Haemodynamic stability during moderate hypotensive anaesthesia for spinal surgery. A comparison between desflurane and isoflurane.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare desflurane and isoflurane for spinal procedures requiring moderate levels of controlled arterial hypotension, when these agents were administered via a semi-closed circuit at 1 l x min(-1) fresh gas flow.

Methods: After ethics committee approval and written informed consent, 20 ASA I or II patients were randomly allocated to receive either desflurane (n=10) or isoflurane (n=10), in O2/ N2O (1:1) for maintenance of anaesthesia. Induction of anaesthesia, fentanyl dosing and volume loading were standardized.

Duration of the pharmacodynamic interaction between pancuronium and mivacurium.

The aim of this study was to determine for how long the duration of action of increments of mivacurium can be influenced by previous pancuronium administration. Fifteen patients, ASA I or II, undergoing general anaesthesia for major abdominal surgery were investigated. The post-tetanic count (PTC) was measured at the adductor pollicis muscle.

Comparative effects of desflurane and isoflurane on recovery after long lasting anaesthesia.

Purpose: Increasing the duration of exposure could lead to amplification of the pharmacokinetic differences between halogenated anaesthetic agents. The aim of our study was to compare anaesthesia recovery after desflurane and isoflurane, administered for more than three hours.

Methods: After informed consent, patients were randomly assigned to either desflurane (n = 15) or isoflurane (n = 15) groups.

[Desflurane and errors of gas selection on vaporizer analyzer].

With monochromatic infrared gas spectrometers (MIS), the displayed concentration is computed from measured IR absorption and a gain factor specific for the selected volatile agent (VA). As MIS cannot detect which VA is actually present, the displayed concentration can be very different from the actual one. As bottles and vaporizers are very specific for desflurane, it is impossible to misfill a vaporizer; however an erroneous selection of VA on MIS remains possible.