This study has shown that electrocardiogram is a valid routine for preoperative evaluation of elderly patients.

Perfluorocarbons (PFC) are compounds with high gas solubility that could help deliver O2 to tissues and have been suggested as adjunct therapy to ischemia. Using a newly designed in vitro system, we tested the hypothesis that a third generation PFC emulsion (Oxycyte) increased O2 transport of blood by measuring changes in O2 extraction ratio. The system included a computer-controlled pump and blood-gas exchange chambers to oxygenate and deoxygenate the blood from nine sickle cell disease (SCD) patients and five healthy donors. The flowing blood reached various levels of hemoglobin O2 saturation and O2 partial pressures (PO2), measured using a CO-oximeter and a blood gas analyzer. The mixtures were kept at physiological blood pressure and temperature, constant flow, normobaric conditions, and FiO2 = 0.30. After adding PFC, the measurements suggested an increase in the transport of O2 and CO. Addition of PFC resulted in larger PO2 difference from 15 ± 2 mmHg to 23 ± 2 mmHg. Using normal blood and blood from SCD patients, the average O2 extraction ratio (O2ER) after PFC was significantly higher than baseline. Addition of saline did not cause statistically significant changes. The data suggest increased (facilitated) O2 transport by this PFC emulsion in both normal and SCD blood.

The anesthetic efficacy of levobupivacaine in brachial plexus block was similar to that of the racemic solution commonly used.

The anesthetic efficacy of levobupivacaine in brachial plexus block was similar to that of the racemic solution commonly used.

Intravenous isoflurane in lipid emulsion has promoted bispectral index decrease, hemodynamic and respiratory stability and direct correlation with its expired fraction. Intravenous isoflurane in lipid emulsion may be a safe modality for this anesthetic delivery.

Perfluorocarbons (PFC) are compounds with high gas solubility that mixed with sickle cell disease (SCD) blood could potentially help deliver O2 to tissues, possibly compensating for SCD red blood cell's lower O2 affinity. PFC have also been suggested as adjunct therapy in certain ischemic conditions. Therefore, an in vitro system was developed for studying O2 transport using blood from 9 SCD patients and 5 healthy donors. The system included a pump, gas mixers, oxygenation and deoxygenation chambers that allowed the flowing blood to reach various levels of hemoglobin O2 saturation (SO2) and O2 partial pressures (PO2) that were measured using a CO‐oximeter and a blood gas analyzer. After addition of PFC emulsion (Oxycyte) (hematocrit = 31%, fluorocrit = 4%), the measurements suggested an increase in the transport of O2 and CO. Addition of PFC resulted in a larger PO2 gradient: from 15 ± 2 mmHg to 23 ± 2 mmHg. Using normal blood, the average O2 extraction ratio (O2ER) after PFC (0.13 ± 0.01) was significantly higher than baseline (0.10 ± 0.01, p<0.004). Using blood from SCD patients, the average O2ER after PFC (0.16 ± 0.01) was also significantly higher than baseline (0.12 ± 0.01, p<0.001). Addition of saline did not cause statistically significant changes. The data suggest increased O2 transport by this PFC emulsion in both normal and SCD blood.Support: Virginia Commonwealth University and Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc.