comparison of intra cuff pressures in high-flow and low-flow nitrous oxide anesthesia

To investigate intra cuff pressure changes in low-flow anesthesia [LFA] and high-flow [HFA] N2O anesthesia during moderate-duration surgical procedures. We carried out this prospective, randomized, single blind study at Numune Educational and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between January to December 2005. Seventy patients aged between 18-65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status grades I-III, undergoing elective surgery were enrolled in this study. Following a standardized induction, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane [end-tidal 0.9-1%] at 4 L/minute for the HFA group, or 1 L/minute for the LFA group fresh gas flows. Endotracheal tube cuff [intra cuff] pressures were measured continuously with a pressure manometer, and inspired oxygen and N2O levels were noted every 10 minutes throughout the study. There was no significant difference between HFA and LFA groups for initial [first] cuff pressures [mean +/- SD, HFA=20.9 +/- 4.19, LFA=20.4 +/- 4.11, cmH2O], and maximum cuff pressures [MCP] [mean +/- SD, HFA=32.3 +/- 18.74, LFA=33.5 +/- 8.89, cmH2O] [p > 0.05]. The time to reach the maximum intra cuff pressure was significantly shorter in the LFA group [77.4 +/- 20.33 minutes], than the HFA group [89.3 +/- 23.94 minutes], [p=0.038]. Between the tenth and nineteenth minutes, inspired oxygen level was significantly higher in the HFA group [p=0.001], whereas inspired N2O was significantly higher in the LFA group [p=0.001]. The intra cuff pressures should be monitored carefully during LFA, since the duration to reach the maximum intra cuff pressures was shorter than that of HFA

Myasthenia gravis and sevoflurane: a case report

Myasthenia gravis is characterized by weakness and easy fatiguability of voluntary muscles. Myasthenic patients are sensitive to non-depolarizing relaxants. Sevoflurane, as an alternative, can be used to achieve good tracheal intubation. In this report, we present our experiences

Anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: comparative evaluation of - desflurane/sevoflurane vs. propofol

Laparoscopic techniques, have rapidly increased in popularity because of its various benefits. They are widely used in daycase surgical operations and are extensively published. However, postoperative nausea vomiting [PONV] is a commonly observed phenomenon after laparoscopic procedures. Its occurrence may increase depending on the anesthetic techniques used. Despite the fact that the use of propofol and the new low solubility inhalation anesthetics, lead to faster induction and recovery, their effects on PONV is not sufficiently known. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the effects of various anesthetic drugs on recovery characteristics and PONV. Following informed consent, 300 ASA I-III patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were investigated. Anesthesia was induced by 1.5 micro gkg[-1] fentanyl, 0.03 mgkg[-1] midazolam, 1.5 mg kg[-1] propofol and 0.01 mgkg[-1] vecuronium for all patients. Anesthesia was maintained with desflurane in group D [n = 100], sevoflurane in group S [n = 100] and propofol infusion in group P [n = 100], beside 50% N[2]O/O[2] ventilation. All patients were given 4 mg ondansetron and 8 mg dexamethazone iv for preventing PONV, ten minutes before the end of surgery. At the end of the operation, times for extubation, eye opening, orientation, sitting and walking, and the need of ondansetrone in post anesthetic care unit, were recorded. Also, PONV was observed and recorded as early period [first 4 hours] and late period [4-24 hours]. Extubation and eye opening times were meaningfully lower in group D. However, no significant differences were observed in orientation, sitting and walking times and PONV among the three groups. All patients who had PONV were women. A correlation was found between PONV and body weight. Even though there were no statistically significant differences among the groups regarding PONV, the number of patients who had PONV in group P was lower. Early recovery time was shortest in group D, while delayed recovery time had no differences. It may be said that these anesthetic drugs have no statistically significant difference for PONV and delayed recovery