Addition of sufentanil to bupivacaine in caudal block effect on stress responses in children

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present randomized study was to determine the effect of adding sufentanil to bupivacaine, compared with bupivacaine alone in caudal block, on the surgical stress response in children. METHODS: The children were premedicated with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg. All children received induction with nitrous oxide and sevoflurane. Anesthesia was maintained with the same volatile agents in the both groups. The children were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I received bupivacaine alone (n = 17) and group II received bupivacaine + sufentanil (n = 16). Caudal block was performed with 0.25% bupivacaine 2 mg/kg (group I) or 0.25% bupivacaine 2 mg/kg with sufentanil 0.5 microg/kg (group II) after induction of anesthesia. Blood samples were obtained after induction of anesthesia (T(0)) to measure baseline concentrations of cortisol, prolactin, glucose and insulin. Additional samples were obtained 30 min after the start of surgery (T(1)), and 60 min after the end of surgery (T(2)). RESULTS: All of the basal values (T(0)) were within the normal ranges of the authors' laboratory for children of this age group and there were no differences between the groups (P > 0.05). In both groups, glucose concentration increased at T(1), compared with T(0) and T(2) (P < 0.05). The glucose concentration was unchanged at T(2) compared with T(0) in both group (P > 0.05). In both groups, prolactin concentration increased at T(1), compared with T(0) and decreased at T(2), compared with T(1) (P < 0.05). Cortisol decreased at T(1) and T(2), compared with T(0) in both groups. (P < 0.05). Insulin concentration remained unchanged at T(0) and T(2), but increased slightly at T(1) in both groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in plasma prolactin, cortisol, glucose and insulin levels between the two groups at T(1) and T(2) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no advantage in adding 0.5 microg/kg sufentanil to bupivacaine over bupivacaine alone in the caudal block, with regard to the surgical stress response in children.     

A randomized trial comparing two different approaches of pacemaker selection.

AIMS: DDD-pacemakers are favoured in patients with sick-sinus-syndrome or AV-block. However, AAI-pacemakers for sick-sinus-syndrome or VDD-pacemakers for AV-block may provide similar benefit with lower costs. The aim is to show that a tailored approach (TA) with arrhythmia-specific pacemaker selection was equal to a standard approach (SA) regarding quality of life (QoL) at lower costs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was prospective and randomized with QoL as primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were a combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, worsening heart failure or angina, atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, these endpoints individually and costs. Of 198 patients (age 77 +/- 10 years, 43% female, ejection fraction 54 +/- 12%, follow-up 38 +/- 15 months), 94 were randomized to SA and 104 to TA. Thirty-two patients (34%) died in the SA group vs. 25 (24%) in the TA (P= ns). QoL showed no differences in all dimensions. The combined secondary endpoint was reached more frequently with SA (51%) compared to TA (37%, P = 0.045). There was no difference regarding all single secondary endpoints. Hardware costs were reduced by 15% (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In long-term follow-up, a TA is equal to SA regarding the primary endpoint QoL and secondary endpoints as AF and mortality. Depending on the healthcare system, it may significantly reduce costs.     

A Management of Early CRPS I Caused by Ankle Sprain: A Case Report

Abstract:   We present a case of a 13-year-old boy who developed signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain/early Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Type I, formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), after spraining his ankle while wrestling. Aggressive pain control, using medications and sympatholytic blocks, with physical therapy and rehabilitation, led to the resolution of his painful condition. This prevented the disease from possibly progressing to a full-blown case of CRPS I (RSD) that is very challenging to treat.     

The outcome of ganglion clipping in hyperhidrosis and blushing

A total of 114 patients with various sympathetic disorders underwent endoscopic sympathetic block over different thoracic ganglions by the clipping method. The advantages of this method include the recognition of the clipped level, changeability, and reversibility. However, 4.4% of patients were unilaterally clipped at the wrong level.     

大网膜包裹人工神经移植体再血管化及神经再生的研究

目的 探讨大网膜包裹人工神经移植体的早期再血管化，以及增强移植体血供对神经再生的影响。方法 75只大耳白兔制作成左前肢正中神经2．0cm缺损，随机分成3组：A组，带蒂大网膜包裹人工神经移植体移植；B组，人工神经移植体桥接神经缺损；C组，自体神经桥接神经缺损，作为对照组。术后3、7和14d应用伊凡思蓝（evans blue bound to albumin，EBA）毛细血管造影，检测各组移植体的再血管化；术后12周通过电生理、光镜、透射电镜等检测评估神经再生的效果。结果 A、C组术后3d移植神经出现再血管化，7d和14d再血管化程度逐渐增强；B组7d出现再血管化，与A、C组比较，再血管化延迟。术后12周，A组和C组运动神经传导速度、有髓神经纤维密度、神经内纤维组织面积及面积比、髓鞘厚度、髓鞘直径等差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），但均优于B组，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论 大网膜包裹人工神经移植体可促进移植体早期再血管化，增强移植体血供，促进神经再生。     

颈髓血流障碍与脊髓型颈椎病发病机制的实验研究

目的观察脊髓前动脉阻断对颈髓血供、功能的影响及其病理学变化,研究脊髓型颈椎病的发病机制。方法以家兔为实验模型,阻断C2段脊髓前动脉,在术后6h、24h、72h采用改良Tarlov法对动物行为学评级以及检测运动诱发电位的变化,应用激光多普勒血流测定仪测定颈髓血流灌注量,并观察兔颈髓组织细胞形态学、相关免疫组化的变化。结果术后各时相点神经功能减退,血流量下降明显,神经元骨架结构紊乱,细胞器破坏,出现急性缺血性改变。结论脊髓前动脉血流障碍可导致颈髓缺血性病变,引起脊髓的梗死,是脊髓型颈椎病发生不可忽视的重要因素,对其治疗应注意改善局部血液循环。     

A study exploring the role of intercostal nerve damage in chronic pain after thoracic surgery

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of intra-operative nerve damage and its association with chronic pain. Methods: Our prospective study of 33 patients used nerve conduction studies to assess intercostal nerve function during elective thoracic surgical procedures. We used two methods to study nerve conduction: pre-operative magnetic stimulation (in 10 patients) and intra-operative nerve conduction studies (in all patients) We correlated these findings with specific intra-operative parameters, pain and psychological questionnaires pre-op and 3 month post-op and altered cutaneous sensation. Results: Magstim (magnetic stimulation) assessments were not reliable and were therefore abandoned. Intraoperative intercostal nerve studies revealed two distinct patterns of nerve injury and also that nerve injury was less in those cases where a rib was not resected. However, intercostal nerve damage detected at the time of operation is not associated with chronic pain or altered cutaneous sensation at 3 months post-op. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that either the amount of intra-operative intercostal nerve damage is not indicative of long-term nerve damage or that there is a more significant cause for chronic pain other than intercostal nerve injury.     

肝硬化病人乌司他丁预处理对罗库溴铵肌松作用的影响

目的观察肝硬化病人乌司他丁预处理对罗库溴铵肌松作用的影响。方法选择30例患有肝硬化的成年手术病人,随机均分为两组:乌司他丁组(Ⅰ组),静注乌司他丁5000U/kg后1min,静脉给予罗库溴铵0.6mg/kg;生理盐水组(Ⅱ组),静脉给予生理盐水0.1ml/kg后1min,静脉给予罗库溴铵0.6mg/kg。另选15例无肝脏疾患的、ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级择期成年手术病人为对照组(Ⅲ组),处理同Ⅱ组。肌松监测仪检测四个成串刺激(TOF)的变化,记录三组注药后罗库溴铵的起效时间(注药到TOFr=0)、TOF无反应时间(T1=0持续时间)、T1最大抑制程度、临床时效(TOFr恢复至25%时间)、T1恢复至75%时间、恢复指数。结果与Ⅱ、Ⅲ组比较,Ⅰ组插管剂量罗库溴铵的起效时间明显延长(P<0.05)。Ⅱ、Ⅲ组罗库溴铵肌松的起效时间相似。与Ⅱ组比较,Ⅰ、Ⅲ组T1恢复25%时间和恢复指数明显缩短(P<0.05)。Ⅰ、Ⅲ组罗库溴铵肌松的恢复时间相似。结论肝硬化病人乌司他丁预处理延长罗库溴铵的起效时间,但缩短罗库溴铵肌松作用时间。     

甲磺酸罗比卡因与盐酸罗比卡因用于硬膜外阻滞的效应比较

目的 评价甲磺酸罗比卡因用于硬膜外阻滞的效应和安全性。方法 45例择期行下腹或下肢手术病人,随机分别接受用甲磺酸罗比卡因(8.94 mg/ml,观察组)或盐酸罗比卡因(7.5mg/ml,对照组)施行的硬膜外阻滞。观察两组在感觉阻滞、运动阻滞、镇痛和肌肉松弛方面的效果,同时观察用药前后肝肾功能变化。结果 观察组和对照组感觉阻滞平面达到T6以上的病例分别为84.3％和76％(P>0.05),Bromage≥3级的病例分别90％和92％(P>0.05)。两组感觉阻滞平面固定时间、Bromage达到最大级别时间、最大级别维持时间和运动阻滞维持时间均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。两组镇痛及肌松满意率无显著性差异。观察组术中2例发生低血压,2例发生心动过缓,而对照组仅1例发生低血压。两组术后24 h天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、尿素氮(BUN)和肌酐(Cr)均在正常范围。结论 甲磺酸罗比卡因与盐酸罗比卡因行硬膜外阻滞的效应基本相同,且无明显毒性。     

人参皂苷Rg1诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经样细胞的作用

目的研究人参皂苷Rg1在体外能否诱导Wistar大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞。方法通过贴壁法分离大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,体外培养扩增,人参皂苷Rg1诱导分化,光镜下观察细胞形态,免疫细胞化学检测神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）和神经胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）的表达,RT-PCR检测细胞NGF mRNA的表达。结果大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞可通过贴壁法成功分离并可以在体外大量扩增。人参皂苷Rg1诱导72h后,部分骨髓间充质干细胞（35．57％±3．59％）转变为神经元样细胞,免疫细胞化学染色NSE呈阳性,分化的神经元样细胞可能表达NGF mRNA。结论人参皂苷Rg1可以在体外诱导大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞,并且可能表达NGF mRNA。