tubocurarine prior to the administration of ED95 vecuronium bromide affects onset and duration of neuromuscular blockade. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, observer-blinded study. SETTING: Operating room at a university cancer center. PATIENTS: 40 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing ambulatory surgical procedures. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to one of two groups. Group 1 patients received d-tubocurarine 50 micrograms/kg intravenously (IV), followed by vecuronium 60 micrograms/kg IV. Group 2 patients received vecuronium 60 micrograms/kg IV without priming. All patients received a total IV anesthetic consisting of alfentanil and propofol for induction of anesthesia and propofol alone for maintenance of anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Onset of muscle relaxation was determined with an electromyograph (Datex Relaxograph), documenting time to 80% depression of the first twitch in a train-of-four (T(1)80%), percent depression of T1 at 60 and 90 seconds (T(1)60 and T(1)90, respectively), T4:T1 ratio at 90 seconds, and time to achieve maximal blockade (Bmax). Recovery was evaluated by measuring the time required for return of T1 to 25% of the baseline value. Intubating conditions were assessed at 90 seconds after vecuronium administration and graded on a 1 (jaw tight, impossible to intubate) to 4 (jaw relaxed, vocal cords immobile) scale. All criteria measuring onset of neuromuscular blockade (i.e., T(1)80%, T(1)60, T(1)90, T4:T1, and Bmax) were significantly shorter (p < 0.05) in patients who received d-tubocurarine. Recovery was similar in both groups. Intubation scores were significantly better 90 seconds after priming (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that crossover dosing of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants may have synergistic effects. Priming with ED10 d-tubocurarine prior to an ED95 dose of vecuronium shortens the time to 80% T1 depression and produces satisfactory intubating conditions at 90 seconds, without prolonging the duration of the Therefore, d-tubocurarine is an attractive drug for priming vecuronium in short operative procedures that require muscle relaxation.

Adult↗

Intravenous ketorolac as an adjuvant to pediatric patient-controlled analgesia with morphine.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a single intraoperative dose of intravenous (i.v.) ketorolac on postoperative opioid dose requirements, quality of analgesia as assessed by the patient, and frequency of opioid-related side effects during pediatric patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Operating rooms, postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and inpatient care units of a freestanding children's hospital. PATIENTS: 50 ASA physical status I-II orthopedic surgical patients ages 8 to 16 years. INTERVENTIONS: Either 0.8 mg/kg of i.v. ketorolac or no additional analgesic was administered at the time of wound closure. After surgery, all patients were placed on PCA with morphine. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Individual morphine use during the first 12 hours of PCA therapy was recorded. A visual analog scale (VAS) pain score was obtained from the patient at the time of discharge from the PACU and at 4, 8, and 12 hours postoperatively. Any vomiting, pruritus, or urinary retention occurring during the first 12 postoperative hours was noted. The morphine plus ketorolac group administered significantly less PCA with morphine during the first 12 postoperative hours than did the morphine only group (p = 0.002). The morphine plus ketorolac group also reported significantly lower overall VAS pain scores (p < 0.01). Although similar frequencies of vomiting and pruritus were observed, the morphine plus ketorolac group experienced significantly less urinary retention than did the morphine group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: A single intraoperative dose of i.v. ketorolac appears to be opioid dose sharing, to provide superior analgesia, and to decrease the frequency of urinary retention during the first 12 hours of postoperative pediatric PCA with morphine.

Adolescent↗

Intraoperative pulse oximetry: frequency and distribution of discrepant data.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the types of discrepant data during intraoperative pulse oximetry and their frequency and duration. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: 46 consecutive ASA physical status I-III patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgical operations. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: With an integrated computer algorithm on the pulse oximeter and another computer linked to it, data were screened and the frequency and distribution of the following oximeter signals recorded: absent; low quality or interrupted, as detected by the pulse oximeter algorithm; nonphysiologic, identified by the personal computer as a heart rate change greater than 10 beats per minute within 2 consecutive 2-second samples, with no similar abrupt change reported simultaneously on ECG. The number of episodes per hour of discrepant oximeter data and the duration of the episodes were recorded by phase of anesthesia: induction, maintenance, and emergence. Discrepant data occurred most frequently and lasted longest during emergence (p < 0.05); the majority of episodes of discrepant data during emergence lasted less than 12 seconds. Excluding discrepant data that lasted less than 12 seconds decreased the frequency of discrepant data by 63% and excluding those that lasted less than 30 seconds decreased the frequency of discrepant data by 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse oximeters frequently report discrepant data intraoperatively, most frequently during emergence from anesthesia. An alarm delay triggered by discrepant data and lasting 12 to 30 seconds would keep most discrepant data from becoming false alarms and, thus, may reduce distracting sound pollution in the operating room.

Algorithms↗

Postoperative hemodynamic and thermoregulatory consequences of intraoperative core hypothermia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative hemodynamic and thermoregulatory consequences of intraoperative core hypothermia. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Operating room and postanesthesia care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 74 healthy, ASA status I, II, and III patients (average age 58 yrs) undergoing elective colon surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to be kept normothermic or approximately 2.5 degrees C hypothermic during surgery. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane, nitrous oxide, and fentanyl. Postoperatively, surgical pain was treated with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) opioid. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: An observer blinded to group assignment and core temperatures evaluated shivering, thermal comfort, surgical pain, heart rates (HRs), and blood pressures (BPs) during the first six postoperative hours. Morphometric characteristics, oxygen saturation, fluid balance, PCA-administered opioid, and visual analog pain scores were comparable in the two groups. Hypothermic patients felt uncomfortably cold during recovery, and their postoperative core temperatures remained significantly less than in the normothermic patients for more than four hours. Peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering were common in the hypothermic patients but rare in those kept normothermic. HRs and BPs were comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that the effects of intraoperative hypothermia on postoperative HR and BP are modest in relatively young, generally healthy patients. In contrast, intraoperative hypothermia caused substantial postoperative thermal discomfort, and full recovery from hypothermia required many hours. Delayed return to care normothermia apparently resulted largely from postoperative thermoregulatory impairment.

Analgesia, Patient-Controlled↗