Evaluation of acute normovolemic hemodilution for surgical repair of craniosynostosis.

This clinical report investigated the potential benefit of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) as a blood-saving technique in the surgical repair of craniosynostosis. Over a 4-year period, 34 healthy children undergoing surgical repair of scaphocephaly or pachycephaly were randomly assigned to two groups of 17 patients each. Patients of the first group (ANH group) were submitted to ANH (target Ht: 25%) immediately before surgery and patients of the second group (Control group) were not.

Effects of two calculated plasma sufentanil concentrations on the hemodynamic and bispectral index responses to Mayfield head holder application.

The effects of two calculated plasma sufentanil (SUF) concentrations on the hemodynamic and bispectral index (BIS) responses to Mayfield head holder (MH) application were studied in 20 patients scheduled for intracranial surgery. Premedication consisted of hydroxyzine, alprazolam, and atropine given orally 1 hour before surgery. Anesthesia was provided with propofol (PPF) and SUF using a target-controlled infusion device.

Predictive accuracy of continuous propofol infusions in neurosurgical patients: comparison of pharmacokinetic models.

The performance of 10 pharmacokinetic models in predicting blood propofol concentrations was evaluated in patients during neurosurgical anesthesia. Eight patients-ASA category I or II, aged 49 +/- 18-years, weighing 71 +/- 20 kg, and scheduled for routine neurosurgery-were anesthetized with propofol and sufentanil using Ohmeda pumps controlled with a personal computer. Sufentanil was administered as a bolus of 0.

Elevated plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein levels: lack of connection to resistance to vecuronium blockade induced by anticonvulsant therapy.

This study was designed to investigate the relationships among anticonvulsant therapy, plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) levels, and resistance to vecuronium blockade. Thirty-one patients scheduled for routine neurosurgery were included in the study. The patients were treated (TG; n = 20) with phenytoin (n = 15) and/or carbamazepine (n = 4) and/or phenobarbital (n = 3) for > or = 6 days or were left untreated (UG; n = 11, control group).

Effect of plasma anticonvulsant level on pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade: preliminary results.

Patients receiving anticonvulsants are resistant to nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (NDMR). This study examines the effect of plasma anticonvulsant levels on pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade. Twenty adult patients scheduled for neurosurgery were assigned to one of two groups.