Retrograde intubation during laryngeal cleft repair on cardiopulmonary bypass.

Retrograde intubation is part of the difficult airway algorithm in the American Society of Anesthesiologists, but its usage is rare in small pediatric patients with the advent of new intubation techniques. We present our experience of retrograde intubation for a 4-month-old patient who presented for laryngeal cleft repair on cardiopulmonary bypass. This case highlights the unique place for retrograde intubation in small patients in the current era.

Intraoperative esmolol infusion in the absence of opioids spares postoperative fentanyl in patients undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The use of opioids during ambulatory surgery can delay hospital discharge or cause unexpected hospital admission. Preliminary studies using an intraoperative continuous infusion of esmolol in place of an opioid have inconsistently reported a postoperative opioid-sparing effect. In this study, we compared esmolol versus either intermittent fentanyl or continuous remifentanil on postoperative opioid-sparing, side effects, and time of discharge. METHODS: Ninety patients (consisting of three groups) were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, and observer-blinded study. The control group (n = 30) received intermittent doses of fentanyl, the esmolol group (n = 30) received a continuous infusion of esmolol (5-15 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and no supplemental opioids during surgery, and the remifentanil group (n = 30) received a continuous infusion of remifentanil (0.1-0.5 mixrog x kg(-1) x min(-1)). General anesthesia was standardized, and adjuvant medications included acetaminophen, ketorolac, local anesthetics in the skin incisions, dexamethasone, and droperidol. Postoperative analgesia included fentanyl. RESULTS: The amount of fentanyl in the postanesthesia care unit was significantly less in the esmolol group, 91.5 +/- 42.7 microg, compared with the other two groups, remifentanil, 237.8 +/- 54.7 microg, control, 168.1 +/- 96.8 microg (P < 0.0001). The incidence of nausea was more frequent in the control (66.7%) and remifentanil (67.9%) groups compared with the esmolol group (30%) (P < 0.01). The esmolol group reached the White-Song score of 12 of 14 faster than the remifentanil group (P < 0.01), and left the hospital 45-60 min earlier (P < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative IV infusion of esmolol contributes to a significant decrease in postoperative administration of fentanyl and ondansetron and facilitates earlier discharge.

Sensitivity of tests to assess improvement in ADHD symptomatology.

OBJECTIVE: To assess which measurements best predict improvement on ADHD symptomatology after medication is given. METHODS: 147 children aged 6 to 12 years, diagnosed with ADHD, participated in a double-blind placebo controlled twoweek crossover trial of methylphenidate. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences on all measures between placebo and medication. Effect size for the overall group was 0.33 (CGI-P), 0.80 (CGI-T), 1.33 (CGI), 0.56 (CPT), 0.82 (RASS). CONCLUSIONS: Acute behavioural response measures, where children are observed by clinicians (RASS and CGI), were overall more reliable than parent reports in detecting improvement on ADHD symptomatology. Teacher reports were also very important, especially in the 9 to 12 year old group.