Manejo anestésico de las pacientes embarazadas tetrapléjicas durante el parto: una revisión sistemática

IntroductionPregnancy in spinal cord injured patients has specific issues that must be carefully addressed. However, guidelines for their management are scarce.MethodsA systematic review of the literature regarding the anaesthetic management during delivery of pregnant patients with cervical spinal cord injury was performed on the electronic databases of PubMed (Medline) and Cochrane.ResultsA higher incidence of preterm birth and caesarean delivery were seen. Anaesthetic management was diverse, although most pregnant patients received epidural analgesia. Autonomic dysreflexia symptoms were present in 51% of pregnancies.ConclusionTimely management of these patients could possibly reduce caesarean and preterm delivery rates, avoid or minimize common complications, as well as reduce costs. An early reference to anaesthesiology consultation and a multidisciplinary approach is recommended.     

Effects of second-hand smoking on lung functions in athlete and non-athlete school-aged children – observational study

BackgroundSecond-hand smoking or environmental tobacco smoke is a critical health risk. Children are the most vulnerable to second-hand smoking because of their small bronchial ducts, less developed immunity, and low-physical activity.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of second-hand smoking on lung functions in athlete and non-athlete school-aged children.MethodsThis observational study included forty-six school-aged children, their age was 8–15 years, assigned to three groups; 2 study groups and 1 control group (n=15). The study groups comprised of 16 football players, and of 15 cyclists. Lung functions were evaluated recording forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow using digital spirometer.ResultsAll measures were recorded in definite values and the children were also classified into second-hand smoking (SH), or non-exposed to tobacco smoking (NE). The findings presented a significant increase (p<0.05) of the study groups in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow solely for the non-exposed children. However, there were non-significant differences between the cyclists and football players or between the passive smoking children and non-exposed children in any of the two study groups (p>0.05).ConclusionThe outcomes of this study suggest beneficial influences of the sports activity on the lung functions, without different influences of the cyclists and football players on the lung functions.     

The challenges in scoring hypopneas in children: is pulse wave amplitude drop the answer?

BackgroundIdentifying electroencephalogram (EEG) cortical arousals are crucial in scoring hypopneas and respiratory efforts related arousals (RERAs) during a polysomnogram. As children have high arousal threshold, many of the flow limited breaths or hypopneas may not be associated with visual EEG arousals, hence this may lead to potential underestimation of the degree of sleep disordered breathing. Pulse wave amplitude (PWA) is a signal obtained from finger photoplethysmography which correlates directly to finger blood flow. The drop in PWA has been shown to be a sensitive marker for subcortical/autonomic and cortical arousals. Our aim was to use the drop in PWA as a surrogate for arousals to guide scoring of respiratory events in pediatric patients.MethodsTen polysomnograms for patients between the ages of 5–15 years who had obstructive apnea-hypopnea indices between 1 and 5 events/hour were identified. Patients with syndromes were excluded. A drop in PWA signal of at least 30% that lasted for 3 s was needed to identify subcortical/autonomic arousals. Arousals were rescored based on this criteria and subsequently respiratory events were rescored. Paired t-tests were employed to compare PSG indices scored with or without PWA incorporation.ResultsThe sample of 10 children included 2 females, and the average age was 9.8 ± 3.1 years. Overall, polysomnography revealed an average total sleep time of 464.1 ± 25 min, sleep efficiency of 92% +/−4.2, sleep latency of 19.6 ± 17.0 min, rapid eye movement (REM) latency 143 ± 66 min, N1 3.9% +/−2.0, N2 50.3% +/−12.0, N3 28.2% +/−9.1, REM 16.7% +/−4.0, and wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) 18.1 ± 7.5 min. Including arousals from PWA changes, respiratory indices significantly increased including total AHI (2.3 ± 0.7 vs 5.7 ± 2.1, p < 0.001), obstructive AHI (1.45 ± 0.7 vs 4.8 ± 1.8, p < 0.001), and RDI (2.36 ± 0.7 vs 7.6 ± 2.0, p < 0.001). Likewise, total arousal index was significantly higher (8.7 ± 2.3 vs 29.4 ± 6.5, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe drop in pulse wave amplitude signal is a useful marker to guide scoring arousals that are not otherwise easily identified in pediatric polysomnography and subsequently helped in scoring respiratory events that otherwise would not be scored. Further studies are needed to delineate if such methodology would affect clinical outcome.     

椎弓根螺钉三椎体内固定对脊椎爆裂性骨折患者椎体与神经功能状态的影响观察

目的:探讨椎弓根螺钉三椎体内固定对脊椎爆裂性骨折患者椎体与神经功能状态的影响.方法:选取2013年7月至2015年1月于本院进行治疗的58例脊椎爆裂性骨折患者为研究对象,对其进行回顾性研究,将其根据手术方式不同分为对照组(短节段椎弓根内固定组)29例和观察组(椎弓根螺钉三椎体内固定组)29例,然后将两组患者手术前与手术后不同时间的伤椎恢复指标与血清神经功能相关指标进行比较.结果:观察组手术后不同时间的伤椎恢复指标中的后凸Cobb角、椎体平移率、椎体高度丢失率与血清神经功能相关指标中的BDNF、NSE、NGF及S100B均显著好于同期的对照组指标,并且明显好于其治疗前,均有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论:椎弓根螺钉三椎体内固定可更为有效地恢复脊椎爆裂性骨折患者椎体参数,并且更有助于神经功能状态的恢复.     

Cardiovascular responses to various autonomic tests in males and females

The results of cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests on 224 healthy, randomly selected subjects were analysed to study possible sex differences in the autonomic responses. The heart rate response to the Valsalva manoeuvre (Valsalva ratio) was greater in females over 50 years than in males of the same age (1.58 ± 0.34 vs. 1.44 ± 0.30,p < 0.05). The heart rate response to deep breathing (E/I ratio) was higher in females under 50 years than in males under 50 years (1.37 ± 0.17 vs. 1.34 ± 0.18,p < 0.001). The diastolic blood pressure response to isometric handgrip was higher in males under 50 years than in females of the same age (p < 0.05). Although there were sex differences in the magnitude of the responses, the effect of age was similar in males and females and accelerated attenuation of the autonomic responses could not be demonstrated with increasing age. It can be concluded that significant sex differences exist in cardiovascular autonomic responses. The implication of such differences need consideration.     

Comparison of local and general anesthesia in tension-free (Lichtenstein) hernioplasty: a prospective randomized trial

To compare pulmonary effects, postoperative pain and fatigue, morbidity, patient satisfaction, and cost of different anesthetic techniques for inguinal hernia repair, 50 patients were randomized to local and general anesthesia groups (LA and GA). All patients received the same premedications and the same postoperative analgesic regimen. The standardized postoperative analgesic, intramuscular pyroxicam 20 mg, was given to all patients in the recovery room and an additional 20 mg on the same day was given as requested by each patient. Pulmonary function studies and arterial blood gas analysis were performed 1 h prior to the operation and at the postoperative 8th and 24th hours. All patients underwent Lichtenstein's tension-free hernioplasty. Postoperative pain and fatigue were registered 8 h and 24 h after the operation. A questionnaire was filled out by the patients, and they were asked to give grades for the general comfort of the anesthesia and the surgical procedure (1=worst, 10=best). Postoperative pulmonary function tests were significantly poorer in the GA group both on 8th- and 24th-hour measurements (P<0.05). Patients who underwent LA had significantly lower PCO₂ and higher PO₂ at the postoperative 8th hour (P<0.05). Mean postoperative pain and fatigue scores revealed a significant difference in favor of local anesthesia at only the 8th hour (P<0.05). There were two complications, one in each group (a hematoma in LA and a urinary retention in GA). Patient satisfaction grades were not different in the two groups. We conclude that LA in inguinal hernia repair does not adversely affect pulmonary functions, patients feel less pain, and patient satisfaction is comparable to that with GA. Electronic Publication     

100例高血压病患者短程心率变异性分析

目的:评价自主神经活动在高血压病中的调节作用。方法:观测100例高血压病(Ⅰ组)和54例正常人(Ⅱ组)及高血压病伴心电图改变(ⅠA组)和不伴心电图改变(ⅠB组)心率变异性(以下称HRV)时域参数SDNN、rMSSD、PNN50、Bottom4项指标。结果:Ⅰ组与Ⅱ组差异有显著性(P<0.05);ⅠA组与ⅠB组组差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论:在高血压病中,交感神经张力增高,副交感神经活动减弱及损伤可能是HRV降低的重要因素。     

不同疗法对肌筋膜疼痛病人的自主神经功能的影响

目的：本研究的目的是观察注射疗法及复合小针刀疗法治疗肌筋膜疼痛综合征对自主神经系统功能的影响。方法：选择40例诊断明确的肌筋膜疼痛病人，随机分为两组，每组20例。Ⅰ组：采用注射疗法治疗；IS组：采用注射疗法加小针刀治疗。观察两组病人治疗前后心率变异（HRV）的频域变化，低频LF、超低频LLF、高频HF、低高频比LF／HF及心率变异指数HR-Ⅵ；用视觉模拟评分法（VAS）评定治疗前后疗效并随访观察其远期疗效。结果：①HRV频域指标组内比较：LF、LLF、HF以及HRVI治疗前舆治疗后1min比较有显着性差异（P〈0．05），与5min、10min比较有非常显着性差异（P〈0．01）。LF／HF治疗前与治疗后5min、10min比较有显着性差异（P〈0．05）。组间治疗后1、5、10min，两两比较无显着性差异。②组间比较：病人治疗后临床症状、VAS评分均较治疗前降低．治疗前后IS组有非常显着性差异（P〈0．01）。两组VAS降低率有非常显着性差异（P〈0．01）。③回访病例中，两组治疗有效率比较有显着性差异（P〈0．05）。结论：注射疗法以及复合小针刀疗法均可有效改善肌筋膜疼痛病人的自主神经功能，其机制可能是通过调节、稳定自主神经系统功能达到缓解疼痛。注射疗法复合小针刀疗法的远期疗效优于单纯注射疗法。     

Disability,depression and somatization in a low back pain population

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in a primary care setting population and examine its association with the symptoms of depression and somatization. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional study, utilising a survey carried out in primary health care clinics (PHCs) in Al‐Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A multistage stratified sampling design was used and a representative sample of 1304 UAE nationals aged 18–65 years who attended PHC clinics for any reason were included and 1103 (84.5%) subjects agreed to participate and responded to the questionnaire during a period from June 2001 to January 2002. A specially designed questionnaire with three parts was used for the data collection: socio‐demographic information of the studied subjects, modified version of the Roland‐Morris scale for evaluating back‐related functional disability and SCL‐90 R for depression and somatization subscales was used to assess depressive and somatic symptoms. Results: Of the total number of subjects surveyed (1103), 586 (53.1%) were men and 517 (46.9%) women. The mean age was 34.9 ± 13.4 years for men and 33.5 ± 11.8 years for women. The prevalence of LBP in the studied subjects was 64.7% (95% CI, 60.7–68.5] with 46.7% among men and 53.3% among women. There were a significant differences between the subjects with LBP and without LBP with respect to gender (P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), occupational status (P < 0.001) and living environment (P = 0.016). Functional disability was higher in patients with LBP. Young patients in aged 15–34 years, patients with preparatory/secondary educational level and students showed higher depressive symptoms. A similar pattern was found in patients with somatic symptoms. Factor analysis revealed a strong association between depression and somatization in LBP patients. Conclusions: Functional disability was higher in with LBP. Furthermore, symptoms of depression and somatization are prevalent among LBP patients.