The effect of hydroxyethyl starches (HES 130/0.42 and HES 200/0.5) on activated renal tubular epithelial cells.

Background: Acute renal failure is a frequent complication of sepsis. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is widely used in the treatment of such patients. However, the effect of HES on renal function during sepsis remains controversial.

Transdermal resorption of an ethanol- and 2-propanol-containing skin disinfectant.

Background And Aims: Ethanol- or 2-propanol-containing disinfectant agents are widely used in medical practice, particularly in the surgical environment. It was the primary objective of this phase I study to comparatively investigate the transdermal resorption of ethanol and 2-propanol within 1 h after dermal application of the two agents as single preparations and a commercial product containing both alcohols in combination, respectively. The secondary objective was to examine whether a mutual influence of the two alcohols in combination exists.

Impact of the C2/C6 ratio of high-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch on pharmacokinetics and blood coagulation in pigs.

Background: High-molecular-weight, low-substituted hydroxyethyl starch (HES) may not affect blood coagulation more than low-molecular-weight, low-substituted HES. The authors assessed in vivo the effect of a lowered C2/C6 ratio on pharmacokinetic characteristics and the impact on blood coagulation of high-molecular-weight, low-substituted HES.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, parallel study in 30 pigs compared HES 650/0.

Effect of high- and low-molecular-weight low-substituted hydroxyethyl starch on blood coagulation during acute normovolemic hemodilution in pigs.

Background: Hydroxyethyl starches (HES) with lower impact on blood coagulation but longer intravascular persistence are of clinical interest. The current study aimed to investigate in vivo the isolated effect of molecular weight on blood coagulation during progressive acute normovolemic hemodilution.

Methods: Twenty-four pigs were normovolemically hemodiluted up to a total exchange of 50 ml .

Quality of postoperative pain using an intraoperatively placed epidural catheter after major lumbar spinal surgery.

Background: Major spinal surgery is associated with high postoperative pain scores and opioid requirement. The aim of the current prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to assess the reduction of opioid requirement and pain scores using an intraoperatively placed epidural catheter with infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine during the postoperative period.

Spinal anesthesia performance conditions and side effects are comparable between the newly designed Ballpen and the Sprotte needle: results of a prospective comparative randomized multicenter study.

Unlabelled: In this study, we examined the characteristics of a newly designed spinal needle (Ballpen [B]) with a pencil-like tip formed by a stylet that is withdrawn after penetration of the dura. The main goal was to examine whether the use of the B needle could reduce performance time by improved puncture conditions in comparison with the Sprotte (S) needle. Seven-hundred patients at 4 hospitals received single-dose spinal anesthesia with a 25-gauge B or S needle and 0.

Propofol anesthesia in children does not induce sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes.

Background: Propofol is frequently used for general anesthesia in children although little is known about possible genotoxic effects in humans. We investigated the formation of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in metaphase chromosomes of T-lymphocytes of children as a marker for possible genotoxocity following total intravenous anesthesia with propofol for minor surgical procedures.

Methods: 40 children ASA classification I-III were included (ASA I n=34, ASA II n=5, ASA III n=1) in the study.

Continuous wound infiltration with ropivacaine reduces pain and analgesic requirement after shoulder surgery.

Unlabelled: After achieving a reduction of pain scores for 10 h with a single dose wound infiltration after shoulder surgery, we examined in a prospective, placebo-controlled and double-blinded study the analgesic effects of continuous wound infiltration with different concentrations of ropivacaine. Forty-five patients undergoing shoulder surgery were randomly assigned into three groups to receive single dose wound infiltration with 30 mL saline (group S) or ropivacaine 7.5 mg/mL (groups R2 and R3.

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 provides larger and faster increases in tissue oxygen tension in comparison with prehemodilution values than HES 70/0.5 or HES 200/0.5 in volunteers undergoing acute normovolemic hemodilution.

Unlabelled: Stable hemodynamics and improved rheology are important effects of hemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) infusions. One clinical indicator of improved rheology is increased tissue oxygen tension (tpO(2)). In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, crossover study, we examined the effects of acute normovolemic hemodilution with HES 130/0.

Patient-controlled epidural analgesia reduces analgesic requirements compared to continuous epidural infusion after major abdominal surgery.

Purpose: To compare the quality of pain relief and incidence of side effects between 24-hr postoperative continuous epidural infusion (CEI) and subsequent patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with different analgesics after major abdominal surgery.

Methods: Twenty-eight women undergoing extended gynecological tumour surgery received postoperative CEI with 0.15 mL x kg(-1) x hr(-1) 0.

Patient-controlled thoracic epidural infusion with ropivacaine 0.375% provides comparable pain relief as bupivacaine 0.125% plus sufentanil after major abdominal gynecologic tumor surgery.

Background And Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that an opioid-free local anesthetic alone is able to provide comparable analgesia to the opioid supplemented epidural application of local anesthetics using thoracic epidural catheters after major abdominal surgery.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized, and double-blind study, we have compared the analgesic efficacy and side effects of ropivacaine 0.375% (group R) versus bupivacaine 0.