L-carnitine reduces susceptibility to bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity: an experimental study in rats.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute administration of L-carnitine 100 mg·kg iv on susceptibility to bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Methods: In the first of two experiments, L-carnitine 100 mg·kg iv (n = 10) or saline iv (n = 10) was administered to anesthetized and mechanically ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats following which an infusion of bupivacaine 2.0 mg·kg·min iv was given until asystole occurred.

Major complications related to epidural analgesia in children: a 15-year audit of 3,152 epidurals.

Background: Complications associated with epidural analgesia in children have a reported incidence of 40-90 in 10,000 epidurals. We sought to determine the incidence of major complications with the use of continuous epidural analgesia that occurred in our centre over the past 15 years and to describe the nature of these complications.

Methods: The Acute Pain Service database at a tertiary care academic pediatric hospital was reviewed retrospectively over a 15-year period.

Carnitine deficiency increases susceptibility to bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Background: Anecdotal reports suggest that carnitine deficiency increases susceptibility to bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity. Bupivacaine inhibits lipid-based respiration in myocardial mitochondria via inhibition of acylcarnitine exchange in rats. The authors hypothesized that carnitine deficiency increases susceptibility to bupivacaine-induced asystole in rats and that acute repletion with L-carnitine reverses this effect.

Preparation of the Dräger Fabius GS workstation for malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patients.

Purpose: In order to establish guidelines for the preparation of the Dräger Fabius GS premium anesthetic workstation for malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patients, the authors evaluated the effect of the workstation's exchangeable and autoclavable components on the washout of isoflurane.

Methods: A Dräger Fabius GS workstation was primed with 1.5% isoflurane, and exchangeable components were replaced as follows: Group 1: no replacement (control); Group 2: autoclaved ventilator diaphragm and ventilator hose; Group 3: flushed ventilator diaphragm and ventilator hose; Group 4: autoclaved compact breathing system.