The human error: delayed diagnosis of intravascular loss of guidewires for central venous catheterization.

We report three recent cases in which there was intravascular loss of the entire guide wire. In one case, this loss was discovered more than three months after the patient's procedure. In another case, the loss was detected one month later, and in the third case, four days was the interval of the loss.

Anaphylactoid reactions after cisatracurium administration in six patients.

We report six cases of anaphylactoid reaction after the administration of the muscle relaxant cisatracurium. They include two first-time documented anaphylactoid reactions after a precurarising dose. These incidents challenge existing views of a substantially reduced anaphylactoid potential of cisatracurium relative to other muscle relaxants.

Pseudocholinesterase-activity reduction during cardiopulmonary bypass: the role of dilutional processes and pharmacological agents.

Unlabelled: 1. Pseudocholinesterase (ChE) activity is a determinant of the elimination kinetics of several drugs used in anesthesia. The time course of ChE activity was investigated in 16 patients undergoing cardiosurgery for a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in normothermia or hypothermia.

Lactated Ringer's solution versus hydroxyethyl starch for volume replacement in autologous blood donors with cardiovascular disease: a controlled, randomized trial.

Background And Objectives: The study was designed to evaluate whether volume replacement following blood donation can prevent arterial hypotension in autologous blood donors with cardiovascular disease.

Materials And Methods: One hundred nineteen autologous blood donors with known cardiovascular disease were randomly allocated to receive, following withdrawal of 500 ml of blood, either no infusion (control group) or a 25 ml/min intravenous infusion of either 1,500 ml of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) or 500 ml of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES). Starting before phlebotomy, arterial blood pressure was measured oscillometrically every 5 min until 90 min after donation.

The effects of increased doses of bovine hemoglobin on hemodynamics and oxygen transport in patients undergoing preoperative hemodilution for elective abdominal aortic surgery.

Unlabelled: In two consecutive studies (Study A and Study B), we evaluated the effects of increasing doses of HBOC-201, a bovine hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, on hemodynamics and oxygen transport in patients undergoing preoperative hemodilution for elective abdominal aortic surgery. After the induction of anesthesia and the exchange of 1 L of blood for 1 L of lactated Ringer's solution, 24 patients (12 in each study) were randomly assigned to receive, within 30 min, a predetermined volume of either HBOC-201 or 6% hydroxyethyl starch (Study A 6.9 mL/kg; Study B 9.

All adverse events in autologous blood donors with cardiac disease are not necessarily caused by blood donation.

Background: Autologous blood donation before elective cardiac surgery has become a standard of care at many institutions. However, the safety of autologous blood donations by patients with cardiac disease is subject to controversy.

Case Reports: Two life-threatening cardiac arrests and one fatal myocardial infarction that occurred in three patients who were scheduled to donate blood for autologous use in elective cardiac surgery are reported.

Preoperative red cell production in patients undergoing weekly autologous blood donation.

Background: Modest autologous blood donation programs involving weekly phlebotomy and threshold hematocrits for blood donation higher than 33 percent are frequently used in patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery. This study was performed to determine the gain in red cells (RBCs) obtained with such a program.

Study Design And Methods: The blood bank and medical records of 225 adult patients (194 men, 31 women; mean age, 57 years [range, 18-77]) who donated blood for autologous use in elective cardiac surgery during a 3-year period were reviewed.

A pilot study of continuous ambulatory electrocardiography in patients donating blood for autologous use in elective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the impact of a single autologous blood donation on the presence or absence of myocardial ischemic episodes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Study Design And Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting underwent two 24-hour periods of ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring, one before and one after their first autologous blood donation. The presence or absence and the number, duration, and integral area of episodes of ST segment depression for each 24-hour monitoring period were determined.

[Muscle relaxants. New substances and neuromuscular monitoring].

Introduction: Recent developments in both the quantitative evaluation of neuromuscular blockade and new muscle relaxants are reviewed. With respect to nerve stimulation, neuromuscular recording, and definition of parameters, the results of the 1994 Copenhagen International Consensus Conference are highlighted. Future clinical studies should adhere to these standards.

Onset of the neuromuscular block simulated in an anatomical model.

Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a pharmacodynamic model for nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (neuromuscular blocking agents, NMBAs) based on anatomical, physiological, and pharmacological considerations and analyse whether the time to onset of the submaximal neuromuscular block (NMB) depends on the affinities of the NMBAs for the postsynaptic receptors or on the pharmacokinetic properties of the NMBAs.

Methods: A quantitative description of the development of neuromuscular block was achieved by formulating a pharmacodynamic model based on anatomical, physiological and pharmacological considerations. The principal characteristics of the model are: (1) Diffusion of the NMBAs out of the capillaries into the interstitial space of muscle and from there into the synaptic space of the motor end plates (2) Receptor concentration in the synaptic space of 300 microM and the total amount of receptors in 100 g muscle of between 1.

A comparison of cisatracurium and atracurium: onset of neuromuscular block after bolus injection and recovery after subsequent infusion.

Cisatracurium is a new nondepolarizing muscle relaxant. In patients randomized to receive either cisatracurium (n = 40) or atracurium (n = 20) we compared the time course of neuromuscular block. The initial bolus dose of cisatracurium was 0.

Effects of a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC-201) on hemodynamics and oxygen transport in patients undergoing preoperative hemodilution for elective abdominal aortic surgery.

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effects of HBOC-201, a bovine hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, on hemodynamics and oxygen transport in patients undergoing preoperative hemodilution for elective abdominal aortic surgery. After induction of anesthesia and isovolemic hemodilution with 1 L of lactated Ringer's solution, 13 patients were randomly assigned to receive, within 30 min, 3 mL/kg of either HBOC-201 or 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES). Monitored variables included invasive arterial and pulmonary artery pressures, arterial and mixed venous blood gases, and calculations of cardiac index (CI), systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices, oxygen delivery index (DO2I), oxygen consumption index (VO2I), and oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER).

[Autologous blood transfusion in the Federal Republic of Germany--results of a questionnaire in 1993. 2. The use of autologous transfusion in the old and new federation].

In 1993, we conducted a postal survey to assess the use of autologous blood transfusion (ABT) in the Federal Republic of Germany after reunification. The results of this survey have already been reported in a previous paper, but without differentiation between the "old" and "new" states (former West Germany and former German Democratic Republic, respectively). In the present study, the data of our 1993 survey were further analysed to see if there were differences in the use of ABT between the "old" and "new" states.

[New muscle relaxants].

Mivacurium is a short-acting nondepolarising muscle relaxant of the benzylisoquinoline type undergoing rapid breakdown by plasma cholinesterase. With 2.5 fold ED95, tracheal intubation can be accomplished within 2-3 min following injection.

Muscle relaxants: a clinical update.

The new nondepolarizing muscle relaxant rocuronium belongs to the chemical group of aminosteroidal muscle relaxants and is similar to vecuronium in its chemical structure and pharmacologic action. The principal clinical advantage of rocuronium over vecuronium is the short time to onset of the neuromuscular block. The two other new muscle relaxants, mivacurium and cis-atracurium, belong to the group of benzylisoquinoline muscle relaxants.

Changes in plasma cholinesterase activity and mivacurium neuromuscular block in response to normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

The effect of reduced plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity in response to normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on mivacurium neuromuscular block was studied in nine patients anesthetized with propofol/fentanyl. Mivacurium was injected intravenously as an initial bolus of 150 micrograms/kg; repeat doses of 75 micrograms/kg were given when the evoked twitch tension attained 75% of control. With the institution of CPB, the previously normal ChE activity was reduced by 42% and remained low until the end of the procedure.

Alcuronium: a pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic update.

Alcuronium may be considered a muscle relaxant of historical rather than clinical significance. However, recent information from the manufacturer revealed its persisting clinical use in 26 countries worldwide. Thus, a pharmacodynamic-pharmacokinetic update appears mandatory.

Mivacurium chloride--a comparative profile.

Mivacurium is a new nondepolarizing muscle relaxant of the benzylisoquinoline type. Its short duration of action is due to rapid breakdown by plasma cholinesterase. The dose of mivacurium which produces 95% inhibition of twitch response (ED95) is between 60 and 80 micrograms/kg.

[Muscle relaxation in patients with neuromuscular diseases].

The classification of neuromuscular diseases with regard to the use of muscle relaxants is based on the localisation of the particular abnormality. Three types of syndromes can be differentiated: (1) denervation states; (2) disturbances of neuromuscular transmission; and (3) intracellular disease. Succinylcholine should be avoided in all types of denervation syndrome due to the possibility of life-threatening hyperkalaemia.

Dose-response relationship of rocuronium bromide during intravenous anaesthesia.

The dose-response relationship and time course of neuromuscular block following bolus injections of rocuronium was determined in four groups of nine patients each under nitrous oxide-narcotic anaesthesia. Each patient received a total of 800 micrograms kg-1 rocuronium in two divided doses, i.e.