International multicentre review of perioperative management and outcome for catecholamine-producing tumours.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for catecholamine-producing tumours can be complicated by intraoperative and postoperative haemodynamic instability. Several perioperative management strategies have emerged but none has been evaluated in randomized trials. To assess this issue, contemporary perioperative management and outcome data from 21 centres were collected. METHODS: Twenty-one centres contributed outcome data from patients who had surgery for phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma between 2000 and 2017. The data included the number of patients with and without α-receptor blockade, surgical and anaesthetic techniques, complications and perioperative mortality. RESULTS: Across all centres, data were reported on 1860 patients with phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma, of whom 343 underwent surgery without α-receptor blockade. The majority of operations (78·9 per cent) were performed using minimally invasive techniques, including 16·1 per cent adrenal cortex-sparing procedures. The cardiovascular complication rate was 5·0 per cent overall: 5·9 per cent (90 of 1517) in patients with preoperative α-receptor blockade and 0·9 per cent (3 of 343) among patients without α-receptor blockade. The mortality rate was 0·5 per cent overall (9 of 1860): 0·5 per cent (8 of 517) in pretreated and 0·3 per cent (1 of 343) in non-pretreated patients. CONCLUSION: There is substantial variability in the perioperative management of catecholamine-producing tumours, yet the overall complication rate is low. Further studies are needed to better define the optimal management approach, and reappraisal of international perioperative guidelines appears desirable.

ANTECEDENTES: La cirugía de los tumores productores de catecolaminas puede complicarse por la inestabilidad hemodinámica intraoperatoria y postoperatoria. Se han propuesto distintas estrategias de manejo perioperatorio, pero ninguna ha sido evaluada en ensayos aleatorizados. Para evaluar este tema, se han recogido los datos de los resultados y del manejo perioperatorio contemporáneo de 21 centros. MÉTODOS: Veintiún centros aportaron datos de los resultados de los pacientes operados por feocromocitoma y paraganglioma entre 2000-2017. Los datos incluyeron el número de pacientes con y sin bloqueo del receptor α, las técnicas quirúrgicas y anestésicas, las complicaciones y la mortalidad perioperatoria. RESULTADOS: Los centros en su conjunto aportaron datos de 1.860 pacientes con feocromocitoma y paraganglioma, de los cuales 343 pacientes fueron intervenidos sin bloqueo del receptor α. La gran mayoría (79%) de las cirugías se realizaron utilizando técnicas mínimamente invasivas, incluido un 17% de procedimientos con preservación de la corteza suprarrenal. La tasa de complicaciones cardiovasculares fue de 5,0% en total; 5,9% (90/1517) en pacientes con bloqueo preoperatorio de los receptores α y 0,9% (3/343) en pacientes no pretratados. La mortalidad global fue del 0,5% (9/1860); 0,5% (8/1517) en pacientes pretratados y 0,3% (1/343) en pacientes no tratados previamente. CONCLUSIÓN: Existe una variabilidad sustancial en el manejo perioperatorio de los tumores productores de catecolaminas, aunque la tasa global de complicaciones es baja. Este estudio brinda la oportunidad para efectuar comparaciones sistemáticas entre estrategias de prácticas terapéuticas variables. Se necesitan más estudios para definir mejor el enfoque de manejo óptimo y parece conveniente volver a evaluar las guías internacionales perioperatorias.

Perioperative respiratory complications: current evidence and strategy discussed in 2017 JA symposium.

Respiratory management during general anesthesia aims to safely secure the airway and maintain adequate ventilation to deliver oxygen to the vital organs, maintaining homeostasis even during surgery. Despite its clinical importance, anesthesiologists often encounter difficulties in properly managing respiration during the perioperative period, leading to severe respiratory complications. In this year's JA symposium, 5 editorial board members of Journal of Anesthesia (JA) who are experts in the field of respiratory management in anesthesia discussed the following topics: quitting smoking before surgery: exposure to passive smoke is damaging to children, ventilator-associated pneumonia, high inspiratory oxygen concentration and lung injury, aspiration pneumonia, and postoperative respiratory management strategy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. We hope that this special article regarding this year's JA symposium may be useful for JA readers to manage clinical anesthesia on a daily basis.

TACR1 gene polymorphism and sex differences in postoperative nausea and vomiting.

We hypothesised that the genetic effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the TACR1 gene, which encodes NK1 receptors, could influence the sex difference in postoperative nausea and vomiting. Thirty-two selected single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped by the Sanger sequencing method in 200 patients who underwent lower abdominal surgery. The incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting were evaluated after surgery. The rs3755468-SNP showed significant association with the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting (p = 0.016). The TT haplotype defined by two single nucleotide polymorphisms, including the rs3755468-SNP, was associated with reduced incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients (p = 0.03). The rs3755468-SNP is located within the predicted oestrogen response element and a DNase I hypersensitive site. The single nucleotide polymorphisms in the TACR1 gene are associated with sex differences in postoperative nausea and vomiting and may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these differences.

Role of satellite cell-derived L-serine in the dorsal root ganglion in paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy.

Paclitaxel is one of the most commonly used anti-neoplastic drugs for the treatment of solid tumors. Unfortunately, its use is often associated with dose-limiting painful peripheral neuropathy and subsequent neuropathic pain that is resistant to standard analgesics. However, there are few clinically available drugs or drug classes for the treatment of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy due to a lack of information regarding the mechanisms responsible for it. In this study, we examined the involvement of l-serine in paclitaxel-induced hyperalgesia/allodynia and decrease in sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV). We used a preclinical rat model of paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy. Response to von Frey filaments, SNCV, 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3PGDH) expression, and l-serine concentration were examined. Effects of l-serine administration were also investigated. Paclitaxel treatment induced mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia and reduction of SNCV. Paclitaxel also decreased the l-serine concentration in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) but not in the sciatic nerve or spinal cord. In addition, paclitaxel decreased expression of 3PGDH, a biosynthetic enzyme of l-serine, in the DRG. Immunohistochemistry showed that 3PGDH was localized in satellite cells but not in neurons in the DRG. Intraperitoneal administration of l-serine improved both paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia and the reduction of SNCV. These results suggest that satellite cell-derived l-serine in the DRG plays an important role in paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy. These findings may lead to novel strategies for the treatment of paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy.

Urinary bladder and oesophageal temperatures correlate better in patients with high rather than low urinary flow rates during non-cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of urinary flow rate on the urinary bladder temperature, we compared the accuracy and precision of urinary bladder temperature with oesophageal temperature at both high and low urine flow rates. METHODS: Twenty-four patients ASA physical status I or II who were undergoing tympanoplasty were randomly assigned to two groups with different intravenous fluid volumes: high (10 mL kg(-1) h(-1), n = 12) and low (3 mL kg(-1) h(-1), n = 12). General anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane (1.5-2.5%) in nitrous oxide and oxygen. Urinary bladder temperature was measured using a Foley urinary catheter; distal oesophageal temperature was measured using a stethoscope thermocouple. These temperatures were measured every 5 min during surgery and the accuracy and precision of urinary bladder temperature with oesophageal temperature were determined using regression and Bland and Altman analyses. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient for oesophageal and urinary bladder temperature was 0.90 in the high urinary volume group and 0.75 in the low urinary volume group. The offset (oesophageal-urinary bladder) was -0.13 +/- 0.32 degrees C and -0.46 +/- 0.45 degrees C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Urinary bladder temperature appears to be more accurate at high urinary flow rates than at low urinary flow rates for clinical use.

Comparative study between propofol in a long-chain triglyceride and propofol in a medium/long-chain triglyceride during sedation with target-controlled infusion.

This study was performed to compare the pharmacological characteristics of propofol in an emulsion of both medium- and long-chain triglycerides (MCT/LCT) with those of propofol in an LCT emulsion, by measuring the sedative level and the plasma concentration of propofol during sedation using a target-controlled infusion (TCI) technique. Forty ASA 1 or 2 adult patients who required spinal anaesthesia for surgery were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: a propofol LCT group (n = 20) and a propofol MCT/LCT group (n = 20). Propofol was injected intravenously at target blood concentrations of 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 microg x ml(-1). The bispectral (BIS) index was recorded, and arterial blood was drawn to measure the actual plasma concentrations of propofol at each predicted concentration. Propofol was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Propofol MCT/LCT was associated with significantly less pain than propofol LCT (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in BIS index or in plasma concentration of propofol at each predicted concentration. Computer-generated TCI of propofol MCT/LCT during sedation is comparable with that of propofol LCT with respect to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The formulation of MCT/LCT has a beneficial effect with respect to less pain on injection.

The type of carbon dioxide absorbent has no relation to the concentration of carbon monoxide in the breathing circuit during low-flow isoflurane anaesthesia in smoking and non-smoking subjects.

The present study was designed to investigate the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) in the anaesthetic circuit and of arterial carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) during low-flow isoflurane anaesthesia in smoking and non-smoking subjects using three kinds of cardon dioxide (CO2) absorbent. Thirty smoking and 30 non-smoking subjects were selected for this study, and these two groups were each divided into three groups according to the type of CO2 absorbent used (Wakolime A, Drägersorb Free, and Amsorb). Anaesthesia was maintained with 1.0% isoflurane and nitrous oxide (1. 0 l min(-1))/oxygen (1.0 l min(-1)). Concentrations of CO in the inspired breathing circuit and concentrations of arterial COHb were measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after exposure to isoflurane. In the smoking groups there were no significant differences in CO concentrations in the circuit between the groups and the CO concentrations did not change significantly during the study period. There were also no significant differences in the arterial COHb values between the groups and the COHb concentrations remained constant. There was a significant linear correlation between the concentrations of CO and COHb (r=0.86, n =30, P<0.001). In the non-smoking groups all of the parameters remained constant at low levels that were independent of the type of CO2 absorbents tested. The major source for increased intraoperative CO exposure is related to the patient's smoking status, and the type of CO2 absorbent used has no relation to an increase in CO concentration in the breathing circuit.

Anesthetic effects on mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K channel.

BACKGROUND: Volatile anesthetics show an ischemic preconditioning-like cardioprotective effect, whereas intravenous anesthetics have cardioprotective effects for ischemic-reperfusion injury. Although recent evidence suggests that mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channels are important in cardiac preconditioning, the effect of anesthetics on mitoK(ATP) is unexplored. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that anesthetics act on the mitoK(ATP) channel and mitochondrial flavoprotein oxidation. METHODS: Myocardial cells were isolated from adult guinea pigs. Endogenous mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence, an indicator of mitochondrial flavoprotein oxidation, was monitored with fluorescence microscopy while myocytes were exposed individually for 15 min to isoflurane, sevoflurane, propofol, and pentobarbital. The authors further investigated the effect of 5-hydroxydeanoate, a specific mitoK(ATP) channel antagonist, on isoflurane- and sevoflurane-induced flavoprotein oxidation. Additionally, the effects of propofol and pentobarbital on isoflurane-induced flavoprotein oxidation were measured. RESULTS: Isoflurane and sevoflurane induced dose-dependent increases in flavoprotein oxidation (isoflurane: R2 = 0.71, n = 50; sevoflurane: R2 = 0.86, n = 20). The fluorescence increase produced by both isoflurane and sevoflurane was eliminated by 5-hydroxydeanoate. Although propofol and pentobarbital showed no significant effects on flavoprotein oxidation, they both dose-dependently inhibited isoflurane-induced flavoprotein oxidation. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalational anesthetics induce flavoprotein oxidation through opening of the mitoK(ATP) channel. This may be an important mechanism contributing to anesthetic-induced preconditioning. Cardioprotective effects of intravenous anesthetics may not be dependent on flavoprotein oxidation, but the administration of propofol or pentobarbital may potentially inhibit the cardioprotective effect of inhalational anesthetics.

Use of the fibreoptic stylet scope (Styletscope) reduces the hemodynamic response to intubation in normotensive and hypertensive patients.

PURPOSE: To compare hemodynamic changes after tracheal intubation when using a new fibreoptic stylet scope (Styletscope) and a conventional laryngoscope in normotensive and hypertensive patients. METHODS: Normotensive (N; n=30) and hypertensive (H; n=30) patients undergoing general anesthesia participated in this study. Each group was divided into two groups. In one group, patients were intubated by using a stylet scope with a laryngoscope as an adjuvant (S; n=15 each), while patients in the other group were intubated using a laryngoscope by the usual technique (L; n=15 each). The time necessary for intubation, hemodynamic changes, and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: Patients in the normotensive groups (SN and LN groups) showed significant increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures from before induction to one minute after intubation; however, blood pressures in the SN group were significantly lower than those in the LN group. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased after intubation in the LH group, but not in the SH group. Heart rates in all four groups showed significant increases, and there were no differences between heart rates in the stylet scope and laryngoscope groups or between the normotensive and hypertensive groups. The number of patients who complained of sore throat was greater in the laryngoscope groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheal intubation with a stylet scope can attenuate hemodynamic changes and reduce the incidence of sore throat in comparison with the conventional laryngoscope technique in both normotensive and hypertensive patients.

[Comparative survey of cardiac arrests during anesthesia and surgery in the 1980 s and 1999 s].

A survey of unexpected cardiac arrests, excluding those associated with cardiac surgery, that had occurred during anesthesia and surgery in the period 1980-1999 was conducted. There was no significant difference between the number of such cardiac arrests that occurred in the 1980 s (29/36,159, 0.080%) and the number in the 1990 s (33/37,643, 0.088%). According to the classification by Keenan et al., there were 3 cases (0.0083%) in the 80 s and 4 cases (0.0106%) in the 90 s that occurred due to anesthetic management. Cardiac arrests due to surgery itself significantly decreased from 21 cases in the 80 s to 6 cases in the 90 s, probably due to proper treatment for massive bleeding, a decrease in the number of cases of anaphylactic shock, and the development of novel anesthetics. Conversely, cardiac arrests due to preoperative conditions of the patients significantly increased from 5 cases in the 80 s to 23 cases in the 90 s. This increase seems to be due to an increase in the number of severe and multiple injuries and an increase in complicated major surgery. The increase in number of cases due to preoperative conditions also depends on coronary spasm and cardiac conduction insufficiency. Taking into consideration the improvement in intraoperative monitoring and the development of novel anesthetics in the 90 s, greater efforts should be made by anesthesiologists to reduce the incidence of cardiac arrest due to anesthetic management, and preoperative evaluation of surgical patients needs to be reconsidered.

Celite-activated viscometer Sonoclot can measure the suppressive effect of tranexamic acid on hyperfibrinolysis in cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the usefulness of the celite-activated viscometer Sonoclot for monitoring fibrinolytic status in cardiac surgery, we demonstrated the effectiveness of high doses of tranexamic acid, an antifibrinolytic agent, in reducing postoperative bleeding. METHODS: Thirty-two American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status III patients who required cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were studied. Anesthesia was induced by a high dose of fentanyl and midazolam with oxygen and was maintained by the intermittent administration of these agents. Patients were divided into two groups: the control group (n = 15) and patients receiving tranexamic acid (TA; n = 17). The TA group received a high dose (50 mg/kg) of TA twice, once before and once after CPB. The percentage diminishing rate of the Sonoclot tracing 15 min after maximum clot signal (DR(15)) and the amount of postoperative bleeding were measured. RESULTS: After CPB, DR(15) in the control group (mean 28.3%) increased significantly by 45%, and the DR(15) in the TA group (16.1%) was significantly lower than that in the control group. The amount of postoperative bleeding in the TA group (546 ml) was significantly less, by 34%, than that in the control group (829 ml). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic administration of high-dose TA in cardiac surgery reduces postoperative bleeding, and this effect is consistent with changes in the diminishing rate using Sonoclot. The celite-activated viscometer Sonoclot is recommended for use in cardiac surgery for rapid assessment of fibrinolytic status.

[Anesthetic management of a patient with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome].

We describe a case of Freeman-Sheldon syndrome that presented some problems for anesthetic management. A 2-yr-old girl required orthopedic surgery for the bilateral lower extremities. Anesthesia was induced via a mask with oxygen (2 l.min-1), nitrous oxide (4 l.min-1) and sevoflurane (approximately 5%). Tracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy was successfully achieved. Combined caudal epidural block was, however, avoided because spina bifida occulta was suspected. Spina bifida occulta was revealed postoperatively by X-ray. For anesthetic management of a patient with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, the spine should be evaluated preoperatively when performing epidural/spinal anesthesia.

[Utility of an infrared ear thermometer as an intraoperative core temperature monitor].

We investigated the utility of an infrared ear thermometer (M 10, Terumo) as an intraoperative core temperature monitor. Temperatures of the axilla and inner ear were measured before and after anesthesia. Bladder, rectal, and forehead deep temperatures were continuously measured using a core temperature monitor (CTM-205, Terumo) during anesthesia. At the same time, the temperature of the inner ear was measured 4 times every 15 minutes (twice from cephalad and twice from caudal directions). There were no significant differences in the measured inner ear temperatures, either between directions of measurement or between the 1st and 2nd measurements. The inner ear temperature showed a close correlation with rectal, bladder, forehead deep, and axillary temperatures (r = 0.72-0.79, P < 0.01). The smallest temperature difference in this study was found to be that between the inner ear and forehead deep temperatures (-0.10), and the limit of agreement between these temperatures was also the smallest (0.81). In conclusion, we recommended the use of an infrared ear thermometer as an intraoperative core temperature monitor, especially in lower abdominal surgery, in which neither rectal nor bladder temperature monitoring is reliable.

The direct effects of heparin and protamine on canine tracheal smooth muscle tone.

UNLABELLED: Heparin and protamine are used for cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery; however, the direct effects and mechanisms of these drugs on airway smooth muscle tone are still not fully known. We investigated the in vitro effects of these drugs on canine tracheal smooth muscle by measuring the muscle tension and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and by measuring inward Ca2+ currents (I(Ca)) through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. [Ca2+]i was monitored by the 500-nm light emission ratio of preloaded Ca2+ indicator fura-2. Isometric tension was measured simultaneously. Whole-cell patch clamp recording techniques were used to investigate the effects of the drugs on I(Ca) in freshly dispersed smooth muscle cells. Heparin (0.12-120 U/mL), protamine (0.15-150 U/mL), or heparin-protamine complex (4:5 U/U) was introduced into a bath solution. Protamine and heparin-protamine complex dose-dependently inhibited both carbachol-induced contraction of the muscle and increase in [Ca2+]i. These drugs also decreased the I(Ca) of the muscle cells and shifted the inactivation curve to a more negative potential. Heparin itself had a slight enhancing effect on carbachol-induced muscle contraction without changing [Ca2+]i. Protamine and heparin-protamine complex can decrease the agonist-induced increase in [Ca2+]i by the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels both in the activated and inactivated states. IMPLICATIONS: Protamine and heparin-protamine complex inhibited carbachol-induced canine tracheal smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting the increase in intracellular concentration of free Ca2+. These drugs can decrease the agonist-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ by the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in both the activated and inactivated states.

The usefulness of celite-activated thromboelastography for evaluation of fibrinolysis.

PURPOSE: Although thromboelastography is useful for measuring both coagulability and fibrinolysis, it takes about two hours to measure all parameters including fibrinolytic rate. The present study aimed to investigate the usefulness of celite-activated thromboelastography (TEGc) to evaluate fibrinolytic status in non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: Whole blood samples were obtained from 30 patients for non-cardiac surgery, and used for measurements of both native TEG (TEGn) and TEGc. The final concentration of 1% (w/v) celite was used for TEGc. RESULTS: Time for measurement of the fibrinolytic rate (FR) of TEGc in patients (56.7 +/- 4.0 min) was less than half that of FR of TEGn (123.3 +/- 15.6 min) (P < 0.05), suggesting a more rapid assessment of fibrinolytic status. A linear relationship was observed between FR values of TEGc and those of TEGn (r = 0.93, P < 0.0001), suggesting the usefulness of the fibrinolytic parameter of TEGc. CONCLUSION: TEGc is a useful technique for a more rapid assessment of fibrinolytic status.

[Evaluation of risks for postoperative pulmonary complications using a preoperative consultation system].

We retrospectively investigated the perioperative management and postoperative pulmonary complications of patients who had preoperative respiratory problems and consultations with anesthesiologists. These patients numbered eight hundred, 23.7% of all patients who had preoperative consultations, and 40.9% and 62.0% of the 800 had preoperative and postoperative respiratory management, respectively. Forty eight patients (6.0%) received postoperative artificial respiration. One hundred and twenty four patients (15.5%) had some respiratory complications post-operatively, and 5 patients (0.7%) died mainly because of the complications. In an evaluation of these patients with the modified predicted risk factors of Okutsu including the obesity factor and smoking history, there was no respiratory complication in patients under 14 points. Patients with high points of more than 20 included almost all of the patients (114 patients, 91.9%) who had postoperative respiratory complications. We conclude that our preoperative consultation system works well and that the modified predicted-risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications is useful for the standardization and objectivity of preoperative patient evaluation.

Surgical/tourniquet pain accelerates blood coagulability but not fibrinolysis.

Tissue damage during surgery induces coagulation factors and activates platelets. Surgical pain may provoke release of catecholamines, leading to hypercoagulability. We have investigated the effect of surgical pain on blood coagulability and fibrinolysis in orthopaedic operations using tourniquets in 22 patients undergoing total knee replacement. Patients were allocated to one of two groups to receive extradural anaesthesia (EA; n = 11) or general anaesthesia (GA; n = 11). The EA group received lumbar extradural block with lidocaine. The GA group received only general anaesthesia, maintained with 1.5-2.5% sevoflurane and 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Using a thrombelastogram technique, blood coagulability and fibrinolysis were measured. Mean maximum amplitude (MA), which reflects coagulability, increased after tourniquet inflation (11%) in group GA whereas MA in group EA did not change. After tourniquet deflation, MA values in both GA and EA groups increased significantly (10% and 20%, respectively) (P < 0.05), and there was also a significant difference in MA between groups (P < 0.05). The fibrinolytic rate did not change in either group during tourniquet inflation, but increased significantly (160%) after tourniquet deflation. There was no significant difference in fibrinolytic rate between the groups. We conclude that the hypercoagulability seen in group GA could have been caused by surgical or tourniquet pain, or both, and that extradural anaesthesia is a useful technique to prevent hypercoagulability.

[Two cases of clipping surgery of cerebral aneurysm under profound hypothermia with closed-chest extracorporeal circulation].

A 68-year-old female and a 47-year-old male patients underwent clipping surgery for giant basilar arterial and thrombotic internal carotid arterial aneurysms respectively with closed-chest extracorporeal circulation (femoro-femoral bypass). Profound hypothermia and continuous infusion of thiamylal were used to prevent brain damage. Blood outflow via the femoral vein was sufficient to induce profound hypothermia down to 20 degrees C. Hemodynamics were controllable without catecholamines during closed-chest extracorporeal circulation. Preoperative symptoms significantly improved and no neurological complication was observed in either case postoperatively. Right femoral phlebothrombosis was, however, observed in one case. In conclusion, profound hypothermia with closed-chest extracorporeal circulation is a safe technique to reduce the complications induced by open-chest technique, but special attention should be given to postoperative phlebothrombosis.

[Preventive effect of fluid warmer system on hypothermia induced by rapid intravenous infusion].

The changes in body temperature induced by rapid intravenous infusion of lactated Ringer solution and the effect of a fluid warmer system (HOT LINE, Level 1 Technologies, Inc., Rockland, MD) were investigated in 35 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. The patients were divided into 5 groups by categories of the fluid temperature (-19 or -38 degrees C), infusion route (radial or right subclavian vein), and infusion rate of lactated Ringer solution (1000 or 250 ml for 30 min). Pulmonary arterial, esophageal, bladder, and forehead deep temperatures, which reflect core temperature, were significantly decreased by the rapid infusion of unwarmed solution (0.8-1.0 degree C, P < 0.05). In contrast, these temperatures were maintained in the warmed solution groups as well as in the group of slow infusion rate. With regard to the infusion route, there was no significant difference in the temperature between the radial vein and subclavian vein groups. Plantar deep temperature showed no significant change during this study. In conclusion, infusion of warmed solution using HOT LINE could prevent hypothermia induced by rapid intravenous infusion, and this effect is not greatly influenced by route of venous infusion.

[The effect of scalp infiltration with bupivacaine on blood coagulability and fibrinolysis in neurovascular surgery].

We investigated the effect of scalp infiltration with bupivacaine on blood coagulability and fibrinolysis in neurovascular surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: scalp infiltration group (who received scalp infiltration with 0.5% bupivacaine prior to surgical incision, n = 7) and control group (n = 6). The blood coagulability and fibrinolysis were measured before and after surgical incision using a thromboelastogram (Thromboelastograph C-3000, Haemoscope). In the control group, the reaction and coagulation times were significantly shortened (30% and 23%, respectively, P < 0.05) and the maximum amplitude, which reflects coagulability, increased significantly (21%, P < 0.01) compared to each presurgical value. The scalp infiltration prior to the surgical incision prevented these reactions (P < 0.05). The fibrinolytic rate did not change in either group. We conclude that scalp infiltration prior to surgical incision is beneficial for attenuating an increase in blood coagulability, which could induce perioperative complications due to associated systemic diseases (i.e. hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, etc.).