Decreasing brain activity caused by acute administration of ketamine and alcohol - A randomized, controlled, observer-blinded experimental study.

Introduction: Substance abuse is a major public health problem. In recent years, ketamine, which is a parenteral anesthetic, has been consumed increasingly as an illicit drug together with alcohol, although little is known of how this association alters brain activity. The present study investigated the influence of progressive doses of ketamine, associated with alcohol, on electrophysiological activity.

Biochemical Changes in Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Cardiac Surgery: New Insights.

Patients undergoing coronary revascularization with extracorporeal circulation or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may develop several biochemical changes in the microcirculation that lead to a systemic inflammatory response. Surgical incision, post-CPB reperfusion injury and blood contact with non-endothelial membranes can activate inflammatory signaling pathways that lead to the production and activation of inflammatory cells, with cytokine production and oxidative stress. This inflammatory storm can cause damage to vital organs, especially the heart, and thus lead to complications in the postoperative period.

Nasotracheal intubation awake in a patient with multiple fractures of the maxilla and cervical spine: A case report.

Rationale: Nasotracheal intubation is an advanced airway modality used in specific contexts, such as limited mouth opening, macroglossia, cervical spine instability. In addition, it can be performed with the patient awake, especially when predictors a difficult airway are unknown.

Patient Concerns: A 41-year-old male with a lesion in the C1 cervical vertebra, associated with a fracture of the right maxilla, was intubated through the nasopharyngeal route while awake.