Turkstra, Timothy P.; Pelz, David M.; Jones, Philip M.

Anesthesiology. 111(1):97-101, July 2009.

doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a8649f

The optimal technique to intubate the trachea in patients presenting with a potential or documented cervical spine (C-spine) injury remains unresolved. These investigators compared C-spine motion during laryngoscopy and intubation using an AirTraq Laryngoscope® to a Macintosh blade. Twenty-four healthy surgical patients were studied. C-spine motion using the AirTraq was less than that during Macintosh laryngoscopy, averaging 66% less at 3 of the motion segments studied, occiput-C1, C2-C5, and C5-thoracic. The authors conclude that for patients in whom C-spine movement is undesirable, use of the AirTraq Laryngoscope may limit movement.

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Alone, Debasmita P.; Rodriguez, Jason C.; Noland, Cameron L.; Nash, Howard A.

Anesthesiology. 111(1):15-24, July 2009.

doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a3276c

The authors used genetic manipulation of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and studied the response to volatile agents. They found several loci in which reduction of gene copy number produced significant effects on sensitivity.

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O'Donnell, Brian D.; Iohom, Gabrielle

Anesthesiology. 111(1):25-29, July 2009.

doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a915c7

Effective ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus anesthesia may be achieved with as little as 1 ml per nerve (4 ml in total) of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine. Local anesthetic dose reduction with the use of ultrasound guidance is feasible.

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Kain, Zeev N.; MacLaren, Jill E.; Herrmann, Leslie; Mayes, Linda; Rosenbaum, Abraham; Hata, Justin; Lerman, Jerrold

Anesthesiology. 111(1):44-49, July 2009.

doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a91870

While melatonin is not an effective anxiolytic for children undergoing surgery, it does reduce the incidence of emergence delirium in these children.

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Perlas, Anahi; Chan, Vincent W. S.; Lupu, Catalin M.; Mitsakakis, Nicholas; Hanbidge, Anthony

Anesthesiology. 111(1):82-89, July 2009.

doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a97250

Two-dimensional ultrasonography can reliably assess gastric volume on the basis of measurement of the cross-sectional area of the antrum.

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Westphal, Martin; James, Michael F. M.; Kozek-Langenecker, Sibylle; Stocker, Reto; Guidet, Bertrand; Van Aken, Hugo

Anesthesiology. 111(1):187-202, July 2009.

doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a7ec82

Third generation hydroxyethyl starches have lower molar substitution and in vivo molecular weight than earlier products, resulting in improved pharmacokinetics. Today's tetrastarches have improved safety profiles with no loss of volume effect.

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