J. J. De Lange

Compound A and carbon monoxide production from sevoflurane and seven different types of carbon dioxide absorbent in a patient model.

Background:u2002 The degradation of sevoflurane can lead to the production of compound A (CA) and carbon monoxide (CO) and an increase in temperature of the absorbent. CA is known to be nephrotoxic in rats. These reactions depend on the strong base and water contents of the carbon dioxide absorbent used. The purpose of this study was to measure the maximum amounts of CA and CO produced, and the temperature increase, for seven different carbon dioxide absorbents for sevoflurane containing different contents of strong bases.

Predictive value of symptom level measurements for complex regional pain syndrome type I

The validity with respect to presence or absence of CRPS I according to Veldmans criteria was assessed for measured pain, temperature, volume differences and limitations in range of motion. Evaluated were 155 assessments of 66 outpatients, initially diagnosed with CRPS I, but many of them not so on follow up visits. Pain was measured with VAS and McGill, temperature by infrared thermometry, volume differences by water displacement volumeters and limitations in range of motion by universal goniometers.

Polarization sensitive optical frequency domain imaging system for endobronchial imaging

A polarization sensitive endoscopic optical frequency domain imaging (PS-OFDI) system with a motorized distal scanning catheter is demonstrated. It employs a passive polarization delay unit to multiplex two orthogonal probing polarization states in depth, and a polarization diverse detection unit to detect interference signal in two orthogonal polarization channels. Per depth location four electro-magnetic field components are measured that can be represented in a complex 2x2 field matrix. A Jones matrix of the sample is derived and the sample birefringence is extracted by eigenvalue decomposition. The condition of balanced detection and the polarization mode dispersion are quantified. A complex field averaging method based on the alignment of randomly pointing field phasors is developed to reduce speckle noise. The variation of the polarization states incident on the tissue due to the circular scanning and catheter sheath birefringence is investigated. With this system we demonstrated imaging of ex vivo chicken muscle, in vivo pig lung and ex vivo human lung specimens.

Carbon monoxide production from desflurane and six types of carbon dioxide absorbents in a patient model

Background:u2002 Desflurane is known to produce high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) in desiccated sodalime or Baralyme® (Allied Healthcare Products, St. Louis, MO). Desiccated absorbents without strong bases like potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide are reported to produce less or no CO at all. The purpose of this study is to compare the concentration of CO in an anesthesia circuit for desflurane with six different types of completely desiccated CO2 absorbents with less strong bases than sodalime.

Treatment of venous air embolism with papaverine

Two cases of venous air embolism are described. One case occurred in a 12–year–old girl operated for uretero–ileo–cutaneostomy; the other case occurred in a 44–year–old patient who underwent a hemihepatectomy. The haemodynamic and pulmonary consequences were successfully treated with intravenous papaverine.