A regional massive hemorrhage protocol developed through a modified Delphi technique.

BACKGROUND: A massive hemorrhage protocol (MHP) enables rapid delivery of blood components in a patient who is exsanguinating pending definitive hemorrhage control, but there is variability in MHP implementation rates, content and compliance owing to challenges presented by infrequent activation, variable team performance and patient acuity. The goal of this project was to identify the key evidence-based principles and quality indicators required to develop a standardized regional MHP. METHODS: A modified Delphi consensus technique was performed in the spring and summer of 2018. Panellists used survey links to independently review and rate (on a 7-point Likert scale) 43 statements and 8 quality indicators drafted by a steering committee composed of transfusion medicine specialists and technologists, and trauma physicians. External stakeholder input from all hospitals in Ontario was sought. RESULTS: Three rounds were held with 36 experts from diverse clinical backgrounds. Consensus was reached for 42 statements and 8 quality indicators. Additional modifications from external stakeholders were incorporated to form the foundation for the proposed MHP. INTERPRETATION: This MHP template will provide the basis for the design of an MHP toolkit, including specific recommendations for pediatric and obstetrical patients, and for hospitals with limited availability of blood components or means to achieve definitive hemorrhage control. We believe that harmonization of MHPs in our region will simplify training, increase uptake of evidence-based interventions, enhance communication, improve patient comfort and safety, and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

What does the Internet teach the obstetric patient about labor analgesia? / O que a internet ensina à paciente obstétrica sobre a analgesia de parto?

Abstract Background and objectives: It has been observed a general public increased search on the Internet for health information, including Anesthesiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the information available to the lay person in Portuguese on the Internet about labor analgesia for the Brazilian population. Method: Using the term "labor anesthesia", the first 20 sites found on Google in November 2014 were evaluated by two resident physicians and classified as medical and non-medical. Legibility and Design - accessibility, reliability and navigability-were compared using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRESH) and Minervation validation tool for healthcare websites (LIDA) tools. The websites' content was confronted with that of the medical literature. Results: Medical and non-medical websites were considered difficult to read according to FRESH. Regarding the design, there was no difference between groups regarding navigability, however, accessibility was considered superior in non-medical websites (p = 0.042); while reliability was higher in medical websites (p = 0.019). Conclusions: With the increased search for health information on the Internet and concern about improving the quality of childbirth care, it is fundamental that the content available to the layperson about labor analgesia is of quality and well understood. This study demonstrated that both medical and non-medical websites are difficult to read and that non-medical websites are more accessible while the medical ones are more accurate.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Observa-se um crescimento da busca de informação no público geral sobre temas médicos na internet, inclusive em anestesiologia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a informação existente ao leigo na internet em língua portuguesa sobre analgesia de parto para a população brasileira. Método: Com o uso do termo "anestesia de parto", os 20 primeiros sites encontrados no Google em novembro de 2014 foram avaliados por dois médicos residentes e classificados como médicos e não médicos. Legibilidade e desenho - acessibilidade, confiabilidade e navegabilidade - foram comparados por meio das ferramentas Fresh (Flesch Reading Ease Score) e Lida (Minervation Validation Tool for Healthcare Websites). O conteúdo dos sites foi confrontado em relação à literatura médica. Resultados: Sites médicos e não médicos foram considerados de difícil leitura de acordo com o Fresh. Em relação ao desenho, não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à navegabilidade. Entretanto, a acessibilidade foi considerada superior em sites não médicos (p= 0,042); enquanto que a confiabilidade foi maior em sites médicos (p= 0,019). Conclusões: Com aumento da busca de informações em saúde na internet e aumento da preocupação de melhorar a qualidade de assistência ao parto, é fundamental que o conteúdo disponível ao leigo sobre analgesia de parto seja de qualidade e compreendido. Este estudo demonstrou que tanto sites médicos como não médicos são de difícil leitura; e que os sites não médicos são mais acessíveis, enquanto os médicos são mais precisos.

[What does the Internet teach the obstetric patient about labor analgesia?] / O que a internet ensina à paciente obstétrica sobre a analgesia de parto?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been observed a general public increased search on the Internet for health information, including Anesthesiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the information available to the lay person in Portuguese on the internet about labor analgesia for the Brazilian population. METHOD: Using the term "labor anesthesia", the first 20 sites found on Google in November 2014 were evaluated by two resident physicians and classified as medical and non-medical. Legibility and Design - accessibility, reliability and navigability-were compared using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRESH) and Minervation validation tool for healthcare websites (LIDA) tools. The websites' content was confronted with that of the medical literature. RESULTS: Medical and non-medical websites were considered difficult to read according to FRESH. Regarding the design, there was no difference between groups regarding navigability, however, accessibility was considered superior in non-medical websites (p = 0.042); while reliability was higher in medical websites (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: With the increased search for health information on the Internet and concern about improving the quality of childbirth care, it is fundamental that the content available to the layperson about labor analgesia is of quality and well understood. This study demonstrated that both medical and non-medical websites are difficult to read and that non-medical websites are more accessible while the medical ones are more accurate.

Preoperative celecoxib in noncardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain continues to be undertreated after noncardiac surgery. Preoperative analgesic administration may enhance postoperative analgesia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of preoperative administration of celecoxib in noncardiac surgery on pain and postoperative outcomes. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINHAL Web of Sciences and ProQuest databases were searched from inception to 2014. Reference lists of retrieved articles and grey literature were searched for additional trials. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Articles were included if they enrolled patients of at least 18 years of age and randomised patients to receive celecoxib within 4 h of noncardiac surgery. Studies were excluded if they were animal studies, reviews/meta-analyses, did not report pain as an outcome or used epidural analgesia. RESULTS: Twenty trials met the eligibility criteria. Preoperative celecoxib in 14 studies (994 patients) amenable to meta-analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in 24-h parenteral morphine-equivalent consumption (mean difference -4.13 mg, 95% confidence interval -5.58 to -2.67, I = 94%). Eleven studies (755 patients) assessed postoperative pain scores at 24 h and found a significant decrease with celecoxib use [mean difference (on a 0-10 pain scale) -1.02, 95% confidence interval -1.54 to -0.50, I = 99%]. The risks of postoperative nausea and vomiting were also decreased by 44% (P = 0.01) and 38% (P = 0.03), respectively. Preoperative celecoxib did not improve patient satisfaction or length of recovery room stay, or increase intraoperative bleeding. Subgroup analyses indicated no difference between celecoxib 200 and 400 mg or between a single preoperative dose and continued postoperative dosing. CONCLUSION: Results of this study are limited by significant heterogeneity and inclusion of mainly small trials. However, there appears to be a slight to modest benefit of preoperative celecoxib on reducing postoperative morphine consumption, pain, nausea and vomiting.

Spinal ultrasound versus palpation for epidural catheter insertion in labour: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound imaging of the spine is thought to reduce failed and traumatic neuraxial procedures. Most of the evidence supporting this assumption has been produced in the context of an expert sonographer performing the ultrasound assessment, and it remains unknown whether this technique is useful when used by multiple individual operators. OBJECTIVE: To invesstigate the impact of preprocedural spinal ultrasound on the ease of insertion of labour epidurals by a group of trainees. We hypothesised that the ultrasound-assisted technique would improve the ease of insertion when compared with the conventional palpation technique. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Academic hospital in Toronto, Canada. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: A group of 17 second-year anaesthesia residents and five anaesthesia fellows underwent a training programme in ultrasound assessment of the spine. Parturients with easily palpable lumbar spines were randomised to either ultrasound or palpation group. Residents and fellows performed both the assessment (ultrasound or palpation) and the epidural procedure. PRIMARY OUTCOME: ease of insertion of epidural catheter composed of the time taken to insert the epidural catheter, number of interspace levels attempted and number of needle passes. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: total procedural time (assessment and insertion); first pass success rate; number of attempts required to thread the epidural catheter; failure of epidural analgesia; and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: We analysed 128 epidural catheter insertions (residents 84, fellows 44). There was no difference in median (interquartile range, IQR) epidural insertion time between the ultrasound and palpation groups [174 (120 to 241) versus 180 (130 to 322.5) s, respectively; P = 0.14]. The number of interspace levels attempted and needle passes were also similar in both groups. The total procedural time was longer in the ultrasound group. CONCLUSION: The use of preprocedural spinal ultrasound by a cohort of anaesthesia trainees did not improve the ease of insertion of labour epidural catheters in patients with easily palpable lumbar spines, as compared with the traditional palpation technique based on anatomical landmarks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00996905.

A scoping review of the evidence for teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.

A scoping review was performed to assess published evidence regarding how best to teach ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA). The literature search yielded 205 articles, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. Current literature on the topic can be divided into 3 main themes: the development of motor skills, learning and teaching sonoanatomy, and understanding of the requirements for establishing a UGRA education program and evaluation. We discuss the current status and future direction of research on UGRA training.

The epidural electric stimulation test does not predict local anesthetic spread or consumption in labour epidural analgesia.

PURPOSE: The epidural electrical stimulation test (EEST) is a highly specific and sensitive test for confirming placement of the epidural catheter in the epidural space. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the EEST could predict the spread and consumption of local anesthetic solutions during labour epidural analgesia. METHODS: This observational study was conducted in labouring parturients requesting epidural analgesia. The EEST was performed after the epidural catheter placement (T0) and repeated five minutes after a test dose with 2% lidocaine 3 mL (T1). The minimum current required to elicit the motor response at each time point was recorded. A loading dose of 0.125% bupivacaine 10 mL and fentanyl 50 µg was administered and followed by patient-controlled epidural analgesia with 0.0625% bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 µg·mL(-1) (baseline infusion 10 mL·hr(-1), bolus dose 5 mL, lockout interval ten minutes, maximum dose 20 mL·hr(-1)). The primary outcome was the correlation between the current required to elicit motor responses at T0 and T1 and the consumption of bupivacaine in the first two hours of epidural administration. The secondary outcomes included the muscle contraction patterns determined by the EEST and the incidence of failed, inadequate, or asymmetric blocks. RESULTS: The study was conducted in 102 parturients. The mean electric current required to elicit muscle response was 4.43 mA (range 1-10 mA) at T0, 5.97 mA (range 1-14 mA) at T1, and the mean Δ (T1-T0) current was 1.54 mA (range 0-8 mA). There was no correlation between either the mean baseline current required or the Δ (T1-T0) current and the total bupivacaine consumption at two hours. The incidence of inadequate blocks at two hours was 18%; however, none of the catheters required replacement. Unilateral left (34%) or right (31%) leg contraction was the most frequent pattern elicited by the EEST. CONCLUSIONS: The EEST shows a wide range of electrical current requirements and elicits a variety of muscle twitch patterns on the lower limbs. Although it confirms the epidural placement of the catheter, the EEST cannot be used to predict the spread or consumption of the local anesthetic solution during labour epidural analgesia.

Case report: Rhabdomyolysis in morbidly obese patients: anesthetic considerations.

PURPOSE: We report the presentation and management of rhabdomyolysis involving shoulder girdle and upper arm muscles in a morbidly obese patient after prolonged laparoscopic surgery. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 41-yr-old morbidly obese woman presented for laparoscopic abdominal hysterectomy. She had hypertension and type II diabetes which were controlled on regular medications. She also had obstructive sleep apnea. Her clinical examination and investigations revealed no abnormality except morbid obesity (body mass index 54 kg·m(-2)) and left ventricular hypertrophy on transthoracic echocardiogram. Standard general anesthesia was administered under baseline non-invasive monitors. Succinylcholine was used to secure the airway during anesthetic induction. Surgery was performed with the patient positioned with a 15° head-down tilt, and it took six hours to complete the procedure as technical difficulty was encountered due to her body habitus. Her trachea was extubated and she was transferred to the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) without incident. In the PACU, the patient complained of severe bilateral arm pain and weakness an hour after surgery. On physical examination, she exhibited limited movement of her arms against gravity while complaining of tenderness in her shoulder girdle muscles and both arms. Clinical suspicion of rhabdomyolysis based on her signs and symptoms was confirmed by an elevated serum creatinine kinase (CK) of 18,392 IU·L(-1) and serum potassium of 5.3 mmol·L(-1). Intravenous crystalloids and mannitol were administered for 24 hr for renal protection, and her clinical symptoms and serum CK levels improved over seven days. The patient was discharged to home on the tenth postoperative day, and she continued to improve over the three-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidly obese patients who undergo prolonged surgery are at risk for rhabdomyolysis, and early diagnosis and therapy are required to prevent severe complications.

Epidural anesthesia for Cesarean delivery in a patient with post-traumatic cervical syringomyelia.

PURPOSE: To illustrate the successful management of a patient with post-traumatic syringomyelia (PTS) and chronic pain syndrome who presented for elective Cesarean delivery under epidural anesthesia. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 30-yr-old gravida 3 para 1 woman, with a known diagnosis of cervical PTS secondary to a whiplash injury sustained three years earlier, presented to the labour and delivery unit at 31 weeks' gestation. She had severe pain in the cervical and lumbar spine, motor and sensory deficits in the upper extremities, tender mass in her left trapezius muscle, and history of dizziness and syncopal episodes. She was taking oxycodone 120 mg·day(-1) Magnetic resonance imaging of her spine revealed a syrinx of 2 mm in diameter extending from C4 to T1 levels with disc protrusions in the C4-C6 region. There was no evidence of Arnold-Chiari malformation or elevated intracranial pressure. On airway examination, her Mallampati score appeared normal, but there was a limitation in the range of her neck movements in all directions. An elective Cesarean delivery was planned at 39 weeks' gestation. An epidural catheter was placed using ultrasound guidance, and the procedure was performed without complications. CONCLUSIONS: The successful management of this case suggests that epidural can be considered in women with cervical PTS presenting for a Cesarean delivery.

The intercristal line determined by palpation is not a reliable anatomical landmark for neuraxial anesthesia.

PURPOSE: The radiological intercristal line (Tuffier's line) usually intersects the spine at the L4-L5 interspace. The intercristal line determined by palpation may be used erroneously as a surrogate for the true radiological Tuffier's line. We studied term pregnant women to establish the level at which a transverse line connecting the superior aspects of the iliac crests, as determined by palpation, intersects the lumbar spine, as assessed by ultrasound. METHODS: Term pregnant women were recruited, with the exception of those with scoliosis or previous spinal surgery. With the subjects in the sitting position, the attending anesthesiologist palpated and marked the superior aspects of the iliac crests bilaterally. One of the investigators, blinded to the markings, performed a lumbar spine ultrasound scan to identify the lumbar interspaces. Each interspace was marked on the patient's back. The bilateral markings were then revealed, and a line connecting them was drawn on the patient's back. This line and the markings of the interspace levels were plotted on a transparent sheet. RESULTS: Forty-five women were studied. The palpated intercristal line was located above the L4-L5 interspace in all of the women. The median level of intersection was immediately below the L2-L3 interspace, with a range from immediately above L1-L2 to immediately above L4-L5. There was a low positive correlation between the level of intersection and the body mass index (r = 0.32; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women at term, the intercristal line determined by palpation does not correspond to the Tuffier's line determined radiologically, and it may intersect the spine at up to three interspaces higher.

Anesthesiologists' learning curves for ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine to facilitate neuraxial anesthesia has recently received much attention. The transfer of knowledge pertaining to this skill has never been studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of teaching needed to achieve competence in spinal ultrasound. METHODS: Participants were given reading material and a link to a video presentation on spinal ultrasound. As well, they attended a 45-min lecture followed by a 30-min hands-on workshop. They were then assessed individually 1-2 weeks later. The assessment was performed on a live model using a low frequency curved ultrasound probe (2-5 mHz). Participants were asked to determine, at random lumbar spinal levels, the optimal insertion point and the depth to the ligamentum flavum-dura mater unit (up to 20 trials, 2 min per trial). Feedback was provided by an expert for each incorrect task. The learning curves were constructed, using the cumulative sum method, by comparing the participants' results with those of a benchmark established by experts. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 9.2 for Macintosh (College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: A total of 308 anesthesiologists were approached and 18 anesthesiologists participated in the study. Only five of the 18 participants (27%) achieved competence in determining the interspace, with a median number of 11 attempts (range 8-18). None of the participants achieved competence in determining either the insertion point or the depth to the ligamentum flavum-dura mater unit. CONCLUSIONS: Under the study conditions, 20 supervised trials plus teaching sessions were not enough for the participants to achieve competence in different aspects of ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine. These results may well be considered when planning teaching sessions and workshops in the future.

Simulation of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block: learning curve of CET-SMA/HSL anesthesiology residents / Simulação de bloqueios periféricos guiados por ultra-som: curva de aprendizado dos residentes de anestesiologia do CET-SMA/HSL / Simulacro de bloqueos periféricos guiados por ultrasonido: curva de aprendizaje de los residentes de anestesiología del CET-SMA/HSL

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A técnica de ultra-som tem sido cada vez mais utilizada para a realização de bloqueios de nervos periféricos. Existem poucos relatos na literatura que analisam a curva de aprendizado da técnica de ultra-som. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a curva de aprendizado dos residentes de Anestesiologia do CET-SMA/HSL em bloqueios periféricos guiados por ultra-som por meio de modelo experimental de gelatina. MÉTODO: Foi desenvolvido modelo experimental com cuba preenchida de gelatina e azeitona submersa. Nove residentes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos (G1, G2 e G3) compostos, cada um, de um R1, um R2 e um R3. Os três grupos receberam explanação teórica. O G1 recebeu duas horas de treinamento prático, o G2 uma hora e o G3 não treinou. Na seqüência, os participantes foram solicitados a posicionar a agulha no ponto médio da parede da azeitona, próximo ao transdutor e reposicionar a agulha entre a azeitona e o fundo da cuba, simulando a injeção perineural do anestésico. Foram avaliadas a velocidade e eficácia das tarefas, além das falhas técnicas. RESULTADOS: O G1 apresentou média de tempo para realização das tarefas de 37,63 segundos, sem falhas técnicas; no G2 observou-se média de 64,40 segundos, ocorrendo duas falhas técnicas e o G3 apresentou média de 93,83 segundos, com 12 falhas técnicas. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo permite concluir que o maior tempo de treinamento em modelo experimental de bloqueios periféricos guiados por ultra-som melhorou a curva de aprendizado na simulação da técnica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of ultrasound imaging in peripheral nerve block has been increasing. However, there are few reports in the literature on the learning curve of the ultrasound technique. The objective of this report was to evaluate the learning curve of CET-SMA/HSL Anesthesiology residents of ultrasound-guided peripheral block using an experimental agar model. METHODS: An experimental model was developed by filling a bowl with agar and olives. Nine residents were randomly divided in three groups (G1, G2, and G3), each one with a R1, a R2, and a R3. All three groups received theoretical explanation. G1 also had two hours of practical training, G2 had one hour, and G3 had no training. Residents were then asked to place a needle at the middle of the olive wall, near the transducer, and then reposition the needle between the olive and the bottom of the bowl, simulating the epidural injection of anesthetic. The speed and efficacy of the tasks, as well as technical flaws, were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean length of time to perform the tasks was 37.63 seconds for G1, without technical flaws; 64.40 seconds for G2, with two technical flaws; and 93.83 seconds for G3, with 12 technical flaws. CONCLUSIONS: This study allows us to conclude that the longer training of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block in an experimental model improved the learning curve of the technique.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La técnica de ultrasonido ha sido cada vez más utilizada para la realización de bloqueos de nervios periféricos. Existen pocos relatos en la literatura que analizan la curva de aprendizaje de la técnica de ultrasonido. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la curva de aprendizaje de los residentes de Anestesiología del CET-SMA/HSL en bloqueos periféricos guiados por ultrasonido a través de modelo experimental de gelatina. MÉTODO: Fue desarrollado un modelo experimental con un recipiente lleno de gelatina y aceituna sumergida. Nueve residentes se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en tres grupos (G1, G2, G3) compuestos cada uno, por un R1, un R2 y un R3. Los tres grupos recibieron una explicación teórica. El G1 recibió dos horas de entrenamiento práctico, el G2 una hora y el G3 no fue entrenado. Acto seguido, se les solicitó a los participantes que pusiesen la aguja en el punto medio de la pared de la aceituna, cerca del transductor y reposicionar la aguja entre la aceituna y el fondo del recipiente, simulando la inyección perineural del anestésico. Se evaluaron la velocidad y la eficacia de las tareas, además de las fallas técnicas. RESULTADOS: El G1 presentó un promedio de tiempo para la realización de las tareas de 37,63 segundos, sin fallas técnicas; en el G2 se observó un promedio de 64,40 segundos, ocurriendo dos fallas técnicas y el G3 presentó un promedio de 93,83 segundos, con doce fallas técnicas. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio permite concluir que el mayor tiempo de entrenamiento en un modelo experimental de bloqueos periféricos guiados por ultrasonido mejoró la curva de aprendizaje en el simulacro de la técnica.

The intraoperative use of warming blankets in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy is related with a reduction in post-anesthetic recovery time.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anesthesia and the surgeries cause substantial thermal changes, and hypothermia can lead to cardiovascular complications, clotting disorders, immunologic changes, and disruption of water and electrolyte balances, besides decreasing drug metabolism and, therefore, increasing post-anesthetic recovery time (PART). Circulation of warm air (forced-air warming blanket) is the most effective non-invasive warming method currently available. The objective of the present study was to compare the time spent in the recovery room of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with and without the intraoperative use of a forced-air warming blanket. METHODS: Male patients between 45 and 75 years, ASA PS I, II, and III undergoing radical prostatectomy under general anesthesia during 2004 were studied. Data gathered included: age, weight, physical status, anesthetic technique, use of warming blanket, and time spent in the recovery room. The data was recorded on an Excel chart and analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Patients in whom the warming blanket was used intraoperatively remained a mean of 139.66 +/- 58.6 minutes in the recovery room, while patients without the warming blanket spent a mean of 208.28 +/- 65.8 minutes in the recovery room (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the intraoperative use of the warming blanket in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy was associated with a significant reduction in the time patients spent in the recovery room.

Simulation of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block: learning curve of CET-SMA/HSL Anesthesiology residents.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of ultrasound imaging in peripheral nerve block has been increasing. However, there are few reports in the literature on the learning curve of the ultrasound technique. The objective of this report was to evaluate the learning curve of CET-SMA/HSL Anesthesiology residents of ultrasound-guided peripheral block using an experimental agar model. METHODS: An experimental model was developed by filling a bowl with agar and olives. Nine residents were randomly divided in three groups (G1, G2, and G3), each one with a R1, a R2, and a R3. All three groups received theoretical explanation. G1 also had two hours of practical training, G2 had one hour, and G3 had no training. Residents were then asked to place a needle at the middle of the olive wall, near the transducer and then reposition the needle between the olive and the bottom of the bowl, simulating the epidural injection of anesthetic. The speed and efficacy of the tasks, as well as technical flaws, were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean length of time to perform the tasks was 37.63 seconds for G1, without technical flaws; 64.40 seconds for G2, with two technical flaws; and 93.83 seconds for G3, with 12 technical flaws. CONCLUSIONS: This study allows us to conclude that the longer training of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block in an experimental model improved the learning curve of the technique.

Pulmonary function is better preserved in pigs when acute normovolemic hemodilution is achieved with hydroxyethyl starch versus lactated Ringer's solution.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) has been proposed to decrease the need for allogenic blood transfusion. Consequently, great amounts of fluids are necessary to maintain hemodynamics during and after blood removal. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the oxygenation, respiratory compliance, and lung structure during ANH performed with lactated Ringer's solution and hydroxyethyl starch (HES). Gas exchange, extravascular lung water, intrathoracic blood volume, serum osmolality, respiratory mechanics, and optical and electronic microscopy of lung biopsies were evaluated. Animals were randomized into three groups: CTL (control, n = 9), HES (HES 6% 200/0.5, n = 9), and LR (lactated Ringer's solution, n = 9). Animals in groups HES and LR underwent ANH to reach a preestablished hematocrit of around 15%. The removed blood was replaced with HES in a proportion of 1:1 and with lactated Ringer's solution 3:1. The LR group demonstrated a tendency for a marked time-dependence decrease in compliance (P = 0.013 in T2; P = 0.008 in T3) and in Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) ratio (P = 0.033 in T2) as well as an increase in (A-a) Grad O2 (P = 0.037 in T2). Extravascular lung water and intrathoracic blood volume did not present any significant variation among the groups. In contrast, serum osmolality presented a significant decline in animals hemodiluted with lactated Ringer's solution. Optical and electronic microscopy of lungs biopsies revealed moderate to serious collapses and basement membrane enlargement in LR group. In this kind of experimental model, ANH with 6% HES (200/0.5) seems to preserve lung structure better as evidenced by maintenance of oxygenation indexes and respiratory compliance when compared with that in the Ringer's solution hemodiluted group.