The estimated concentration of propofol and the sevoflurane concentration needed to allow insertion of the ProSeal are respectively 38 and 20% greater than those needed for insertion of the Classic LMA.

Gender affects the dosing requirements for, and response to, many drugs used in anesthetic practice. Loss of consciousness is an early clinical marker of hypnotic drug effect. We found no significant difference to either an inhaled (sevoflurane) or IV (propofol) anesthetic related to patient gender.

A fentanyl dose of 0.5 micro g kg(-1) is sufficient to decrease predicted EC(50LMA) with minimum respiratory depression and without a high BIS value.

In this study, we characterized clot morphology with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at time points corresponding to the commonly used thrombelastography (TEG) variables, illustrating the correlation of the physical clot formation with TEG(R) tracings. The first channel of the TEG analyzer was used to obtain the tracings of clot formation, while the sub-samples for the SEM were obtained from the second TEG channel. Different types of samples were examined, including whole blood, abciximab-treated whole blood, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and abciximab-treated PRP. The SEM images were obtained at reaction time, different amplitudes (5-30 mm), maximum amplitude (MA), and at amplitude 60 min after MA. In the whole blood, coarse fibrin and activated platelets were observed at reaction time and fibrin strands progressively became more solid and intertwined at amplitude 10 mm and thereafter. Red blood cells were surrounded with fibrin strands at amplitude 30 mm and were tightly packed by fibrin strands at MA. In abciximab-treated whole blood, red blood cell shape was maintained at MA. The process of fibrin formation and platelet activation was also examined in PRP. Abciximab did not block platelet shape change, although the blockage of fibrin binding to platelets was shown on the TEG analyzer. In summary, we have shown structural changes of the forming clot in relation to TEG variables.

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Background: Coagulopathy after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is caused by multiple factors, including reduced coagulation factors and a low platelet count. Methods and Results:In this study, we undertook a post hoc analysis to identify factors associated with increased postoperative blood loss in 97 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB, with fresh frozen plasma administered according to a ROTEM-guided algorithm. We identified 24 patients for the top quartile of postoperative blood loss, >528 mL and defined as having excessive blood loss. Using Spearman's rank correlation test and multivariable linear regression, we reanalyzed the participants' demographic, surgical and anesthetic variables, laboratory test results, blood loss, and transfusion data. Univariate analysis indicated that patients who experienced higher postoperative blood loss received a significantly higher heparin dose, had a higher requirement for fresh frozen plasma transfusion during surgery, and had a significantly lower hematocrit and platelet count at the end of surgery compared with patients without excessive blood loss. Multivariate analysis showed that platelet count at the end of surgery (odds ratio 0.780, 95% confidence interval 0.629-0.967; P=0.024) was an independent factor for excessive blood loss. Conclusions:Low platelet count at the end of surgery was associated with excessive postoperative bleeding during cardiac surgery with CPB.

Fires, explosions and electrical accidents in the operating theater are rare events, but are devastating in terms of structural damage to the equipment in theaters and to human lives. While various circumstances lead to these troubles, we can avoid and manage them by learning from the instructive cases accumulated so far. We describe operating room crises such as fires, explosions and electrical breakdowns, and discuss causes and countermeasures.