Influence of systolic-pressure-variation-guided intraoperative fluid management on organ function and oxygen transport.

Background: Dynamic variables, for example, systolic pressure variation (SPV), are superior to filling pressures for assessing fluid responsiveness. We analysed the effects of SPV-guided intraoperative fluid management on organ function and perfusion when compared with routine care.

Methods: Eighty patients (44 female and 36 male) undergoing elective major abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to a control group [n=40, mean age 66 (sd 10), range 40-84 yr] or SPV group [n=40, age 61 (16), range 26-100 yr] in which intraoperative fluid management was guided by SPV (trigger: SPV>10%).

Effects of propofol vs methohexital on neutrophil function and immune status in critically ill patients.

Purpose: Patients with severe brain injury often require long-term sedation and have a high incidence of nosocomial infections, causing an increased mortality rate. However, whether anesthetic drugs might contribute to immunosuppressive effects remains unclear.

Methods: In this prospective study, we investigated the effects of propofol (4-6 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1)) and methohexital (1-3 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1)) on neutrophil leukocyte function and immune status in 21 patients with brain injury who either received propofol (n = 12; 9 male, 3 female; mean age, 51 +/- 15 years) or methohexital (n = 9; 8 male, 1 female; mean age, 48 +/- 17 years) after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Anaesthesia and anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.

Purpose Of Review: This is a review of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, describing their actions, interactions, and toxicity with a particular focus on the relevance for the anaesthetist.

Recent Findings: Anti-cancer chemotherapeutics have a vast array of adverse effects, some of which, i.e.

The influence of anthracycline therapy on cardiac function during anesthesia.

Unlabelled: Cardiotoxicity is a well recognized complication of anthracycline (AC) therapy. Subtle abnormalities in myocardial function that become apparent only after exercise may exist in survivors of childhood cancer who have previously received AC, yet have normal resting cardiac function. To evaluate if anesthesia-induced changes in cardiac function differ in pediatric patients with previous AC therapy from healthy children and adolescents, we evaluated in a prospective study 43 patients, of whom 42 were analyzed.