New horizons for Mexico's women.

PIP: In Mexico, a rural woman's sole worth lies in her ability to have children. Her husband's status in the community also rests on this ability. Family planning and enjoyment of sex by a woman are taboo. Physical abuse of women by men is accepted and common. Education of young girls and women, which leads to increase self-esteem and trust in outsiders, is necessary to begin the process that will allow rural women to take control of their lives and their relationships with men. This process is the adoption of family planning practices.^ieng

[Use of propofol during laser therapy of the tracheobronchial tract]. / Impiego del Propofol durante laserterapia delle vie tracheobronchiali.

Anesthesia of the tracheobronchial (TB) pathways during laser therapy (LT) faces a variety of problems including analgesia and sedation in patients with respiratory difficulties or who continue to breathe spontaneously while the airways are occupied by operating instruments. During the course of the study, two methods of anesthesia were compared in 36 patients undergoing LT of the TB pathways. The first method (Group A, n = 16) involved the use of Diazepam as an hypnotic starter and Fentanyl as an opioid analgesic in continuous infusion. Propofol was used both as an inducer and as the main drug in the second method (Group B, n = 20) in order to reduce the opioid dose required. The following variables were studied: heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood gas analytic parameters, side-effects such as cough and intraoperative movement, and disturbances of heart rhythm and conduction; in addition, the duration of operations and the time taken to regain consciousness were recorded, together with the total dose of Fentanyl used. An improved hematosis was observed in patients treated with Propofol during the operation and on regaining consciousness, and the time taken to regain consciousness was significantly reduced. No significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to cardiocirculatory variables or undesirable effects.

[The transcutaneous method of monitoring partial pressure of O2 and CO2 during laser surgery of the trachea and bronchi]. / La metodica transcutanea nel monitoraggio della tensione parziale di O2 e CO2 durante laserterapia delle vie tracheobronchiali.

Anesthesia during Nd-YAG laser resection of the airways necessitates continuous O2 and CO2 monitoring. Although only partial, monitoring may be performed using a transcutaneous method utilising Clark's electrode to measure O2 and Stowe-Severinghaus' electrode to assess CO2 on the skin surface. The paper evaluates the advantages and limits of this form of monitoring during anesthesia in 85 patients undergoing laser resection of the airways. In conclusion, in spite of the fact that it is currently impossible to build up a complete picture of blood gas status from a single transcutaneous finding, the use of the transcutaneous method increases the level of safety of the operation as a whole.