Dexmedetomidine is a novel sedative that was approved for use in the US at the end of the last century. Currently, the FDA labeling for its use are: sedation in non-intubated patients prior to and during surgical and other procedures, and in intubated and mechanically ventilated patients during treatment in an intensive care setting and to be administered by continuous infusion not to exceed 24...

We have studied the complications associated with three techniques used to maintain extradural analgesia in labour: midwife top-up doses of 0.25% bupivacaine 10 ml, continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine 10 ml h-1 and patient-controlled extradural analgesia (PCEA) with self-administered 3-ml bolus doses of 0.25% bupivacaine. A significantly higher intervention rate by an anaesthetist was req...

The antagonism, by neostigmine, of neuromuscular blockade produced by either Org NC 45 or pancuronium was studied in 29 anaesthetized patients during a continuous infusion of the myoneural blocker. The ED50 of neostigmine (dose which produced a 50% antagonism) when antagonizing Org NC 45 and pancuronium was 0.011 mg kg-1 and 0.010 mg kg-1 respectively. The dose-response relationships for the an...

Ward management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) using subcutaneous insulin in specific patient populations is safe and effective, but insulin administered by continuous infusion has not been analyzed in this setting. This retrospective cohort study utilizing a nursing-driven, continuous infusion insulin calculator demonstrated safe and effective treatment of patients with DKA on medicine wards.

1Amgen Research (Munich) GmbH, Munich, Germany; 2Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; 3Medizinische Klinik II, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universitätsklinikum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 4II Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; 5Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Ge...

Use of terlipressin in septic shock relies on a series of European studies resulting in a better knowledge of this vasopressive agent. Additional studies demonstrate that this agent appears to have attractive properties when administered properly. In comparison to prior reports, continuous infusion of low-dose terlipressin seems superior when administered to septic animals. For the first time i...

BACKGROUND The contribution of the saphenous nerve in pain after major ankle surgery is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate its contribution in this context. METHODS Fifty patients were included in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. In all patients [Group P (popliteal) and Group F (popliteal+femoral)], a popliteal catheter was placed before operation and ropivacaine 0....

The development of a system designed to permit semiautomatic and continuous infusion of the anesthetic agent alpha-chloralose to dogs is described. The apparatus was developed for use in studies of cardiovascular and renal functions under various environmental conditions. The device has proved to be practical and trouble-free and the simple design uses easily available materials.

Context-sensitive half-times (CSHTs) of fentanyl in dogs were determined using pharmacokinetic models reported by Murphy et al. and Sano et al., and compared with a human model. The CSHT was defined as the time required for a 50% decrease in drug concentration in the central compartment after the termination of infusion. Although CSHTs increased gradually as the infusion time increased, the CSH...

Vancomycin is a key antibiotic in the management of severe Gram-positive infections. Recent emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin has prompted internists to administer high-dose treatment to achieve trough levels of 15 to 20 mg/l. Such high doses might be causative in nephrotoxicity. The risk further increases in patients who are cri...