BACKGROUND: Bupivacaine, clindamycin, and gentamicin inhibit neuromuscular (NM) conduction. When they are combined, they may synergistically reduce the effective concentration of each to the therapeutic concentration in augmenting rocuronium-induced NM block. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether combinations of the three drugs, at around their therapeutic concentrations, potentiate rocuronium-induced NM block. METHODS: Fifty-seven left-phrenic nerve hemidiaphragms (Male S-D rats, 150-250 g) were hung in a 20-ml organ bath filled with Krebs solution. Three consecutive single-twitch tensions (0.1 Hz) and one tetanic tension (50 Hz for 1.9 s) were obtained. A Krebs solution was premixed with concentration sets of bupivacaine and clindamycin, bupivacaine and gentamicin, or bupivacaine, clindamycin and gentamicin. Then, the concentration of rocuronium was cumulatively increased in the Krebs solution (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 microM) until an 80% to 90% reduction in single twitch was attained. The effective concentrations for each experiment were determined with the probit model. RESULTS: The combinations of bupivacaine, clindamycin, and gentamicin enhanced rocuronium-induced NM block. When the three drugs were applied simultaneously, their concentrations were reduced to near-therapeutic levels in potentiating the action of rocuronium. CONCLUSIONS: Bupivacaine, clindamycin, and gentamicin blocked NM conduction, and when all three drugs were applied together, they augmented rocuronium-induced NM block at their near-therapeutic concentrations. Clinicians should be aware of the cooperability in NM block between drugs that interrupt NM conduction.
Androstanols ; Animals ; Baths ; Bupivacaine ; Clindamycin ; Gentamicins ; Isotonic Solutions ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Rats

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) frequently occurs after general anesthesia in children. This multicenter study was investigated to determine incidence and risk factors of EA after general anesthesia in children. METHODS: This prospective study evaluated 816 pediatric patients receiving elective surgery under general anesthesia at 10 university hospitals. Emotional and behavioral status of the patients upon emergence from anesthesia was assessed by Aono's four point scale. Those with an Aono's four point scale of 3 or 4 were considered to be affected by EA. Patient physical, anesthetic, and surgical variables were analyzed to find the risk factors of EA. RESULTS: One-hundred-fifty-two children (18.6%) developed EA. No relationships between the incidence of EA and age, sex, ASA physical status, premedicants, anesthetic induction agents, anesthetic maintenance methods, or postoperative analgesia were found. A multivariate analysis identified preanesthetic emotional status (OR = 1.774, P < 0.001), perioperative airway complication (OR = 1.867, P < 0.007) and rhinolaryngologic surgery (OR = 1.597, P < 0.017) as risk factors of EA. CONCLUSIONS: Preanesthetic emotional status, perioperative airway complication and rhinolaryngologic surgery were risk factors of EA after general anesthesia in children.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Child ; Dihydroergotamine ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Both the i-gel(TM) (i-gel) and LMA Supreme(TM) (Supreme) are new single-use second generation supraglottic airway devices available in pediatric sizes. This study was designed to investigate the i-gel in comparison with the Supreme in children undergoing general anesthesia. METHODS: One hundred children with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II undergoing general anesthesia were randomly assigned to either the i-gel or the Supreme group (50 children in each group). The device size was chosen according to weight of the children. We assessed the insertion success rate, insertion time, oropharyngeal leak pressure, grade of the fiberoptic glottic view, number of airway manipulations required, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were no differences in the demographic data between the two groups. The success rate of insertion was same in both groups. The insertion time of the i-gel was longer than that of Supreme (P = 0.004). The oropharyngeal leak pressure in the i-gel group was higher than that in the Supreme group (P = 0.013). On fiberoptic examination, the vocal cords were visible in 90% of the children in the i-gel group and in 96% of the children in the Supreme group. The number of airway manipulations required was higher in the i-gel group (14 cases) than in the Supreme group (1 case) (P < 0.001). There were no differences in complications including blood staining of the device and sore throat between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both the i-gel and Supreme provided a satisfactory airway during general anesthesia in children. Compared to the Supreme, the i-gel demonstrated a higher oropharyngeal leak pressure, longer time for insertion, and a greater number of airway manipulations during anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Stains ; Child* ; Humans ; Laryngeal Masks ; Pediatrics ; Pharyngitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Vocal Cords

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic surgical procedures, many clinicians recommend supraglottic airway devices as good alternatives to intubation. We compared the i-gel(R) (i-gel) and LMA Supreme(R) (Supreme Laryngeal Mask Airway, SLMA) airway devices during laparoscopic cholecystectomy regarding sealing pressure and respiratory parameters before, during, and after pneumoperitoneum. METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent, 93 patients were randomly allocated into the i-gel (n = 47) or SLMA group (n = 46). Insertion time, number of insertion attempts, and fiberoptic view of glottis were recorded. Oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), the use of airway manipulation, peak inspiratory pressure, lung compliance, and hemodynamic parameters were measured before, during, and after pneumoperitoneum. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding demographic data, insertion time, fiberoptic view of glottis, and the use of airway manipulation. The gastric tube insertion time was longer in the i-gel group (20.4 +/- 3.9 s) than in the SLMA group (16.7 +/- 1.6 s) (P < 0.001). All devices were inserted on the first attempt, excluding one case in each group. Peak inspiratory pressure, lung compliance, and OLP changed following carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in each group, but there were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both the i-gel and SLMA airway devices can be comparably used in patients who undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and they offer similar performance including OLP.
Carbon Dioxide ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Glottis ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Intubation ; Laparoscopy ; Laryngeal Masks ; Lung Compliance ; Pneumoperitoneum

No abstract available.
Gonadotropins* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) is one of the most common complications after general anesthesia. The goal of this retrospective study was to determine the risk factors of EA in adult patients who underwent general anesthesia. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 5,358 adult patients who stayed in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) of our hospital after general anesthesia during the 1-year period from January 2014 to December 2014. Psychological and behavioral status in the PACU was determined by the Aono four-point scale. Grade of 3 or 4 were considered as manifestations of EA. Multiple variables assessed EA risk factors. RESULTS: Two-hundred-forty-five patients (4.6%) developed EA. In multivariate analysis, male gender (OR = 1.626, P = 0.001), older age (OR = 1.010, P = 0.035), abdominal surgery (OR = 1.633, P = 0.002), spine surgery (OR = 1.777, P = 0.015), longer duration of anesthesia (OR = 1.002, P < 0.001), postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR = 20.164, P < 0.001) and postoperative pain (OR = 3.614, P < 0.001) were risk factors of EA. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender and older patients were risk factors of EA after general anesthesia in adult patients. Careful attention is needed for patients who receive abdominal or spine surgery, and who receive prolonged anesthesia. Adequate postoperative analgesia and antiemetic therapy should be provided to reduce the incidence of EA.
Adult* ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthesia, General* ; Delirium ; Dihydroergotamine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Minimal-flow anesthesia can meet the demands of a modern society that is more sensitive to environmental protection and economic burdens. This study compared the safety and efficacy of minimal-flow desflurane anesthesia with conventional high-flow desflurane anesthesia for prolonged laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: Forty-six male patients (ASA physical status II or III) undergoing laparoscopic urologic surgery for more than 6 hours were randomly divided into two groups: the high-flow (HF) group and the minimal-flow (MF) group. The HF group was continuously administered a fresh gas flow of 4 L/min. In the MF group, a fresh gas flow of 4 L/min was administered for the first 20 minutes and was thereafter lowered to 0.5 L/min. Inspiratory and expiratory desflurane concentrations, respiratory variables, and hemodynamic variables were continuously monitored during administration of anesthesia. Measurements of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentration and arterial blood gas analysis were performed every 2 hours during anesthesia. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured on the first and second day after the surgery. RESULTS: Demographic data and duration of anesthesia were not different between the two groups. Significant differences were not observed between the two groups in terms of hemodynamic variables, respiratory variables, and inspiratory and expiratory desflurane concentrations. Inspiratory O2 concentration was maintained lower in the MF group than in the HF group (43-53% vs. 53-59%; P < 0.05). Compared with the HF group, COHb concentrations was higher (P < 0.05), but not increased from the baseline value in the MF group. Serum AST, ALT, BUN, and creatinine were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In prolonged laparoscopic surgery, no significant differences were found in safety and efficacy between minimal-flow and high-flow desflurane anesthesia.
Alanine Transaminase ; Anesthesia ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carboxyhemoglobin ; Natural Resources ; Creatinine ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Laparoscopy ; Male

Knotting of a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is a rare, but well-known complication of pulmonary artery (PA) catheterization. We report a case of a double-knotted PAC with a large loop in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver transplantation, which has been rarely reported in the literature. A PAC was advanced under pressure wave form guidance. PAC insertion was repeatedly attempted and the PAC was inserted 80 cm deep even though PAC should be normally inserted 45 to 55 cm deep. However, since no wave change was observed, we began deflating and pulling the balloon. At the 30-cm mark, the PAC could no longer be pulled. Fluoroscopy confirmed knotting of the PAC after surgery (The loop-formed PAC was shown in right internal jugular vein); thus, it was removed. For safe PA catheterization, deep insertion or repeated attempts should be avoided when the catheter cannot be easily inserted into the pulmonary artery. If possible, the insertion of PACs can be performed more safely by monitoring the movement of the catheter under fluoroscopy or transesophageal echocardiography.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz ; Catheters* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Liver Transplantation ; Pulmonary Artery*

An incidentaloma is a tumor found incidentally without clinical symptoms or suspicion; the lesion may be adrenal, pituitary, or thyroidal. We report the case of an asymptomatic individual with preoperatively undiagnosed pheochromocytoma (size: 4.86 cm) that was revealed using elective nonadrenal surgical procedures. The patient demonstrated peri- and post-operative hypertensive crisis and tachycardia. Three days after the dramatic onset of symptoms, the patient expired due to pulmonary edema, multiple organ failure, and terminal sepsis, despite administration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A left medial kidney mass obtained at autopsy confirmed pheochromocytoma.
Autopsy ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Humans ; Kidney ; Membranes ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Pulmonary Edema ; Sepsis ; Tachycardia ; Thyroid Gland

Background: Remimazolam is a novel benzodiazepine with fast onset and short half-life. We compared the effects of remimazolam and propofol on recovery profiles for general anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: We randomly assigned 108 patients to either a remimazolam (n=54) or propofol (n=54) group. Remimazolam and propofol were used for induction and maintanance of anesthesia. Following anesthesia, we recorded the time until an Aldrete score of 9 was achieved as the primary surrogate marker of complete recovery. The time to reach a Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) score of 2 and the time from the end of anesthesia to eye opening time, recovery time of orientation, time to spontaneous breathing, extubation time, and the time required for analgesics were measured. Heart rate, blood pressure, and bispectral index were assessed before, during, and after pneumoperitoneum. Results: We included 101 patients in the analysis. In the remimazolam group, it took longer to reach an Aldrete score of 9 after the drug infusion ended (P = 0.031). There was no difference in the time to reach MOAA/S 2 between the two groups. The time to eye opening, recovery time of orientation, and time required for analgesics were longer and heart rate was higher in the remimazolam group. Neither blood pressure, nor extubation time differed between groups. Conclusions Remimazolam and propofol provided safe induction and maintenance of anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The recovery time from anesthesia was longer than that with propofol. Fewer hemodynamic changes were observed with remimazolam, but further studies are needed.