Kazuhiko Iijima

Effect of repeated irradiation of low-power He-Ne laser in pain relief from postherpetic neuralgia

In order to investigate the efficacy of repeated irradiation of low-power helium-neon laser in pain relief, we irradiated 36 outpatients suffering from postherpetic neuralgia. Each patient underwent 20 trials of irradiation on several points around the painful area at a frequency of 2 or 3 times a week. The efficacy of the laser at the end of 20 trials was noticed on 88.9%, and the degree of pain relief was 55.3%, which correlated with the number of trials. These results suggest that the irradiation of He-Ne laser is an effective and safe treatment for postherpetic neuralgia.

Distribution of diaphragm blood flow during sevoflurane anaesthesia in dogs

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect of increasing the concentrations of sévoflurane anaesthesia on the distribution of diaphragm blood flow (Qdi) in ten dogs during mechanical ventilation.MethodsAnimals were divided into two groups, sévoflurane (n = 6) and time control (n = 4) groups. Blood flow to the crural and the costal diaphragm (Qcru, Qcost) was determined by the hydrogen clearance technique at 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sévoflurane after a 30 min period of steady-state conditions. Cardiac output (CO) and the mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) were also measured.ResultsSevoflurane anaesthesia caused a reduction in CO (L · min−1) from a control value of 1.51 ± 0.21 to 1.38 ±0.1 (0.5 MAC), 1.09 ± 0.15 (1.0 MAC) and 0.98 ± 0.12 (1.5 MAC) (Mean ± SD). Mean blood pressure, Qcru and Qcost also decreased with increasing depth of anaesthesia. In addition, the decrease of Qcru was greater than that of Qcost at all levels of MBP and CO. No change occurred in these variables in the lime control group.ConclusionSevoflurane anaesthesia changes the distribution of Qdi with a greater reduction occurring in Qcru than in Qcost.RésuméObjectifDéterminer les effets de l’augmentation de la concentration du sévoflurane sur la distribution du débit sanguin diaphragmatique (Qdi) sur dix chiens pendant la ventilation automatique.MéthodesLes animaux ont été répartis en deux groupes, sévoflurane (n = 6) et contrôle (n = 4). Le débit sanguin au diaphragme crural et costal (Qcru, Qcost) a été déterminé avec la technique de clairance de l’hydrogène aux concentrations alvéolaires minimales (MAC) de 0, 05, 1,0 et 1,5 de sévoflurane après 30 min de. stabilisation. Le débit cardiaque (DC) et la pression artérielle moyenne (PĀM) ont aussi été mesurés.RésultatsL’anesthésie au sévoflurane a provoqué une baisse du DC (L · min−1) comparativement à la valeur de contrôle de 1,51 ± 0,21 à 1,38 ±0,1 (à 0,5 MAC), à 1,09 ± 0,15 (à 1,0 MAC) et à 0,98 ± 0,12 (à 1,5 MAC) (moyenne ± ET). La pression artérielle moyenne, le Qcr et le Qcost ont aussi diminué avec l’approfondissement de l’anesthésie. En outre, la diminution du Qcru a été plus importante que celle du Qcost à tous les niveaux de PĀM et de DC. On n ’a noté aucun de ces changements dans le group contrôle.ConclusionL’anesthésie au sévoflurane modifie la distribution3 du Qdi mais le Qcru diminue plus que le Qcost.

Differential effects of halothane and enflurane on end-systolic pressure-diameter relationship in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs

To clarify the difference of negative inotropic effects, we evaluated the effects of 0, 0.5, and 1 MAC halothane and enflurane on systolic performance in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, vagotomized dogs. Left ventricular myocardial contractility was assessed by the slope of the end-systolic pressure-diameter relationship (Ees), which have been reported to be independent of alterations in preload and afterload but sensitive to changes in myocardial contractility. Both anesthetics decreased heart rate and dose-dependently decreased left ventricular systolic pressure. Enflurane decreased heart rate and left ventricular systolic pressure more than an equivalent MAC of halothane. Both anesthetics increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter without any change in % shortening of the left ventricular internal diameter. TheEes was decreased to a similar extent at both 0.5 and 1 MAC halothane. TheEes was decreased with increasing concentrations of enflurane. TheEes was significantly larger (P<0.05) with 1 MAC of halothane than with 1 MAC enflurane. These results suggest that halothane preserves myocardial contractility better than enflurane in the presence of fentanyl.