ABSTRACT
Two cases of asymptomatic epiglottic cysts which presented as partial upper airway obstruction following induction of anaesthesia are described. The incidence, pathology and anaesthetic management are discussed.
Subject(s)
Airway Obstruction/etiology , Cysts/complications , Epiglottis , Intubation, Intratracheal , Laryngeal Diseases/complications , Anesthesia, General , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A study was undertaken to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of sufentanil, in combination with three different muscle relaxants, used as sole anesthetic with 100% O2 in 30 patients undergoing elective coronary artery vein graft surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive pancuronium (P), vecuronium (V) or atracurium (A) for muscle relaxation. All patients received 15 micrograms/kg sufentanil at induction followed by 5-10 micrograms/kg sufentanil prior to sternotomy. At the 95% level of significance no statistical difference was found for any of the measured and derived cardiovascular parameters between groups P, V and A, except for a decreased systolic blood pressure in the atracurium group after induction. Sufentanil in combination with pancuronium or vecuronium provided stable hemodynamic conditions throughout anesthesia. Atracurium was less satisfactory. We conclude that there is no advantage to be gained, in the presence of beta blockade, from the use of the new generation muscle relaxants as compared to pancuronium during high-dose sufentanil anesthesia for coronary artery vein grafting.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, General , Coronary Artery Bypass , Fentanyl/analogs & derivatives , Hemodynamics/drug effects , Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents/pharmacology , Adult , Atracurium/pharmacology , Humans , Intubation, Intratracheal , Pancuronium/pharmacology , Sufentanil , Vecuronium Bromide/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Recordings of cerebral electrical activity were obtained using the cerebral function analysing monitor from eight unpremedicated patients anaesthetised with increasing concentrations of halothane in oxygen. The amplitude of the processed EEG increased at one and decreased at two minimal alveolar concentrations. The frequency distribution of the weighted EEG signal showed a linear increase of delta activity with a corresponding decrease in beta activity with increasing concentrations of halothane.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Cortex/physiology , Electroencephalography , Halothane/pharmacology , Action Potentials/drug effects , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Microcomputers , Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentationABSTRACT
The cardiovascular responses to bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia were investigated in 36 premedicated patients. Twelve patients acting as controls received a standard intravenous anaesthetic of intermittent thiopentone and suxamethonium. A further 24 patients were given either fentanyl 6 micrograms/kg or alfentanil 18 micrograms/kg intravenously, one minute prior to induction. There were significant rises in systolic arterial blood pressure (p less than 0.05) and in rate pressure product (p less than 0.05) in the patients in the control group, but these changes were not seen in those patients receiving either fentanyl or alfentanil. However, dysrhythmias and ST segment changes indicative of myocardial ischaemia were present in some patients in all three groups.
