Endotracheal diazepam: absorption and pulmonary pathologic effects

We conducted a study to evaluate the absorption of endotracheally administered diazepam and the pulmonary pathologic changes induced by its administration. Six cats received diazepam and five cats received saline endotracheally. Serial blood gases and serum diazepam levels were drawn at intervals for 90 minutes after the administration of diazepam. The cats were sacrificed after two days and their lungs were examined by a pathologist. Mean diazepam levels reached a peak two minutes after the administration of diazepam and remained elevated above therapeutic levels for 90 minutes. There was no significant change in pH, PO2, or PCO2 for either group. Histologic examination of the lungs showed a significantly increased incidence of pneumonitis in the diazepam group as compared to the saline group. This study demonstrates that although diazepam is well absorbed when administered endotracheally, it has adverse effects on the lungs that may preclude endotracheal use in the currently available commercial form.     

Transcanal cochlear implantation under monitored anesthesia care.

OBJECTIVE: Given the associated risk of general anesthesia in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease, the authors set out to determine the feasibility of transcanal cochlear implantation under local anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care. METHODS: A 70-year-old man with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting, diabetes mellitus, and an American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III cardiac status underwent cochlear implantation under local with monitored anesthesia care. RESULT: With the described technique and regimen of intravenous remifentanil and dexmedetomidine, the patient tolerated the 60-minute procedure without tachycardia, hyper- or hypotension, or cardiac ischemia. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation using the pericanal electrode technique performed under local anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care is possible in patients at risk for undergoing general anesthesia for cochlear implantation.     

Pulsed mode versus near-continuous mode delivery of diode laser photocoagulation for high-risk retinopathy of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare structural and functional outcomes and efficiency of diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) when delivered in a pulsed mode versus a near-continuous mode. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 138 patients who underwent diode laser photocoagulation for threshold ROP using either pulsed or near-continuous delivery. Laser-related complications and structural and functional outcomes were analyzed. Prospectively, time efficiency and total energy used were evaluated in nine infants with bilateral symmetric high-risk prethreshold ROP in which one eye of each infant was randomized to pulsed and the fellow eye to near-continuous delivery. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups with regards to prevalence of posterior disease (Zone 1 or posterior Zone 2) (p = 0.11), postoperative vitreous haze (p = 0.60), postoperative complications (p = 0.38), retinal detachment (p = 0.90), strabismus (p = 0.73), amblyopia (p = 0.69), or refractive error (p = 0.95). Mean time for treatment was 23 minutes using pulsed delivery versus 14 minutes per eye with near-continuous delivery (p < 0.001). The mean total power used per eye with pulsed mode delivery was 1.5 x 10(5) W versus 1.1 x 10(5) W with near-continuous delivery (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: No differences in complications, functional outcome, or structural outcome were found between using pulsed mode and near-continuous mode diode laser delivery for high-risk ROP. Near-continuous laser delivery, in our hands, was more time-efficient and used less total power.     

An inexpensive ex-vivo porcine laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication training model.

BACKGROUND: We recently implemented the use of an ex-vivo porcine model to teach residents the fundamentals of performing a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. METHODS: Residents were trained using intact porcine esophagus, stomach, and spleen placed in a standard video-trainer. They were later asked to complete a survey containing a course evaluation. RESULTS: Sixteen residents (R1-R4) completed the survey. They agreed that (1) the exercise was a valuable use of their limited time, (2) repeating the exercise will be of additional benefit, (3) it will improve their ability to perform or assist in an actual case in the OR, and (4) the surgical principles learned using the model will transfer to other laparoscopic cases. Significant subjective improvements were reported in resident comfort level in assisting in or performing a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an inexpensive ex-vivo porcine training model increases resident comfort level in performing a Nissen fundoplication in the operating room.     

Preference awareness education as stress management training for academic staff

This paper describes a response directed stress management intervention (SMI) in the form of a Jungian based preference awareness education (PAE). It uses the Insights System of personality types to increase awareness of behaviour and communication preferences of self and different others. Eighteen self‐recruited academic employees participated for 7 weeks and received feedback about work preferences and personality type. The aim was to reduce perceptions of stress and interpersonal stress and to increase feelings of job satisfaction and interpersonal satisfaction. The data were analysed using two‐tailed t‐tests. No significant findings were observed for the total sample after training, however, interesting results were found for certain sub‐sample groups. Extravert‐thinking types, reported decreased stress levels (p > 0.018), and participants suffering high stress/interpersonal stress pre‐PAE, reported decreased stress levels (p > 0.010–0.018). Participants suffering low job/interpersonal satisfaction pre‐PAE, reported increased job satisfaction (p > 0.015–0.016). These results suggest that individuals who report high levels of stress and dissatisfaction are most likely to benefit from this type of intervention. Future PAE research might: (a) use pilot studies to meet the intervention preferences of employees that are reluctant to participate in SMIs; (b) include a wait‐list control group; use: (c) a follow up education/measures; (d) and organizational level (stressor directed) SMIs at the same time as response directed initiatives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of pancreas transplantation on cardiorespiratory reflexes, nerve conduction, and mortality in diabetes mellitus

Cardiorespiratory reflexes (CRR) were studied by measuring heart-rate variation during 6 breaths/min respiration and a Valsalva maneuver in 232 insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. Abnormalities were found in 175 patients. During a 7-yr follow-up, 41 (23.4%) patients with abnormal and 2 (3.5%) with normal CRR tests died. The mortality rates of diabetic patients with abnormal autonomic function tests were 17% at 2.5 yr, 33% at 5 yr, and 40% at 7 yr, significantly higher (P less than 0.002) than in patients with normal tests (rates of 4.6, 4.6, and 13.8% at the respective intervals). Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were indicative of somatic neuropathy in 148 of 205 patients. Mortality rates were higher in patients with abnormal NCS than in those with normal results (P less than 0.025). Among patients with abnormal autonomic function, patients with a functioning pancreas transplantation (PTx) had better survival rates than patients with a failed PTx (P less than 0.005) and, on long-term follow-up, better rates than patients without PTx. Similar results were found comparing the same group of patients who had abnormal NCS.