Epidural block with ropivacaine and bupivacaine for elective caesarean section: maternal cardiovascular parameters, comfort and neonatal well-being.

Objective: To determine cardiovascular effects and neonatal outcome of ropivacaine 0.75% and bupivacaine 0.5% for elective epidural caesarean section.

N-acetylcysteine prevents reactive oxygen species-mediated myocardial stress in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objective: Reactive oxygen species have been shown to contribute to myocardial stress in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, as demonstrated by myocardial 8-iso-prostaglandin-F(2)alpha and nitrotyrosine formation. We hypothesized that the reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetylcysteine attenuates reactive oxygen species-mediated myocardial stress in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: Forty patients undergoing coronary artery surgery (mean age +/- SD, 66 +/- 9 years; 9 women and 31 men) were randomized to receive either N-acetylcysteine (100 mg/kg into cardiopulmonary bypass prime followed by infusion at 20 mg.

Ropivacaine 0.1% with sufentanil 1 microg/mL inhibits in vitro growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and does not promote multiplication of Staphylococcus aureus.

Unlabelled: We investigated the effect of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil, a mixture frequently used for postoperative epidural analgesia, on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at room temperature. Aliquots of suspension of S. aureus and P.

Large-dose hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 does not increase blood loss and transfusion requirements in coronary artery bypass surgery compared with hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 at recommended doses.

Background: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 may impair blood coagulation less than other HES solutions and, thus, may be used at larger doses without increasing the risk of postoperative bleeding. This study tested the hypothesis that volume replacement with 6% HES 130/0.

The continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine 0.1% with 0.5 microg x mL(-1) sufentanil provides effective postoperative analgesia after total hip replacement: a pilot study.

Purpose: To assess the analgesic efficacy and functional outcome of postoperative epidural infusion of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil in a randomized, controlled trial.

Methods: Thirty-two ASA I-III patients undergoing elective total hip replacement (THR) were included. Lumbar epidural block using 0.

Current practice in postoperative epidural analgesia: a german survey.

Unlabelled: We surveyed current German practice in postoperative epidural analgesia (EA). Of 300 questionnaires sent anonymously, 147 (49%) were returned fully completed. A 24-h acute pain service (APS) was offered in 41% of German hospitals.

A randomized crossover trial of IV fluid replacement versus no fluid replacement in autologous blood donors with cardiovascular disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of arterial hypotension in response to autologous blood donation with and without simultaneous IV fluid replacement in 60 patients with cardiovascular disease.

Study Design And Methods: Each patient donated two 500 mL units of blood at an interval of 7 days. Following random allocation within a two-stage crossover design, either the first or second unit was collected with a simultaneous IV infusion of 500 mL of HES.

Human error: the persisting risk of blood transfusion: a report of five cases.

Unlabelled: It is common experience that virus transmission, particularly transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is a principal concern of patients and physicians regarding blood transfusion (1). Many physicians are probably unaware that transfusion-transmitted HIV infection is approximately 50 to 100 times less likely to occur than transfusion error (2-4). This misconception may have been encouraged by the scarcity of reports on transfusion error relative to the tremendous public attention focused on HIV infection.