The use of nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation to relieve anxiety and pain in dental outpatient treatment has been a very mature and safe technique in the world. This technology has been introduced into China for nearly 20 years, and many clinical cases have proved its safety, practicability and effectiveness, which can meet the clinical needs of patients. To further standardize and popularize this technique, the Society of Sedation and Analgesia, Chinese Stomatological Association formed the recommended application guidelines after many discussions and revisions on the basis of widely soliciting opinions and referring to relevant literatures. It covers indications, contraindications, standardized operation procedures, occupational protection, identification and treatment of adverse reactions, training and other aspects. This guideline can be used as a reference for the use of nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation techniques in the outpatient setting of dentistry.
Anesthesia, Dental ; Anesthetics, Inhalation/adverse effects* ; Conscious Sedation/methods* ; Dental Anxiety/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Nitrous Oxide/adverse effects* ; Outpatients ; Oxygen

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric epidurals can present technical challenges due to wide variations in age and weight among children, ranging from neonates to teenagers. This study evaluated the skin-to-epidural distance in the thoracic and lumbar regions to determine the relationship between age, weight and ethnicity and depth to the epidural space in our Singapore paediatric population. METHODS: Data from the Acute Pain Service was prospectively collected over 16 years. Details included patient demographics, level of epidural performed and distance from skin to epidural space. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine the association of weight, age, ethnicity and gender with the depths to the thoracic and lumbar epidural spaces. A simple linear regression was calculated to predict the depth to both thoracic and lumbar epidural spaces based on body weight. Equations were formulated to describe the relationship between weight and depth of epidural space. RESULTS: A total of 616 midline epidurals were studied. Regression analysis was performed for 225 thoracic epidurals and 363 lumbar epidurals. Our study revealed a clear correlation between skin-to-lumbar epidural distance and weight in children. The best correlation was demonstrated between skin-to-lumbar epidural distance and body weight (R = 0.729). This relationship was described by the formula: depth (mm) = (0.63 × weight [kg]) + 9.2. CONCLUSION Skin-to-lumbar epidural distance correlated with weight in children. Our results highlighted the clinical significance of differences between Southeast Asian paediatric populations when compared to other populations.
Adolescent ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; adverse effects ; methods ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epidural Space ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pain Management ; methods ; Pediatrics ; methods ; Regression Analysis ; Singapore ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology

INTRODUCTIONKnowing how patients value the quality of anaesthesia helps anaesthesiologists to customise their service. However, generalising findings from Western population-based willingness-to-pay studies across different cultures and societies might result in the oversight of some contextualised perspectives of the anaesthesia experience. This study aimed to capture the Singapore perspective of undesired post-anaesthesia outcomes.

METHODS132 patients recruited in a pre-anaesthetic evaluation clinic were given questionnaires describing ten possible post-anaesthetic outcomes. Outcomes were ranked for undesirability and assigned relative value through the hypothetical proportioning of SGD 100 to avoid their occurrence. Data was analysed with reference to patients' background and anaesthetic history.

RESULTSA response rate of 69.1% (n = 132/191) was achieved. Outcomes from the most to least undesirable were pain; vomiting; nausea; shivering; orodental trauma; sore throat; abrasions; somnolence; and thirst. Relative values allocated, in descending order, were pain; vomiting; nausea; orodental trauma; abrasions; sore throat; shivering; somnolence; and thirst.

CONCLUSIONSimilar to previous studies in Western populations, pain, vomiting and nausea were the top three adverse outcomes that Singapore patients wished to avoid. However, discrepancies with Western patients were seen in spending attitudes, possibly accounted for by differences in healthcare socioeconomics. This study provided a better understanding of Singapore patients' perspectives on post-anaesthesia adverse outcomes and could help to improve treatment strategy and resource management.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia ; adverse effects ; Anesthesiology ; methods ; Anesthetics ; Attitude to Health ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; etiology ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Postoperative Period ; Singapore ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To determine the maximum dose of continuously infused mivacurium for intraoperative neuromonitoring and observe its adverse effects in thyroid surgery. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients undergoing thyroid surgery with intraoperative neuromonitoring received continuous infusion of mivacurium at the initial rate of 5.43 μg?kg?min, and the infusion rate for the next patient was adjusted based on the response of the previous patient according to the results of neurological monitoring. The depth of anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil during the surgery. The LD50 and 95% of mivacurium were calculated using Brownlee's up-and-down sequential method. RESULTS: The LD50 of continuously infused mivacurium was 8.94 μg?kg?min (95% : 8.89- 8.99 μg?kg?min) during thyroid surgery, which did not affect neurological function monitoring. Transient chest skin redness occurred after induction in 9 patients (32.1%). None of the patients experienced intubation difficulties or showed intraoperative body motions during the surgery. CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing thyroid surgery under anesthesia maintained by inhalation and intravenous infusion, the LD50 of mivacurium was 8.94 μg?kg?min (95% : 8.89-8.99 μg?kg?min) for continuous infusion, which does not cause serious adverse effects during the operation.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Humans ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring ; methods ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mivacurium ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Remifentanil ; Sevoflurane ; Thyroid Gland ; surgery

Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; adverse effects ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; therapy

Patients presenting for emergency abdominal procedures often have medical issues that cause both general anaesthesia and central neuraxial blockade to pose significant risks. Regional anaesthetic techniques are often used adjunctively for abdominal procedures under general anaesthesia, but there is limited published data on procedures done under peripheral nerve or plexus blocks. We herein report the case of a patient with recent pulmonary embolism and supraventricular tachycardia who required colostomy refashioning. Ultrasonography-guided regional anaesthesia was administered using a combination of ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric, rectus sheath and transversus abdominis plane blocks. This was supplemented with propofol and dexmedetomidine sedation as well as intermittent fentanyl and ketamine boluses to cover for visceral stimulation. We discuss the anatomical rationale for the choice of blocks and compare the anaesthetic conduct with similar cases that were previously reported.
Abdominal Wall ; surgery ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; methods ; Anesthesia, General ; adverse effects ; Colostomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Conscious Sedation ; methods ; Dexmedetomidine ; administration & dosage ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ketamine ; administration & dosage ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Nerve Block ; methods ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Period ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; Pulmonary Embolism ; complications ; Reoperation ; methods ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; complications ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUNDSpinal anesthesia was considered as a reasonable anesthetic option in severe preeclampsia when cesarean delivery is indicated, and there is no indwelling epidural catheter or contraindication to spinal anesthesia. However, the ideal dose of intrathecal bupivacaine has not been quantified for cesarean delivery for severe preeclamptic patients. This study aimed to determine the ED 50 and ED 95 of intrathecal bupivacaine for severely preeclamptic patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery.

METHODSTwo hundred severely preeclamptic patients are undergoing elective cesarean delivery under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia enrolled in this randomized, double-blinded, dose-ranging study. Patients received 4 mg, 6 mg, 8 mg, or 10 mg intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine with 2.5 μg sufentanil. Successful spinal anesthesia was defined as a T6 sensory level achieved within 10 minutes after intrathecal drug administration and/or no epidural supplement was required during the cesarean section. The ED 50 and ED 95 were calculated with a logistic regression model.

RESULTSED 50 and ED 95 of intrathecal bupivacaine for successful spinal anesthesia were 5.67 mg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.20-6.10 mg) and 8.82 mg (95% CI: 8.14-9.87 mg) respectively. The incidence of hypotension in Group 8 mg and Group 10 mg was higher than that in Group 4 mg and Group 6 mg (P < 0.05). The sensory block was significantly different among groups 10 minutes after intrathecal injection (P < 0.05). The use of lidocaine in Group 4 mg was higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). The use of phenylephrine in Group 8 mg and Group 10 mg was higher than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The lowest systolic blood pressure before the infant delivery of Group 8 mg and Group 10 mg was lower than the other two groups (P < 0.05). The satisfaction of muscle relaxation in Group 4 mg was lower than other groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in patients' satisfaction and the newborns' Apgar score and the blood gas analysis of umbilical artery serum (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur study showed that the ED 50 and ED 95 of intrathecal bupivacaine for severely preeclamptic patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery were 5.67 mg and 8.82 mg, respectively. In addition, decreasing the dose of intrathecal bupivacaine could reduce the incidence of maternal hypotension.

Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Bupivacaine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Cesarean Section ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sufentanil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDAcupuncture anesthesia was created in the 1950's in China and continues to be used there today during most major surgeries. It is widely used in China for such complex operations as brain, heart, and abdominal surgery. It is popular in China because it is economical, practical, and beneficial to the patients. With acupuncture anesthesia there is less bleeding during surgery and there is also quicker post-operative recovery.

OBJECTIVEThis randomized prospective study aims at comparing the effect of two acupoints (Yongquan, KI1 and Renzhong, DU26) with sham acupuncture and no acupuncture on the time to recovery of consciousness after general anesthesia by means of the Bispectral Index monitor (BIS).

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSThis is a prospective randomized controlled study. We randomly assigned 50 patients to 5 groups during recovery from surgical anesthesia. Four groups had acupuncture on KI1 (group A), DU26 (groups B), both KI1 and DU26 (group C), and sham points (group D), and one had no acupuncture (group E).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESBispectral Index (BIS), time to spontaneous eye opening, time to tracheal extubation, and time to following commands were measured as the main outcome measures.

RESULTSTime to spontaneous eye opening differed among groups (P=0.002), as well as time to tracheal extubation (P<0.000 1) and time to following commands (P=0.000 6). BIS values differed significantly among groups both 5 and 10 min after the end of anesthesia (P<0.000 1 and P=0.000 4, respectively). BIS values of groups D and E were lower than those of the other groups and those of group C were higher. The same pattern was observed also 15 and 30 min after the end of anesthesia, although the difference among groups was not significant at these time points (P=0.164 and P=0.104, respectively).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture on DU26 and KI1 accelerates recovery of consciousness after general anesthesia. Moreover, a possible synergistic effect of DU26 and KI1 is suggested. This issue may play a role in the optimization of operating room management and raise interest about the usefulness of acupuncture on unconsciousness states of different nature.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthesia, General ; methods ; Consciousness ; Delayed Emergence from Anesthesia ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To present clinical features of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) following retrobulbar anesthesia for intraocular surgery. METHODS: This observational case series describes 5 consecutive patients with acute CRAO following retrobulbar anesthesia for intraocular surgery. Data collected for this study included subject characteristics, retrobulbar anesthesia technique, treatment type, initial and final best-corrected visual acuity, and other ophthalmologic examinations. RESULTS: Mean subject age was 67.0 +/- 8.2 years (range, 53 to 72 years). All patients had one or more vascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, cerebral infarction, carotid artery stenosis) and presented with acute vision loss 1 day after uneventful intraocular surgery (cataract surgery in 2 eyes and vitrectomy in 3 eyes). All 5 patients received retrobulbar anesthesia during surgery, 4 of which involved the use of a sharp needle. No immediate complications were noted during intraocular surgery. Final visual prognosis was poor (from finger count to no light perception) although intraocular thrombolysis was attempted in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic CRAO is a potential complication of retrobulbar anesthesia for intraocular surgery in elderly patients with vascular risk factors. Unfortunately, this complication can lead to severe vision loss. We conclude that retrobulbar anesthesia for intraocular surgery should be performed with great care and special consideration for elderly patients with vascular risk factors.
Aged ; Anesthesia/*adverse effects/methods ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; *Iatrogenic Disease ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Orbit ; *Postoperative Complications ; Retinal Artery Occlusion/diagnosis/*etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: This randomized, controlled, double-blind study was designed to determine the optimal dose of remifentanil for preventing complications associated with the removal of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) without delaying emergence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study randomly assigned 128 patients to remifentanil effect-site concentrations (Ce) of 0 ng/mL (group R0), 0.5 ng/mL (group R0.5), 1.0 ng/mL (group R1.0), and 1.5 ng/mL (group R1.5) during emergence. The emergence and recovery profiles were recorded. Adverse events such as coughing, airway obstruction, breath-holding, agitation, desaturation, nausea, and vomiting were also evaluated. RESULTS: The number of patients with respiratory complications such as coughing and breath-holding was significantly lower in the R1.0 and R1.5 groups than in the R0 group (p<0.05). Emergence agitation also decreased in the R1.0 and R1.5 groups (p<0.0083). The time to LMA removal was significantly longer in the R1.5 group than in the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Maintaining a remifentanil Ce of 1.0 ng/mL during emergence may suppress adverse events such as coughing, breath-holding, and agitation following the removal of LMA without delayed awakening.
Adult ; Airway Management/*methods ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthetics, Intravenous/*administration & dosage ; Cough/prevention & control ; Device Removal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Laryngeal Masks/*adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines/*administration & dosage ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Vomiting/prevention & control