Comparison of sevoflurane and ketamine for anesthetic induction in children with congenital heart disease.

Background: Sevoflurane is widely used in pediatric anesthesia for induction. Ketamine has been preferred in pediatric cardiovascular anesthesia. Aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic effects and the speed of ketamine and sevoflurane for anesthesia induction in children with congenital heart disease.

Non-analgesic effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia.

Thoracic epidural anaesthesia is selected usually to provide adequate postoperative analgesia; however with administration of local anaesthetics to epidural space selective sympatolysis ensues. The effects of this transient sympathectomy on cardivascular, respiratory and other systems deserve certainly some interest as it may influence postoperative morbidity or mortality. Thoracic epidural anaesthesia has succesfully been used in cardiac, thoracic and major abdominal surgery.