Renal ischemia: does sex matter?

Renal ischemia is a common complication in the perioperative period that leads to a high rate of morbidity and mortality. As in other forms of ischemia (i.e.

Renal protection strategies in the perioperative period.

The development of acute renal failure (ARF) in the perioperative period continues to be a vexing condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates which have been unchanged for several decades. In this article I briefly review recent research categorizing pathogenesis of ARF and mechanisms of recovery. Once ARF is established, its maintenance phase is dependent on several mechanisms that interact with cellular integrity.

A canine model for studying laryngospasm and its prevention.

Laryngospasm, if prolonged, can result in serious sequelae due to the lack of a uniformly effective treatment. Prevention, therefore, through pharmacologic intervention, is an attractive concept. In order to study the effects of various drugs in preventing laryngospasm, a reliable animal model capable of producing sequential, repetitive episodes of laryngospasm is necessary.

Paravertebral block during cholecystectomy: effects on circulatory and hormonal responses.

Surgical trauma induces a hormonal metabolic response which is partly responsible for postoperative catabolism. In this study 12 patients underwent cholecystectomy during isoflurane anaesthesia, six with a paravertebral block (PVB) in addition. Plasma concentrations of glucose, cortisol and adrenaline, and heart rate and arterial pressure were compared between the two groups.

High- and low-dose fentanyl anaesthesia: hormonal and metabolic responses during cholecystectomy.

We have compared two groups of patients given low- or high-dose fentanyl anaesthesia. Arterial blood samples were collected for measurement of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, beta-hydroxy-butyrate, insulin, c-peptide, glucagon, human growth hormone (HGH), cortisol and adrenaline concentrations. After induction of anaesthesia, blood concentrations of most of these substances decreased.