Cerebral oxygen desaturation during one-lung ventilation: correlation with hemodynamic variables.

Purpose: Cerebral desaturation occurs frequently in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery. The mechanism of this desaturation is unclear regarding its etiology. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not decreases in cerebral oxygen saturation associated with one-lung ventilation were a consequence of decreased cardiac output.

Intrathecal catheter granuloma associated with isolated baclofen infusion.

Intrathecal (IT) baclofen is an effective management strategy for controlling spasticity in patients unresponsive to maximal oral therapy. We present the case of a 57-yr-old woman who was rendered quadriplegic after a complete spinal cord transection at the C6 level. Her course was complicated by severe spasms, which were uncontrolled despite titrating orally administered baclofen to 80 mg/d.

Low-dose intrathecal morphine does not delay early extubation after cardiac surgery.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the efficacy of low-dose intrathecal morphine (ITM) on extubation times and pain control after cardiac surgery.

Methods: 43 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial. Patients were given a pre-induction dose of ITM (6 microg x kg(-1) per ideal body weight in 5 mL normal saline, group ITM) or 5 mL of intrathecal normal saline (group ITS).