摘要:

Purpose of reviewMajor complications after intracranial surgery occur in 13-27% of patients. These complications may have multiple causes, but a body of arguments suggests that the haemodynamic and metabolic changes of anaesthesia recovery may be responsible for intracranial complications. The aim of this review is to explain the rationale of this hypothesis and analyse the recent studies relevant to neuroanaesthesia recovery.Recent findingsRapid recovery and extubation after intracranial tumour surgery is desirable in order to make an early diagnosis of intracranial complications. Since light pharmacological sedation may worsen a neurological deficit, short-acting anaesthetics are preferable intraoperatively. Extubation in the operating room, however, may be associated with agitation, increased oxygen consumption, catecholamine secretion, hypercapnia and systemic hypertension. This may exacerbate cerebral hyperaemia observed even during an uneventful recovery, leading to cerebral oedema or haemorrhage.SummaryPain, hypothermia, hypercapnia, hypoxia, hypoosmolality, hypertension, and anaemia should be avoided during emergence. Early emergence is associated with minimal haemodynamic and metabolic changes. If there is any doubt as to whether the patient should be extubated in the operating room, a gradual emergence in the intensive care unit makes it possible to decide whether or not extubation can be performed safely.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Cerebral pressure autoregulation, a sensitive homeostatic mechanism important for the control of cerebral blood flow, is impaired by disease pathology and some drugs commonly used during anaesthesia. Therefore, the assessment of cerebral pressure autoregulation can help optimize cerebral blood flow in patients who have suffered neurological insults. In this article, we outline the means available for testing cerebral pressure autoregulation, thus allowing the reader to decide on the best strategy to adopt in their particular operating theatre and intensive care setting.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Purpose of reviewThis review describes recent advances in multimodal neuromonitoring of patients following severe head injury during the period from 2001 to 2002.Recent findingsMonitoring intracranial pressure is considered a standard part of therapy despite a lack of randomized studies comparing patients with and without intracranial pressure monitoring. Jugular oximetry and brain tissue oxygen pressure monitoring are being used more frequently as part of a treatment protocol. Intracerebral microdialysis, despite the widespread use as a research tool, still cannot be considered a standard in clinical monitoring. These new monitoring devices may provide useful insight into the evolution of brain injury.SummaryTechnology is rapidly changing the nature of neuromonitoring. New devices are becoming available which make the monitoring truly multimodal. Studies are needed to determine how to best incorporate these new parameters into effective management protocols.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Purpose of reviewCerebral ischemia and protection is a large field, so for the purposes of this review, which focuses on results published in the last 9 months, we have chosen to discuss a few aspects of ischemia in which our understanding has advanced significantly in this period of time. Recent progress in the clinical use of hypothermia for neurological protection as well as laboratory progress on the role of stress proteins, estrogen and a few other potential adjuncts will be discussed.Recent findingsTwo papers have now been published documenting improved neurological outcome in patients treated with hypothermia following cardiac arrest, both using randomized clinical trial designs. These reports and several laboratory studies identifying mechanisms of hypothermic brain protection are reviewed. In understanding the mechanisms underlying protection by estrogens, new results on both direct vascular effects and a demonstration that estrogens can reduce apoptosis are presented. The third area to be described is current progress in identifying mechanisms of stress protein protection from ischemia, in which new mechanisms have been identified with the demonstration of inhibition of several points in the cell death cascade. The remaining areas considered touch on the effects of approaches that reduce inflammation by blocking adhesion molecules, those that reduce free radical production and those that improve blood rheology.SummaryAn important common theme in brain protection is reduction of cell death by blocking apoptosis or programmed cell death. While the use of hypothermia should now enter clinical practice, many areas of brain injury require further studies both to define injury mechanisms and to translate these understandings into clinically useful treatments to reduce ischemic brain injury.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Purpose of reviewTo summarize recent knowledge concerning ophthalmic regional anaesthesia.Recent findingsOphthalmic regional anaesthesia has changed considerably over the past few years. Alternatives to retrobulbar anaesthesia have been proposed to reduce the number of complications without detriment to efficiency. Finally new local anaesthetics have been adopted and the indications have broadened, especially in vitroretineal surgery.SummaryNew developments in ophthalmic regional anaesthesia are presented in this review. Different methods, indications and side effects are described in order to facilitate the clinician's choice, without any claim to single out an ideal technique.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Purpose of reviewThe α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine is one of the most widely investigated substances in anaesthesia and pain therapy. Recently, numerous experimental and clinical studies have allowed a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms of action and interactions with other analgesic drugs.Recent findingsSeveral experimental studies have shown that clonidine may improve the analgesic effect of anti-inflammatory agents and also have significant peripheral antinociceptive effects. Volunteer and clinical studies have demonstrated analgesic effects of clonidine after systemic administration, whereas local administration of plain clonidine (e.g. intra-articular, intravenous regional) showed only limited clinical efficacy. The major clinical place of clonidine may thus be as an adjuvant to other analgesics, as shown in a number of studies in which clonidine has been investigated in combination with local anaesthetics, opioids and ketamine. An increasing number of studies have now investigated clonidine in paediatric patients and have demonstrated that the effects are generally similar to those in adults. Furthermore, it seems that in paediatric patients the side-effects of clonidine are predictable and of limited clinical importance.SummaryDuring the past decade clonidine has been investigated as an adjuvant for general and regional anaesthesia and in the postoperative period. There is no doubt that clonidine improves analgesia after systemic, spinal or peripheral opioids, and prolongs the analgesic action of most local anaesthetics. The side-effects of usual doses of clonidine are predictable. Given the clinical experience of an increasing number of hospitals, clonidine should no longer be considered an experimental drug, but a useful addendum to the pharmacological armamentarium.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

In continuous epidural anaesthesia we rely heavily on the ‘test dose’ to confirm correct placement of the catheter. This is not always accurate and there are a number of new techniques designed to provide better information about epidural needle and catheter placement. These include: electrical stimulation of the catheter, use of ultrasound and the application of simple geometry. The use of epidurals in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery is controversial because of the risk of vertebral canal haematoma. Neurological complications may arise during administration of the block, since the needle or catheter may result in direct nerve trauma. The injection of irritant drugs can also cause neurological damage. We must therefore be meticulous when injecting drugs into the epidural space. The increasing use of anticoagulant therapy in surgical patients and, in particular, the variety of low molecular weight heparins available, may make it difficult to safely perform epidural anaesthesia.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Purpose of the reviewThere has recently been a growing interest in developing and modulating the techniques of neuraxial analgesia to meet the changing individual needs of parturients for pain relief during the course of labour and delivery.Recent findingsNeuraxial analgesia is now very safe. Modern low-dose spinal-epidural regimens provide efficacious analgesia, stable maternal haemodynamics and few tolerable side effects. Complications are possible, however, due to the invasive nature of the technique, patient characteristics or medical malpractice.SummaryLabour epidural analgesia still remains the ‘gold standard’ of obstetric pain management, although spinal analgesia with the single-injection technique is an attractive option due to its simplicity, reliability and efficacy. Up till now, there has been no single new drug to overcome the superiority of neuraxial analgesia in obstetrics.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Purpose of reviewEpidural blocks (caudal, lumbar or thoracic) are of common use in paediatric patients for special procedures such as open fundoplication as well as for postoperative analgesia. However, because neonates and infants have lower metabolic capacities and specific anatomies as compared to adults, the dose of local anaesthetics and the way of their administration need careful attention.Recent findingsRecent pharmacokinetic studies have more precisely identified the differences in pharmacokinetics between age groups, and between local anaesthetic agents. In that respect, ropivacaine exhibits a unique pharmacokinetic profile. Among all adjuvant drugs proposed so far, S-ketamine is promising; however, complete safety in case of injection into the cerebrospinal fluid must be checked before routine use. Thoracic epidural anaesthesia is technically difficult, and carries a potential risk of spinal cord puncture. Numerous techniques have been proposed to avoid this risk. The advancement of a catheter into the epidural space after caudal insertion has long been proposed by German and Italian authors, but for anatomical reasons, this technique is only possible in young infants. Some improvement of the original technique using lumbar insertion at the L4-L5 interspace has recently been suggested; the possibility of catheter guidance by means of electric stimulation has also been proposed.SummaryPharmacokinetic studies allowing safer dosing, especially with ropivacaine have recently been published. New techniques of thoracic epidural with puncture at the lumbar level are also proposed. However, all these new techniques need to pass the test of time.

ISSN:0952-7907    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID