Pharmacokinetics of propofol in severely obese surgical patients.

Background: Existing PK models of propofol include sparse data from very obese patients. The aim of this study was to develop a PK model based on standardised surgical conditions and spanning from normal-weight up to, and including, a high number of very obese patients.

Methods: Adult patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy or bariatric surgery were studied.

Dose requirements of alfentanil to eliminate autonomic responses during rapid-sequence induction with thiopental 4 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg.

Study Objective: Opioids are integral part of anesthesia induction, but information on optimal dosing is limited. We aimed to determine doses of alfentanil needed to eliminate increases in 5 autonomic response variables (plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine and vasopressin, arterial blood pressure [ABP], and heart rate) during rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia with thiopental 4 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg.

Alfentanil during rapid sequence induction with thiopental 4 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg: tracheal intubation conditions.

Background: Opioids have become an integral part of anaesthesia induction. We aimed to determine the dose of alfentanil needed to obtain perfect tracheal intubation conditions during rapid sequence induction with standard doses of thiopental and rocuronium, where laryngoscopy was initiated 55 s after commencement of drug administration. The influence of covariates (sex, body weight, age, alfentanil plasma concentration at laryngoscopy) was tested.

Reversal of experimental paralysis in a human by intranasal neostigmine aerosol suggests a novel approach to the early treatment of neurotoxic envenomation.

Neurotoxic snake envenomation can result in respiratory failure and death. Early treatment is considered important to survival. Inexpensive, heat-stable, needle-free, antiparalytics could facilitate early treatment of snakebite and save lives, but none have been developed.

Sex-related differences in the relationship between acceleromyographic adductor pollicis train-of-four ratio and clinical manifestations of residual neuromuscular block: a study in healthy volunteers during near steady-state infusion of mivacurium.

Background: Studies in volunteers suggest that train-of-four (TOF) ratios >0.9 are needed to retain normal function of muscles involved in upper airway patency, swallowing, and vital capacity breathing. We determined if sex-related differences exist in the relationship between adductor pollicis (AP) TOF ratio and measures of neuromuscular function commonly used to assess recovery from neuromuscular block.