A comparison of ropivacaine and bupivacaine for cervical plexus block.

Unlabelled: We compared bupivacaine 0.5% and ropivacaine 0.75% for cervical plexus block (CB).

Evaluation of benefits related to reduced length of stays in postanesthesia care units.

The study's purpose was to estimate the potential economic benefit of the optimization of postanesthesia care units (PACUs). A simulation model was designed and used to test the economic impact of a reduction of length of stay. For the studied PACU, a reduction of 25% of length of stay is required to yield significant economic results.

Influence of acute renal failure on FPIA rapid serum assay of midazolam and its main metabolite.

We recently developed a simple and fast assay technique, providing the possibility of monitoring of midazolam (M) during sedation. We compared HPLC vs FPIA for the measurement of the sum M plus alpha 1-hydroxymidazolam (OM), its main and pharmacologically active metabolite, in the serum of sedated ICU patients; this activity referred to as M-like. We identified certain patients in whom M-like activity appeared abnormally high in comparison with HPLC assays.

[Value of transcranial pulsed Doppler in artery carotid surgery. A comparison of clinical, paraclinical and peroperative data].

Blood flow in the middle cerebral artery was monitored during carotid artery surgery under loco-regional anaesthesia by plexus block in awake patients in order to assess the value of transcranial pulsed Doppler in understanding the embolic or haemodynamic mechanisms of peroperative cerebrovascular accidents. Blood flow changes in the middle cerebral artery ipsilateral to the operated carotid artery were compared with clinical, paraclinical and operative findings. Sixty-two patients were included in the study, 34 with symptomatic carotid artery lesions and 28 with very severe, progressive but asymptomatic stenosis.

Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatography and polyclonal fluorescence polarization immunoassay for the monitoring of midazolam in the plasma of intensive care unit patients.

Midazolam (M) is used as an induction agent for anesthesia. The main metabolite is alpha-hydroxymidazolam (OM), which is pharmacologically active. Use of M for sedation is a recent application, rapidly gaining favor.