The majority of patients developing aortic aneurysms had undergone cardiac transplantation for ischaemic cardiomyopathy and thus require detailed assessment of cardiac function preoperatively to exclude accelerated coronary artery disease in the graft. Full invasive cardiac monitoring during surgery is mandatory to maintain haemodynamic stability in patients with a dennervated heart and to avoid postoperative renal failure. The higher incidence of pulmonary and wound complications are discussed, together with protocols for maintaining adequate immunosuppression. Finally, data supporting a higher prevalence and more rapid expansion of aortic aneurysms in immunosuppressed patients is considered and evidence-based recommendations made regarding aneurysm screening in these patients.
SUMMARYThe effect of pH on the pain of administration and efficacy of 1% lignocaine was investigated in a prospective, double-blind, randomized study of 20 adult volunteers. Onset and spread of anaesthesia by intra-dermal injection were not altered, but there was a significant reduction in pain scores with a higher pH. Overall, pain scores appear to be more dependent on the speed of injection rather than alteration of pH.
Carotid endarterectomy has been widely used for the surgical treatment of carotid stenosis, and may be performed under either general or local anaesthesia. This article examines the relative merits of both techniques for carotid endarterectomy, and describes the local anaesthetic technique used by the authors for this procedure.
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