[Transfusional needs and blood saving strategies during orthotopic heart transplantation]. / Necessità trasfusionali e strategie di risparmio di sangue durante trapianto cardiaco ortotopico.

It is difficult to evaluate transfusional needs during cardiac surgery. One hundred fifty patients undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation were divided into two groups (A and B) according to the blood saving strategies. (Group A: no important saving strategies; group B: all blood saving techniques utilized). A low blood, plasma and platelet consumption was observed, with good clinical results, in group B. During orthotopic cardiac transplantation, it would be suitable to use all the saving transfusional blood strategies and a correct use of hemocomponents as during all cardiac surgery.

[Anesthetic management for airway endoscopy in pediatrics]. / Condotta anestesiologica nelle endoscopie respiratorie in età pediatrica.

We describe our experience with anesthesia for airway endoscopy in 60 patients, aged to 10 years. Urgent or out-patient endoscopies were performed during removal of foreign bodies from the airway tract or during "dynamic" pathological diagnosis (laryngomalacia, vocal cord paralysis, tracheomalacia, tracheal/bronchial dyskinesia). Isoflurane induction and local anesthesia of the vocal cords allowed sufficient ventilation and oxygenation of anesthetized spontaneously breathing patients. This anesthetic procedure is suitable in high risk patients like newborns and small children. This technique supports the cardiocirculatory and blood gas analytic parameters, maintaining low airway pressures while depressing respiratory reflexes.