Effect of remifentanil on intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity in patients with head trauma.

Background: Remifentanil, an ultra-short-acting opioid, is used as an on-top analgesic in head trauma patients during transient painful procedures, e.g. endotracheal suctioning, physiotherapy, on the intensive care unit.

Bispectral Index (BIS) may not predict awareness reaction to intubation in surgical patients.

Bispectral Index (BIS) has been marketed as a measure of the hypnotic component of anesthesia and is recommended as a guide for the administration of hypnotic drugs during anesthesia. BIS values between 40 and 60 are recommended for surgery under general anesthesia. This study investigates whether a BIS baseline between 50 and 60 prevents awareness reaction to endotracheal intubation.

High-dose S(+)-ketamine improves neurological outcome following incomplete cerebral ischemia in rats.

Purpose: To determine the effects of the non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist S(+)-ketamine on neurological outcome in a rat model of incomplete cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Thirty rats were anesthetized, intubated and mechanically ventilated with isoflurane, O2 30% and nitrous oxide 70%. Following surgery animals were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: Rats in group 1 (n = 10,OFF control) received fentanyl (bolus: 10 microg x kg(-1) i.

[Metformin-induced lactic acidosis].

History And Admission Findings: A 62-year-old woman had been found unconscious on her bed. She had to be resuscitated several times in the ambulance on the way to hospital. On admission her pupils were dilated and fixed, the cardiovascular system was unstable.