Thirty-six patients were evaluated concerning the visibility of the pancreas under different conditions. One group (12 patients) was prepared with fasting for 4 hours, the second group (12 patients) was additionally given laxatives for one day prior to the examination together with a small enema (preparation for IVP). The third group (12 patients) received laxative treatment for 2 days (preparation for barium enema) but was otherwise treated in the same fashion as group 2. The study did not reveal any difference in visibility between the three groups thus indicating that routine preparation with 4 hours fasting alone can still be recommended when examining the upper part of the abdomen (except the gallbladder) with ultrasound.

Cathartics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anesthesia and monitoring during whole body radiation in children.

During whole body radiation therapy of children, treatment may be done in places not equipped with acceptable scavenging systems for anesthetic gases and where clinical observation of the patient may be impossible. In order to solve this problem, the authors have used a total intravenous (IV) anesthetic technique using midazolam, pancuronium, and fentanyl. With midazolam as the only hypnotic agent, the problem with scavenging is solved, and a computer simulation of the plasma concentration of midazolam is presented. A modified stethoscope for monitoring during radiation also has been developed. This anesthetic technique and the stethoscope have been used in seven children. The total IV anesthesia proved to be a useful method for children during whole body radiation. The modified stethoscope functioned very well and was a useful complement to the monitoring equipment.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical pharmacokinetics of propofol given as a constant-rate infusion and in combination with epidural blockade.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of propofol in combination with epidural anesthesia or with intravenous (i.v.) alfentanil infusion, and to investigate the clinical feasibility of this anesthetic technique in lower abdominal surgery. DESIGN: Randomized, open clinical study. SETTING: Operating theaters and postanesthesia recovery unit at the department of gynecology of a university medical center. PATIENTS: 20 healthy, consenting ASA physical status I and II adult female patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. INTERVENTIONS: A total i.v. anesthetic technique was used in all patients. In Group 1, a continuous infusion of propofol was combined with an epidural block with bupivacaine. Group 2 patients received a combination of propofol and alfentanil infusions. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of propofol are best fitted to a two-compartment open model and were similar in both patient groups. Propofol blood clearance was 29.8 +/- 6.51 ml/min/kg, and volume of distribution was 3.60 +/- 1.34 L/kg, resulting in a blood elimination half-life of 144 +/- 46 minutes. The entire period of anesthesia was stable in the alfentanil group. In the epidural group, the initial period of anesthesia was too light as judged by the autonomic response to tracheal intubation, which also correlated in time to a lower propofol blood concentration than was seen in the alfentanil group. No evidence was found that an epidural block induced a change in propofol kinetics, apart from the lower blood concentration during the initial period of anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: We could not show any statistically significant influence of an epidural blockade on the pharmacokinetic parameters of propofol. Nevertheless, the concentration-time profile changed during infusion, rendering the described infusion regimen, in combination with epidural anesthesia, unsatisfactory for adequate hypnosis. The propofol infusion regimen combined with alfentanil provided immediate and stable blood concentrations that were adequate for surgery.

Adult↗