Comparison of bretylium and lidocaine in the prevention of ventricular fibrillation after aortic cross-clamp release in coronary artery bypass surgery.

The authors compared bretylium and lidocaine for reducing the incidence and persistence of ventricular fibrillation following aortic cross-clamp release performed during coronary artery bypass surgery. Thirty-three adult patients scheduled for elective bypass surgery were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive a bolus of bretylium, 10 mg/kg, lidocaine, 2 mg/kg, or saline, in equal volumes prior to the release of the aortic cross-clamp. Coronary artery bypass surgery was conducted using standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures with systemic cooling to 24 degrees to 28 degrees C.

False indication of arterial oxygen desaturation and methemoglobinemia following injection of methylene blue in urological surgery.

The pulse oximeter serves as an indicator of arterial oxygen saturation. We present two cases in which methylene blue injection during urological surgery appeared to cause arterial oxygen desaturation by pulse oximetry and methemoglobinemia by arterial blood gas co-oximetry. Methylene blue interferes with light absorption and gives a false estimate of the percentage of oxyhemoglobin and arterial oxygen saturation.

Cardiac and autonomic nervous system effects of L-alphacetylmethadol (LAAM).

The effects of 1-alphacetylmethadol (LAAM) on heart rate and force of contraction of isolated guinea-pig hearts and on release of tritium from sympathetic nerves were investigated. In vitro perfusion with LAAM depressed resting heart rate and right ventricular pressure. Nerve stimulation-induced tritium overflow was inhibited in a concentration related manner by LAAM.

Stereotypy and striatal dopamine receptor changes with 1-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM).

Narcotics like morphine and methadone produce effects on striatal dopaminergic mechanisms as evidenced by changes in a stereotyped behavior induced by apomorphine and binding or radioactive ligands to dopamine (DA) receptors. LAAM may replace methadone in the treatment of narcotic addiction. We investigated the effect of LAAM on apomorphine induced stereotypy and the binding of 3H-spiroperidol to dopamine receptors isolated from mouse and guinea pig striata.