A Novel and Simple Method for Tracheal Intubation in a Swine Model: Preparing for the Era of Xenotransplantation.

Objectives: Organ transplant in humans is an established therapy for a variety of end-stage organ diseases. However, due to organ shortages and lack of donors, the need for xenotransplant has gradually increased. Xenotransplantation has great potential to solve many of the problems facing organ transplantation.

In-plane three-step needle insertion technique for ultrasound-guided continuous femoral nerve block after total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective review of 488 cases.

Background: Continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) improves postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and complications of our in-plane three-step needle insertion technique that was devised to reduce the risk of direct femoral nerve injury during CFNB in anesthetized patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included 488 patients who had undergone TKA.

A Meta-Analysis of Renal Function After Adult Cardiac Surgery With Pulsatile Perfusion.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine whether pulsatile perfusion during cardiac surgery has a lesser effect on renal dysfunction than nonpulsatile perfusion after cardiac surgery in randomized controlled trials. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were used to identify available articles published before April 25, 2014. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of pulsatile perfusion on postoperative renal functions, as determined by creatinine clearance (CrCl), serum creatinine (Cr), urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and the incidences of acute renal insufficiency (ARI) and acute renal failure (ARF).

An unexpected increase of entropy in a sleepwalking disorder patient during propofol and remifentanil anesthesia: a case report.

We report a case of increased values of entropy parameters Response Entropy (RE) and State Entropy (SE) during intravenous general anesthesia in a sleepwalking patient. An ASA class II, 64-year-old woman with stress incontinence underwent mid-urethral sling surgery. Prior to surgery, the patient had been administered paroxetine, valproic acid and clonazepam for the treatment of sleepwalking disorder.

Presence of preoperative diastolic dysfunction predicts postoperative pulmonary edema and cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction on predicting postoperative pulmonary edema and major cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients who underwent low- or intermediate-risk noncardiac surgery.

Methods: A total of 692 patients aged >60 years who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before undergoing elective low- or intermediate-risk noncardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled. The medical history and TTE variables were assessed.

Feasibility of ultrasound-guided posterior approach for interscalene catheter placement during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Background: Continuous interscalene block has been known to improve postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This was a prospective study investigating the ultrasound-guided posterior approach for placement of an interscalene catheter, clinical efficacy and complications after placement of the catheter.

Methods: Forty-two patients undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery were included in this study and an interscalene catheter was inserted under the guidance of ultrasound with posterior approach.

Postoperative renal function in patients is unaltered after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Background: Pneumoperitoneum with an intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) of 14 mmHg is known to decrease renal function. Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) requires an IAP of more than 15 mmHg for operation. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated whether patients who underwent RARP experienced renal insufficiency during the postoperative period (at postoperative days 7 and 30).

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation developed during incomplete epidural anesthesia -A case report-.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained tachyarrhythmia, and occurs in organic heart disease such as rheumatic, atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. In recent studies, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have been shown to have important roles in initiating paroxysmal AF. We report here a patient who developed paroxysmal AF that might be a result of an imbalance of the sympathetic-parasympathetic systems due to epidural anesthesia, and that was potentiated by pain with inadequate analgesia.

Effect of propofol on cardiac function and gene expression after ischemic-reperfusion in isolated rat heart.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the cardiac function and transcriptional response of the heart to propofol after ischemia-reperfusion.

Methods: Rat hearts were Langendorff-perfused using the modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer, and took 20 min stabilizing periods, 40 min ischemia periods, and then 120 min reperfusion period. The hearts were divided into 5 groups;

Control: 180 min perfusion after stabilization, Ischemic: 40 min global ischemia after stabilization, followed by 120 min reperfusion, Pre: 2 microM propofol treatment was preformed only before ischemia, Post: 2 microM propofol treatment was performed only during reperfusion after ischemia, Pre/Post: 2 microM propofol treatment was performed both before and after ischemia.

The effect of intermittent levator massage with caudal block on management of levator ani syndrome: A case report.

Levator ani syndrome (LAS) is a functional disorder of the pelvic floor muscles in which recurrent and persistent distressing pain is felt in the anus without detectable organic pathology. Eighty one percent of coccygodynia was alleviated by the levator massage when the massage motion was repeated 10 to 15 times on each side of the pelvis daily for 5 or 6 days. The authors encountered the LAS patient for whom successive visit to pain clinic was economic burden.

Tracheal laceration detected by high end-tidal CO2 during endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Endoscopic thyroidectomy is frequently used for cosmetic reasons, such as reducing cervical scarring. Subcutaneous gas insufflation with CO2 is needed to maintain the surgical space, and optimal surgical techniques and careful attention are required when conducting this procedure due to the limited space available for the endoscopic instruments. We report here a case of a tracheal laceration with a tear in the cuff of a reinforced tube, which was detected by an abrupt increase in end-tidal CO2 to 90 mmHg.

Effect of muscle relaxant on entropy during propofol anesthesia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether muscle relaxant affect the values of Entropy, response entropy (RE) or state entropy (SE) during propofol anesthesia.

Methods: Eighty patients (ASA I) scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to four groups. Anesthesia was maintained at a SE value of 80 (80 +/- 2) using target controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol.

Common peroneal nerve palsy after robotic assisted laparoscopic colectomy: A case report.

Common peroneal nerve palsy after surgery with lithotomy position has been widely reported, but it is an unexpected complication after surgery with supine position. We report a patient who developed common peroneal nerve palsy after surgery with supine position. A 55-year old man is planed for robotic assisted laparoscopic right hemicolectomy because of colon cancer.

A case of facial myofascial pain syndrome presenting as trigeminal neuralgia.

Facial pain has many causes, including idiopathic factors, trigeminal neuralgia, dental problems, temporomandibular joint disorders, cranial abnormalities, and infections. However, the clinical diagnosis of facial pain is sometimes difficult to establish because clinical manifestations commonly overlap. The diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia is based solely on clinical findings.

The effects of propofol on cardiac function after 4 hours of cold cardioplegia and reperfusion.

Objective: To examine whether propofol protects against postischemic myocardial dysfunction and apoptosis during reperfusion after prolonged cold ischemia in isolated rat hearts.

Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: A university laboratory.

Arousal with iv epinephrine depends on the depth of anesthesia.

Purpose: To investigate whether the depth of anesthesia affects the change in the bispectral index (BIS) caused by iv epinephrine during propofol anesthesia.

Methods: Forty women undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery received a propofol target controlled infusion (TCI) to maintain a modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) score of 2 (sedation period). Subsequently anesthesia was induced with propofol TCI 5 mug.