Xenon is a more potent anesthetic than nitrous oxide, and give more profound analgesia. This investigation was performed to assess the potential of xenon for becoming an anesthetic inspite of its high manufacturing cost. Seven ASA I-II patients undergoing cholecystectomy (n = 4), hernia repair (n = 2), or mammoplasty (n = 1) were studied. Denitrogenation by 15-20 min of oxygen breathing under propofol anesthesia was followed by fentanyl-supplemented xenon anesthesia administered via an automatic minimal flow system which held the oxygen concentration at 30%. Xenon anesthesia lasted 76-228 min and 8-14 l of xenon (ATPD) was used, of which 5.6-8.1 l was expended during the first 15 min. Anesthesia appeared to be satisfactory, and the patients woke up rapidly after xenon was discontinued. The automatic system made minimal flow xenon anesthesia easy to administer, but nitrogen accumulation is still a problem. Assuming a xenon price of 10 US$ per litre, the average cost for xenon was about 65 US$ for the first 15 min and then about 25 US$ for each subsequent hour of anesthesia.

The effect of heat and moisture exchanger on humidity and body temperature in a lowflow anaesthesia system. Lundberg, D., & Luttropp, H-H. (2003). The effect of heat and moisture exchanger on humidity and body temperature in a low-flow anaesthesia system. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 47(5), 564-568. DOI: 10.1034564-568. DOI: 10. /j.1399564-568. DOI: 10. -6576.2003 General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.• Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.• You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Background: Artificial humidification of dry inspired gases seems to reduce the drop in body temperature during surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the humidity and temperature of anaesthetic gases with heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs). The secondary aim was to evaluate if HMEs in combination with low-flow anaesthesia could prevent a decrease in the body temperature during general anaesthesia. Methods: Ninety patients scheduled for general surgery were randomised to receive a fresh gas flow of 1.0, 3.0 or 6.0 l min À1 with or without HMEs in a circle anaesthesia system. Relative humidity, absolute humidity, temperature of inspired gases and body temperatures were measured during 120 min of anaesthesia.Results: The inspiratory absolute humidity levels with HMEs were 32.7 AE 3.1, 32.1 AE 1.1 and 29.2 AE 1.9 mg H 2 O l À1 and 26.6 AE 2.3, 22.6 AE 3.0 and 13.0 AE 2.6 mg H 2 O l À1 without HMEs after 120 min of anaesthesia with 1.0, 3.0, or 6.0 l min À1 fresh gas flows (P < 0.05, between with and without HME). The relative humidity levels with HMEs were 93.8 AE 3.3, 92.7 AE 2.2 and 90.7 AE 3.5%, and without the HMEs 95.2 AE 4.5, 86.8 AE 8.0 and 52.8 AE 9.8% (P < 0.05, between with and without HMEs in the 3.0 and 6.0 l min À1 groups). The inspiratory gas temperatures with HMEs were 32.5 AE 2.0, 32.4 AE 0.5 and 31.0 AE 1.9 C, and 28.4 AE 1.5,

No abstract

We found no differences in postoperative pain management between 3.75 mg/ml ropivacaine and saline wound infiltration before breast surgery. The data show similar postoperative needs of analgesics and antiemetics with a similar frequency of PONV.

No abstract

There is a significant difference between the inspired and end-tidal concentrations of desflurane when fresh gas inflows were 1.0 and 2.0 L min-1, but not for the ratio of inspired/end-tidal.

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of opioids administered for pain control. This double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study evaluated the anti-emetic efficacy and tolerability of single intravenous (i.v.) doses of ondansetron 8 mg, ondansetron 16 mg and metoclopramide 10 mg in the treatment of opioid-induced emesis. Adult patients undergoing low emetogenic surgical procedures, using a standardized anaesthesia regimen were assessed for 24 h following administration of study anti-emetic to treat established post-surgical opioid-induced emesis. A total of 4511 patients were enrolled of whom 1366 experienced opioid-induced emesis and received randomized study medication. Ondansetron 8 mg and 16 mg were significantly better than metoclopramide 10 mg (P < 0.05) for both complete control of emesis, complete control of nausea and other efficacy measures. There were no significant differences between the two ondansetron groups. All three treatments were well tolerated. In conclusion, this large, multicentre study demonstrates that ondansetron is more effective than metoclopramide in the treatment of opioid-induced emesis following administration of post-surgical opioids to control pain.

SummaryWe have recently described a low-jlow system with mechanical ventilation in which there was an open connection between the circle and ventilator. In the present study bacterial contamination and the role of bacterialfilters at direrent points in the system were studied. Filters between the tracheal tube and circle are an effective barrie)?. but their absence did not increase contamination of either the circle or the ventilator. Some filters are also effective as heat and moisture exchangers i f situated at the tracheal tube. Because of the lack of bacterial contamination, a prolonged interval between disinfection of the open connection and ventilator is acceptable, which reduces wear and costs.