BACKGROUND: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we tried to find out appropriate amounts of single-dose dexmedetomidine to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia in a clinical setting. METHODS: Sixty patients who were scheduled for unilateral lower limb surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomized into three groups receiving normal saline (control group, n = 20) or 0.5 or 1.0 ug/kg dexmedetomidine (D-0.5 group, n = 20; D-1, n = 20) intravenously prior to spinal anesthesia with 12 mg of bupivacaine. The two-dermatome pinprick sensory regression time, duration of the motor block, Ramsay sedation score (RSS), and side effects of dexmedetomidine were assessed. RESULTS: The two-dermatome pinprick sensory regression time (57.6 +/- 23.2 vs 86.5 +/- 24.3 vs 92.5 +/- 30.7, P = 0.0002) and duration of the motor block (98.8 +/- 34.1 vs 132.9 +/- 43.4 vs 130.4 +/- 50.4, P = 0.0261) were significantly increased in the D-0.5 and D-1 groups than in the control group. The RSS were significantly higher in the D-0.5 and D-1 groups than in the control group. However, there were no patients with oxygen desaturation in dexmedetomidine groups. The incidences of hypotension and bradycardia showed no differences among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both 0.5 and 1.0 ug/kg of dexmedetomidine administered as isolated boluses in the absence of maintenance infusions prolonged the duration of spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bradycardia ; Bupivacaine ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we tried to find out appropriate amounts of single-dose dexmedetomidine to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia in a clinical setting. METHODS: Sixty patients who were scheduled for unilateral lower limb surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomized into three groups receiving normal saline (control group, n = 20) or 0.5 or 1.0 ug/kg dexmedetomidine (D-0.5 group, n = 20; D-1, n = 20) intravenously prior to spinal anesthesia with 12 mg of bupivacaine. The two-dermatome pinprick sensory regression time, duration of the motor block, Ramsay sedation score (RSS), and side effects of dexmedetomidine were assessed. RESULTS: The two-dermatome pinprick sensory regression time (57.6 +/- 23.2 vs 86.5 +/- 24.3 vs 92.5 +/- 30.7, P = 0.0002) and duration of the motor block (98.8 +/- 34.1 vs 132.9 +/- 43.4 vs 130.4 +/- 50.4, P = 0.0261) were significantly increased in the D-0.5 and D-1 groups than in the control group. The RSS were significantly higher in the D-0.5 and D-1 groups than in the control group. However, there were no patients with oxygen desaturation in dexmedetomidine groups. The incidences of hypotension and bradycardia showed no differences among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both 0.5 and 1.0 ug/kg of dexmedetomidine administered as isolated boluses in the absence of maintenance infusions prolonged the duration of spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bradycardia ; Bupivacaine ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate our institutional experience with veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to August 2013, 31 patients with severe ARF that was due to various causes and refractory to mechanical ventilation with conventional therapy were supported with VV ECMO. A partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)/inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) <100 mm Hg at an FiO2 of 1.0 or a pH <7.25 due to CO2 retention were set as criteria for VV ECMO. RESULTS: Overall, 68% of patients survived among those who had received VV ECMO with a mean PaO2/FiO2 of 56.8 mm Hg. Furthermore, in trauma patients, early use of ECMO had the best outcome with a 94% survival rate. CONCLUSION: VV ECMO is an excellent, life-saving treatment option in patients suffering from acute and life-threatening respiratory failure due to various causes, especially trauma, and early use of VV ECMO therapy improved outcomes in these patients.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Cause of Death ; *Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Insufficiency/complications/*therapy ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome