RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Post spinal meningitis (PSM) is a complication still currently being reported. After two PSM cases in our hospital an epidemiological study was initiated, which included a survey of techniques for asepsis that are applied in our department. METHODS: Cases defined as PSM comprised meningitis within a week after spinal anesthesia. Anesthesia records, anesthesia complication files and the records of the Hospital Commission for Infection Control from 1997 to 2000 were reviewed. Asepsis techniques applied were surveyed by a questionnaire answered by all our department's anesthesiologists. The equipment and procedures for spinal anesthesia were listed. Current anesthesia textbooks were reviewed for recommendations regarding asepsis techniques in conjunction with spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: Three cases of PSM were identified following 38,128 spinal anesthesias whereas none was observed in 12,822 patients subjected to other types of regional or general anesthesia (P>0.05). Culture of cerebrospinal fluid yielded Streptococcus in two patients and was negative in the other patient. The asepsis technique applied by the anesthesiologists varied considerably. The literature review showed that aspects on asepsis for spinal anesthesia are poorly covered. CONCLUSION: The incidence of meningitis was similar in patients subjected to spinal anesthesia and in those subjected to other anesthetic techniques. Asepsis techniques were found to differ considerably among our staff members, reflecting the lack of well-defined published standards for this procedure. We recommend that asepsis for spinal anesthesia should not be less rigorous than for surgical asepsis.
Assuntos
Raquianestesia/efeitos adversos , Assepsia , Meningite/epidemiologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Meningite/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Rapid inhalation induction (RII) was successfully employed for patients without myopathy. Inhalatory agents can be used for anaesthetic induction of myasthenics, avoiding the use of neuromuscular blocking agents. We studied the use of RII in 15 myasthenics (MG) and in 15 normal subjects (nMG), measuring induction time (TI), cardiorespiratory effects, complications, and evaluated the patient's reaction to RII. The patients were submitted to elective transsternal thymectomy (MG) and gynaecological or lower abdominal surgery (nMG). No premedication was used. After preoxygenation, RII was started using a mixture of 4% halothane and O2:N2O (1:2). They performed three vital capacity breaths, followed by normal spontaneous ventilation. The TI was assessed by timing the loss of verbal command (TLVC) and loss of eyelid reflex (TLER). Systolic and diastolic pressure, pulse oximetry, capnometry, respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) were measured during induction at each minute, for four minutes. After a postanaesthetic questionnaire only two normal subjects did not like the RII technique. Mean values for TLVC and TLER were 67 and 73 sec for MG and 64 and 69 sec for nMG, respectively. There was no change in HR for MG or blood pressure. The RR increased in both groups, but no change in PetCO2 was observed; SaO2 was > 97%. In conclusion, RII can be performed rapidly and safely in myasthenic patients and is a technique that should be considered for the induction of anaesthesia in myasthenic patients.
Assuntos
Anestesia por Inalação/métodos , Halotano/administração & dosagem , Miastenia Gravis , Óxido Nitroso/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Pressão Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Dióxido de Carbono/metabolismo , Feminino , Halotano/efeitos adversos , Halotano/farmacologia , Frequência Cardíaca/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Memória/efeitos dos fármacos , Óxido Nitroso/efeitos adversos , Óxido Nitroso/farmacologia , Oxigênio/sangue , Satisfação do Paciente , Respiração/efeitos dos fármacos , Fatores de Tempo , Capacidade VitalRESUMO
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects on respiratory mechanics of fentanyl and alfentanil in 20 subjects to be submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting. Using the end inflation occlusion method (EIOM) we obtained the elastance (E) and resistance (R) of the total respiratory system (rs), thoracic wall (w) and lungs (L). The total respiratory system was divided into thoracic wall and lungs by using an oesophageal catheter. The data were recorded before, immediately after, and two, five and ten minutes after fentanyl and alfentanil iv bolus, at doses of 30 and 120 micrograms.kg-1, respectively. The Ers increased at two, five and ten minutes and the EL at ten minutes after drug administration. The Rrs,min and RL,min increased at two, five and ten minutes and the RL,max at five and ten minutes. Both drugs provoked no change in Ew or Rw. It is concluded that the increased in Rrs,min and RL,min could be explained by opioid bronchoconstriction. No differences were found between the effects of fentanyl and alfentanil on respiratory mechanics.