[Digestive surgery in the elderly]. / Chirurgie digestive du grand âge.

The dramatic increase in digestive surgery among patients of advanced age is the logical consequence of the aging population demographics in developed countries. Surgery in the aged is not fundamentally different, but it demands precise and tailored assessment and management of surgical indications and surgical and anesthetic techniques. Advanced age is not a contraindication to even major digestive surgery, but every effort must be made to avoid urgent operations by attention to pre-existing symptoms which are all-too-often neglected in the aged. Intensive care may help to shorten the hospital stay which should ideally occupy only a minor portion of the numbered days of the patient (whose life expectancy may be significantly longer than one may intuitively foresee).

The arteriovenous fistula in segmental pancreatic transplantation in dogs--a hemodynamic study.

Arterial and/or venous thrombosis is a frequent complication in experimental or human pancreatic transplantation. A canine experiment was used to study the hemodynamic effects of spleno-splenic arteriovenous fistula during segmental pancreatic transplantation. An increase in blood flow, without "steal" syndrome in the pancreatic blood supply or pressure increase, was found. Thus this technique can help prevent vascular thrombosis in pancreatic transplant in dogs.

[Evaluation of epidural analgesia. Analysis of a prospective questionnaire answered by 100 women who delivered with epidural analgesia]. / Evaluation de l'analgésie péridurale. Analyse d'un questionnaire prospectif chez 100 femmes ayant accouché sous analgésie péridurale.

An enquiry was carried out by sending 368 women a double questionnaire at the eighth month of pregnancy and after delivery, in order to assess their opinions and motivations as far as epidural anaesthetic was concerned, and how far their expectations had been fulfilled. One hundred forms were returned. The sample was: 64% primipara and 36% multipara, of whom 64 women were married, 27 living in a stable relationship and 9 living on their own. 85% had a profession and 52% were in a higher social category. Eighty two of the women asked for an epidural in order to: in 58% of cases participate in their delivery, and in 31% of cases bond with the child. 57% hoped for less pain rather than for complete absence of pain which was asked for in 43%. Of the 36 multipara, 34 asked for epidural analgesia. Those who refused to have an epidural thought that they would be able to live through the delivery in a more natural way (44%) and 52% thought the process had become too medicalized and that complications of a medical nature might supervene. 33% gave no reason for refusing. This group contained more primipara (16) than multipara (2). These primipara thought that epidural analgesia would stop them taking part in the delivery and 10 of these knew that they would have pain in the delivery. Post partum replies showed that 58% had a higher opinion of epidural after than before the delivery and 93% were highly satisfied with the analgesia that they received. This despite the fact that the techniques were not perfect. Seven women thought the procedure unsatisfactory although there were no technical faults but the enquiry showed that they expected more from epidural analgesia. Whether they were satisfied or not, 98% of the women said that they would ask for epidurals in subsequent deliveries.

[Fentanyl in peridural obstetrical analgesia. Evaluation after 4 years' use]. / Le fentanyl dans l'analgésie obstétricale par voie péridurale. Bilan après quatre ans d'utilisation.

7,500 deliveries occurred from the date of opening of the Maternity Hospital Jean-Rostand. 3,500 of these were conducted under epidural anaesthesia. At different stages prospective studies were carried out to recall the effect of adding fentanyl to bupivacaine when the epidural injection was made. A pharmacokinetic study. This shows that the levels in the mother and the fetus begin to coincide more with the number of doses that are given and pass from 0.3 after 50 micrograms have been administered to 0.5 after 100 micrograms have been administered and 0.7 after 150 micrograms have been administered. The fetal levels are far lower than those required to depress respiration. The half life of distribution through the circulation has been worked out at 4 minutes and the half for elimination of the drug at 460 minutes. The maternal levels show great fluctuations and late alterations. Analgesia is earlier, more complete and more prolonged when fentanyl is added. Fentanyl also masks irregularities. Undesirable effects such as tiredness, pruritus, nausea, vomiting and urinary retention occur infrequently and last only for short periods of time. No mother had respiratory depression. The doses of bupivacaine that had to be given were as a whole less when fentanyl was added. In 40% of cases it only required one injection to achieve analgesia throughout the whole labour. The length of labour and the number of caesarean operations carried out did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Anesthesia and surveillance in intracavitary fulguration for radical treatment of ventricular tachycardia]. / Anesthésie et surveillance dans la fulguration endocavitaire pour le traitement radical des tachycardies ventriculaires.

Endocavitary fulguration, is a new technique to ablate the arrhythmogenic substrate of chronic ventricular tachycardias (VT). This method is used in patients with ventricular tachycardias of varied etiologies. 47 fulgurations in 36 patients with 40 hemodynamic and 12 myocardial metabolic studies are presented. In cardiopathies, the cardiac performance is altered with an ejection fraction of less than 50% and a ventricular function curve which is in Braunwald zone II. Ablation of the arrhythmia was obtained in 63% of cases. Severe complications were observed in 13% of cases, i.e.: low cardiac output, pulmonary oedema and myocardial ischemia. Three patients died from cardiac failure. Ventricular tachycardia was induced to localize the arrhythmogenic foci to be fulgurated. Ventricular tachycardia led to hemodynamic changes with a high pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and low cardiac output (-21%) which was further lowered under general anesthesia (-42%) due to poor response to tachycardia. Endocardial fulguration per se induced severe but transient (less than 5 minutes) hemodynamic changes and was sometimes complicated by myocardial ischemia and conduction disorders. General anesthesia is necessary to perform endocardial fulguration but cannot be induced with a poor hemodynamic state and with high rate ventricular tachy-arrhythmias. Three criteria are used concerning the anesthetic agents: 1) maintainance of cardiac contractility and baro-reflex efficiency; 2) respect of myocardial oxygen balance; 3) maintainance of excitability during mapping of arrhythmogenic foci. Hemodynamic monitoring is necessary to understand and manage complications due to this new type of therapy.

[Syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation. Report of a severe iatrogenic complication]. / Syndrome d'hyperstimulation ovarienne. Rapport d'une complication iatrogène grave.

Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a rare complication of ovulation induction with exogenous gonadotrophins. Severe forms involve acute renal failure, coagulation disorders, massive ascites, pleural effusion and may require pleural and peritoneal puncture. We report a case of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome effectively treated by simple procedures in an intensive care unit.

[Maintenance of obstetrical analgesia by continuous perfusion into the peridural space]. / Entretien de l'analgésie obstétricale par perfusion continue dans l'espace péridural.

Two methods of epidural analgesia were compared in two randomized groups each of 16 normal women in labour, using bolus or continuous infusion. Analgesia was provided by a mixture of bupivacaine 0.25% and fentanyl. Patients did not differ in age, weight, term as well as in parity and neonatal weight. Group A received a total dose of 34 +/- 7.5 mg bupivacaine and 87 +/- 23.8 micrograms fentanyl as a bolus and group B a total dose 40.6 +/- 11.5 mg bupivacaine and 131 +/- 43.5 micrograms fentanyl as a starter dose followed by constant infusion. There was no statistical difference between the two groups concerning length of labour, number of forceps, Apgar score and patient, obstetrician and anaesthetist satisfaction score. Although continuous epidural infusion was greatly appreciated by the obstetrical team, it would seem to be of interest only when labour is long enough to require larger doses, especially when labour is induced.

-Cerebral air embolism after removal of an internal jugular vein catheter-. / Embolie gazeuse cérébrale après retrait d'un cathéter jugulaire interne.

Central venous catheters are usually inserted and manipulated by anaesthetists-intensivists and others familiar with their use under surgical conditions, yet they are often removed on the wards by junior doctors or nurses insufficiently trained in the removal procedure. In order to illustrate the risks presented by such a practice, we report a case of cerebral air embolism following the withdrawal of an internal jugular catheter in a sitting patient. The mechanisms of air entry into the venous and systemic circulation are considered, as well as the preventive and therapeutic measures.

[Propofol or ketamine in anesthesia of the very old patient. Study of the hemodynamic effects during induction]. / Propofol ou kétamine pour l'anesthésie du grand vieillard. Etude des effets hémodynamiques à l'induction.

The haemodynamic changes following anaesthesia for hip surgery in 16 very old ASA II or III patients (mean age 85.8 +/- 5 years) were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group I 1 mg X kg-1 propofol, group II 1.5 mg X kg-1 ketamine. After injection, the patients were left spontaneously breathing oxygen, and were assisted when apneic. Haemodynamic measures with a Swan-Ganz catheter and thermodilution cardiac output calculator were made before and 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 min after anaesthetic induction. The two groups were similar in age, weight and mean arterial pressure, but statistically different for some haemodynamic parameters (Ppa, Ppw, CI). In group I, arterial pressure fell significantly (-17%) in the first minute and continued to fall (-15%) until the 15th min. Heart rate remained unchanged: right atrial and pulmonary pressures were not changed; cardiac index fell slightly and MVO2 estimated by the triple product fell (-27%) as soon as propofol was infused. There was no clinical sign of cardiac failure. In group II, arterial pressure increased significantly, and heart rate decreased; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure increased (+93% after the 3rd min) and cardiac index was unchanged. The ventricular function curve was shifted to the right, suggesting a decrease in inotropism. Systemic vascular resistances were steady. MVO2 increased twofold, mainly due to the rise in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hemodynamic effects of vecuronium in man]. / Effets hémodynamiques du vécuronium chez l'homme.

The cardiovascular effects of vecuronium (Organon NC 45 or Norcuron) in man were determined through different protocols using continuous recording of heart rate, arterial blood pressure and parameters obtained by a Swan-Ganz catheter. In healthy anaesthetized patients (n = 23), the effects of a dose of 0.1 mg X kg-1 pancuronium (group A) were compared to those of two doses of vecuronium: 0.1 mg X kg-1 (group B) and 0.3 mg X kg-1 (group C). Pancuronium induced an increase in heart rate (+12%), arterial pressure (+16%) and cardiac index (+8%). No change occurred with vecuronium. In patients under mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit, we compared the effects of pancuronium 0.1 mg X kg-1 (group D; n = 10), d-tubocurarine (group E; n = 11), vecuronium 0.1 mg X kg-1 (group F; n = 9) and 0.3 mg X kg-1 (group G; n = 10). Pancuronium induced an increase in heart rate (+12%), arterial pressure (+8%) and cardiac index (+9%). d-Tubocurarine induced an increase in heart rate (+6%), a decrease in arterial pressure (-24%) and cardiac index (-17%). No change was observed after vecuronium 0.1 mg X kg-1. After vecuronium 0.3 mg X kg-1, the changes were minimal: a slight decrease in arterial pressure (-5%), a very slight (+3%) and transient (3 min) increase in heart rate were observed. The doses were approximately equipotent in groups A, B and C, whereas the dose of 0.3 mg X kg-1 in group G is about 10 times the 90% effective dose of vecuronium. In geriatric patients with per- or postoperative circulatory deficiency (group H; n = 10, mean age 83 yr), no hemodynamic side effects were observed. Vecuronium seems to be a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent devoid of cardiovascular side-effects at the generally usual doses.

[Addition of a morphinomimetic to the continuous perfusion of 0.125% bupivacaine for peridural obstetrical anesthesia. A comparative study of fentanyl and alfentanyl]. / Adjonction d'un morphinomimétique à la perfusion continue de bupivacaïne 0.125% pour l'analgésie péridurale obstétricale. Etude comparative fentanyl-alfentanil.

Morphinic drugs added to epidural local anesthetic during labour enhance analgesia and obstetrical conditions. Fentanyl, 1 microgram/kg-1, is safe for the newborn. Alfentanil is of faster and shorter duration and its pharmacokinetics suggests less accumulation than fentanyl. The aim of this study is to compare Alfentanil versus Fentanyl when added to an epidural continuous bupivacaine 0.125% infusion. Two groups of parturients are constituted: group A 10 micrograms/kg alfentanil, group F 1 microgram/kg fentanyl. Pain is assessed with a 0 to 10 points scale. There are no differences between the two groups for age, weight, parity, term, initial cervical dilatation and new born weight. Analgesia begins quickly in the two groups, and is more pronounced in the group A (than in the group F (p less than 0.005). Analgesia is maintained for the whole dilatation course. Pain scores increase during expulsion but are significantly lower than the initial scores. No difference is noted as regards analgesia supplementation. Obstetrical data: labour duration, oxytocin dosage, expulsion strength, instrumental extraction rate and uterin evacuation are similar in the 2 groups. No cesarean section is observed. Neonatal status, established according to Apgar scores and then Amiel Tison neurological scales (0 to 30) respectively at 30 to 120 minutes are in the same favorable ranges: Apgar score is in all cases more than 9. The neurological score is 24 (group A) and 22.9 (group F) at 30 minutes and increases significantly at 120 minutes in the 2 groups (27 in the two groups).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)