The effects of acute isovolemic hemodilution on oxygenation during one-lung ventilation.

Data on the effects of isovolemic hemodilution (IH) on oxygenation during one-lung ventilation (OLV) are lacking. We studied 47 patients with hemoglobin >14 g/dL who were scheduled for lung surgery (17 with normal lung function [group NL], 17 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] [group COPD], and 13 with COPD as control for time/anesthesia effects [group CTRL]). Anesthesia was standardized.

Epidural dextran 40 patch for postdural puncture headache.

We report a case where two consecutive blood patches failed to relieve postdural puncture headache and hearing loss following inadvertent dural puncture. Initial conservative therapy with analgesics, fluids and later two blood patches had no effect and the patient's symptoms only resolved after an epidural dextran 40 patch performed 8 weeks after the dural tap. Two months later, the patient is still asymptomatic.

A new therapeutic approach to accidental intra-arterial injection of thiopentone.

After an accidental intra-arterial injection of thiopentone, good therapeutic results were obtained with a selective intra-arterial injection of urokinase during digital subtraction angiography.