A 31 year old morbidly obese multigravid for cesarean section suffers total loss of vision after high spinal anesthesia. The possible explanation for this phenomenon are discussed. (Author)
Human ; Female ; Adult ; PREGNANCY ; ANESTHESIA ; ANESTHESIA, SPINAL

To determine whether the site of gas sampling affects end-tidal gas measurements in adult patients during anesthesia, end-tidal pCO2(PetCO2) was measuredcontinuously from the distal and proximal ends of the endotracheal tube(SHERIDAN) in 33 adults ventilated with Drager anesthesia ventilator. These data were compared with simultaneous arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) measurements. The study was commenced after each patients was ventilated no less than 15 minutes at the desired ventilator settings. Gas was continuously aspirated at 230 ml/min. for measurement of the PetCO2 using SARA Cap.A.G,Capnometer'sampled from the distal and proximal ends of the endotracheal tube for 3-minutes of each sampling port, alternativiely measured at 5 minutes interval. And each measurement was repeated twice and calculated mean values. The results were as follows: The mean PetCO2 sampling from the distal end was 31.6+/-2.4 mmHg. and the proximal end was 31.0+/-2.3mmHg. The difference between two results was statistically not significant(p> 0.05). The correlation coefficients of PetCO2 vslues for the distal end and the proximal end samplings to the PaCO2 values were r =0.48 and r=0.45 respectively, and statistically significant(p< 0.05) We concluded that the measured PetCO2 sampled from the distal end of the ETCO cuffed endotracheal tube' does not show any statistically significance to the proximal one. However, distally sampled PetCO2 measurements were more approximate PaCO2 measurements than proximally sampled one.
Adult* ; Anesthesia ; Humans ; Ventilators, Mechanical

We selected 123 cases of general anesthesia and 227 cases of local anesthesia in ophthalmic surgery, which were divided into three age groups, and checked pulse rate changes in various states: before anesthesia, during operation, and after operation. The results were as follows; 1) Marked decrease was seen in pulse rate during operation in all groups. 2) Pulse rate decrease was seen in 72,4 of all cases during operation, compared with before operation. 3) They revealed a marked pulse rate decrease in general and regional anesthesia, 874J and 68% respectively. 4) Children and the elderly group showed a more marked pulse rate decrease than the adult group during operation. 5) Extraocular operation showed pulse rate decrease more markedly than in ocular procedures.
Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Local ; Child ; Heart Rate* ; Humans

The reason for undertaking a special study of pediatric anesthesia is that children and especially infants differ sharply from adult patients. We know the important factors are psychogenic, anatomic, pharmacologic, physiologic and pathologic differences. Although the most apparent contrast in the neonate is his size, immature enzymatic activity probably could prove a greater problem to an uninformed anesthetist. So it seems worthwhile for us to analyze our past pediatric anesthetic experiences(8,600 cases) from 1970 to 1979. The following was obtained from this clinical analysis. 1) Total number of pediatric anesthesias given has been increasing year by year, especially under the age of one year. 2) General inhalation anesthesia has shown increasing numbers, but spinal anesthesia has been decreasing in numbers. 3) Flammable agents such as cyclopropane and ether was disappeared completely from our operating theater in spite of their excellent qualities. However, balanced anesthesia with Innovar has been increase. 4) Pediatric cardiac patients among 8,600 cases have sharply increased from 0.5% in 1970 to 4.7% in 1975 and 11.6% in 1979.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Balanced Anesthesia ; Child ; Ether ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mortuary Practice

BACKGROUND: Using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis, we investigated the difference in blood hemostasis, based on the primary anesthetic agents used during general anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty-six adult patients scheduled for elective ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia were evaluated with regard to changes in each parameter in INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM analyses. The patients received intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil (TIVA group) or inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane (SEVO group). The ROTEM tests were performed 10 min before starting anesthesia and 1 h after finishing anesthesia. The INTEM and EXTEM analyses included the clotting time (CT), clot firmness time (CFT), alpha angle (alpha), and maximum clot firmness (MCF). The FIBTEM analyzed only MCF. Maximum clot elasticity (MCE) was calculated by (MCF x 100) / (100 - MCF). The platelet component of clot strength was calculated as follows: MCE(platelet) = MCE(EXTEM) - MCE(FIBTEM). RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative parameters (CT, CFT, alpha, and MCF) in the INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM analyses were not significantly different between the two groups. The MCE(platelet) also did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Presuming that the ophthalmic surgery had a minimal traumatic effect, we conclude that both anesthetic agents cause negligible changes in ROTEM analyses postoperatively.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics ; Blood Platelets ; Elasticity ; Hemostasis* ; Humans ; Propofol* ; Thrombelastography

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia is becoming popular especially in obstetrics and orthopedics, however few studies have been done involving abdominal operations METHODOLOGY: A randomized, blind study was conducted to compare the clinical outcome of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) with epidural anesthesia (EA) in abdominal surgery. CSEA was established using tetracaine 0.5 percent for the spinal component and bupivacaine 0.5 percent for the epidural component, whereas EA was established using bupivacaine 0.5 percent and fentanyl. Sixty patients were enrolled (Group CSEA, n=30; Group EA, n=30) RESULTS: The ease of doing the procedures were similar in both groups. Of the two techniques, CSEA was associated with earlier onset times (p0.05), more intense motor block (100 percent in the CSEA group achieved compete motor block compared to 10 percent in the EA group). Ephedrine use was similar in both groups. Pain scores were similar in both groups. Overall patient satisfactions were higher in the CSEA groups. The incidence of shivering was higher in the EA group (33 percent) compared to CSEA group (17 percent). Pruritus was present only in the EA group (10 percent). Nauses, vomiting, and headache were absent in both groups CONCLUSIONS: CSEA is a useful and safe technique that confers advantages over the EA technique for major abdominal surgery. CSEA has low failure rates, rapidly produces a reliable spinal blockade, provides good operating conditions, and offers high level of patient satisfaction.
Human ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; ANESTHESIA ; ANESTHESIA, EPIDURAL ; ANESTHESIA, SPINAL ; OBSTETRICS, ORTHOPEDICS

This is a case report of a retained placenta which was successfully removed using nitroglycerin spray.
Human ; Female ; Adult ; PLACENTA, RETAINED ; ANESTHESIA ; ANESTHESIA, CONDUCTION ; NITROGLYCERIN ; ; ;

A patient who has undergone central neural blockade requires monitoring until the block shows signs of resolution. Residual effects of sedative and general anesthetic agents can result in difficulty evaluating the extent of neural blockade.
Human ; Male ; Adult ; ANESTHESIA ; HEMATOMA, EPIDURAL, SPINAL ; ANESTHESIA, CONDUCTION

Among the intraventricluar block, bundle branch block is the most common type and left bundle branch block(LBBB) may progress to a more serious condition of complete heart block. Anesthetic methods such as nitrous oxide-oxygen-relaxant sequence, neuroleptanesthesia, and nitrous oxide-oxygen-minimal halothane(or penthrane) are generally accepted by the patient with heart disease. In the U.S., opioid anesthesia is also applied frequently. The authors successfully twice performed of operations with balanced anesthesia and spinal anesthesia respectively in a 39-year-old male patient who showed complete left bundle branch block pattern in a preoperative electrocardiographic tracing without any subjective symptoms.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Balanced Anesthesia ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Block ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: General anesthesia is a balance between hypnosis and analgesia. Remifentanil is often combined with propofol to both induce and maintain total intravenous anesthesia. This study evaluated the effect of remifentanil on the propofol requirements for a loss of consciousness. METHODS: Forty adult patients with ASA 1 or 2 were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly given either saline or remifentanil before the induction of anesthesia with an infusion of propofol, 15 mg/kg/h. In the remifentanil group, all the patients received a computer controlled infusion of remifentanil with a effect site concentration of 4 ng/ml. The times required for the patient to lose consciousness, the propofol requirements and the bispectral index at the loss of consciousness to verbal commands were recorded. RESULTS: In the remifentanil group, loss of consciousness was attained significantly faster and with lower propofol doses than in the saline group. The bispectral indices were significantly higher at loss of consciousness in the remifentanil group. CONCLUSIONS: A remifentanil infusion before the induction of propofol anesthesia significantly reduces the propofol requirements for the loss of consciousness. Remifentanil enhances the hypnotic effect of propofol.
Adult ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Propofol* ; Unconsciousness*