The prevalence of autonomic neuropathy in the primary glaucomas

The results of systemic autonomic nerve function studies in patients with closed-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension are reviewed. Autonomic neuropathy has been demonstrated in 58% of patients with closed-angle glaucoma and 42% of ocular hypertensive subjects, with significantly increased prevalence in ocular hypertensives with narrow iridocorneal angles. The implications are discussed, with particular reference to the pathogenesis of raised intraocular pressure.     

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.     

房室结逆向传导电生理特点的观察

目的研究房室结逆向传导的电生理特点。方法分析在我院行电生理检查和／或射频消融的成年患者中电生理资料比较完整的300例患者的房室结逆传电生理特点。结果射频消融术后有161例（54％）有房室结逆传。有逆传患者的前传功能要好于无逆传的患者，对于术后存在室房逆传的患者，逆传功能均明显差于前传功能。射频消融术后有28例（17％）经房室结逆传最早激动冠状静脉窦口，其逆传功能较最早激动希氏束电图的病例相比要差，而两者的前传功能差异无统计学意义。结论射频消融术后54％的患者存在房室结逆传，可能是正常人群中室房逆传的真实反映。有室房逆传患者的房室结前传功能优于无室房逆传者，也优于其本身的逆传功能。房室结逆传冲动进入心房可能存在两条不同的通路。     

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.     

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.     

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。     

两种不同方法定位肌间沟臂丛神经阻滞的临床观察

目的 观察经肩胛舌骨肌定位和运用神经刺激器定位肌间沟臂丛神经阻滞两种方法的临床效果。方法 选择ASAⅠ-Ⅱ级的择期上肢手术患者60例，随机分为两组：I组（30例）通过肩胛舌骨肌定位穿刺点寻找异感；Ⅱ组（30例）使用神经刺激器定位肌间沟臂丛神经，观察肌肉节律性收缩。两组分别观察进针深度，阻滞效果及不良反应。I组还同时观察肩胛舌骨肌触摸难易度，穿刺部位以及一次异感获得率等。结果 I组肩胛舌骨肌触摸容易者27例（90％），穿刺部位距锁骨上缘1.6-3.1cm，进针深度0.5-1.5cm，一次获得异感26例（87％），阻滞效果完善，无不良反应。Ⅱ组有28例阻滞完善，另2例阻滞不全，2例出现不良反应。结论 运用神经刺激器定位肌间沟臂丛神经阻滞切实可行。而以肩胛舌骨肌定位肌间沟臂丛神经阻滞定位明确，效果满意，简单易行。