Mortality in Anaesthesia

113 This system of monitoring might be improved further if all cases in this category were investigated jointly by a forensic pathologist and an anaesthesiologist at the very outset of the investigation and during the actual autopsy. Free Papers The Influence of Pancuronium on Primary Conjugated Bile Acids A. Fassoulaki, T. Mihas, A. Mihas and P. Kaniaris Experimental studies have been reported in which a prolonged action of steroid neuro­ muscular blocking agents followed bile acids administration(1, 2). A prolonged neuro­ muscular action of pancuronium has also been detected in patients with biliary obstruc­ tion(3). In the present study serum bile acids and intracellular liver enzymes were estimated after anaesthesia in which pancuronium was used as a muscle relaxant (Fig. 1). An at­ tempt is made to investigate the effect of pancuronium on bile acid levels. Material and Methods Twelve female patients aged between 40 and 50 years were studied. All of them were visited in the ward the night before the operation by the anaesthesiologist where their clinical condition was assessed and their consent was obtained to participate in the pre­ sent study. None of them had a history of hepatic disease or was taking drugs. The oper­ ation performed in all cases was modified radical mastectomy and intracellular liver en­ zymes are routinely determined in these patients preoperatively. The twelve patients were reassured and stated that they did not want to have any tranquillizer for premedi­ cation.

Guest Lecture: On the Possible Role of the two Central Projection Areas of the Spinothalamic Inflow in the Appreciation of Pain.- Debate.- Symposium: Complications in Anaesthesia.- Epidemiological Aspects.- Mortality Associated with Anaesthesia ― The Background to the British Study.- Anaesthetic Mortality in Britain and France ― Methods and Results of the British Study.- Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Anaesthesia ― French Survey: Preliminary Results.- Aspects of Anaesthetic Mortality.- Maternal Mortality Associated with Anaesthesia in England and Wales.- Anaesthesia and Maternal Mortality in France.- Cardiac Function and Anaesthetic Mortality.- Anaesthetic Mortality and Pulmonary Function.- An Analysis of Anaesthetic Mortality amongst Children.- Morbidity and Mortality in Elective Geriatric Surgery.- Complications of Anaesthesia as Subjects for Intensive Therapy.- Anaesthetic Death from Equipment Failure.- Medicolegal Consequences of Anaesthetic Death.- Medicolegal Consequences of Anaesthetic Death (U.K.).- Medicolegal Consequences of Death under Anaesthesia in the Netherlands.- Medicolegal Consequences of Death under Anaesthesia in France.- Medicolegal Problems Concerning the Categorization and Tabulation of Lethal Accidents in Anesthesiology (FRG).- On the Duty to Report to the Authorities all Fatal Accidents during Anaesthesia ― Experiences in Austria.- Free Papers.- The Influence of Pancuronium Bromide on Primary Conjugated Bile Acids.- Autoregulation of Cerebral Blood Flow: Effects of Nitroprosside and Nitroglycerine.- Haemodynamic Profile of Nicergoline ― Induced Hypotension in Dogs.- Estimation of Anaesthetic Depth by Monitoring Spontaneous Scalp EMG and Evoked Hypothenar EMG.- Combined Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG) for Measurement of Depth of Anaesthesia.- Relationship between Maximum Inspiratory Pressure and Tidal Volume after Decurarization.- Pharmacodynamics of Org NC 45 (Norcuron™) in Children.- Cardiovascular Effects of Subarachnoid Adrenaline.- Ventilation with an Air-Oxygen Mixture During Anaesthesia.- Effects of Anaesthesia on Haemodynamic Responses to Haemorrhage.- Epidural Autologous Blood Patch in Intractable Headache.- Reaction Time and Pattern of Memory Function after Fentanyl, Diazepam and Flunitrazepam.- Zopiclone as an Oral Preanesthetic Medication.- Postoperative Infusion Analgesia.- Relief of Postoperative Pain with Zomepirac, Paracetamol with Codeine, or Placebo.- The Influence of Epidural Analgesia on Plasma Norephinephrine, Epinephrine and Cortisol During Labour and Delivery.- Radiocardiographic Evaluation of Induction to Neuroleptanaesthesia in Patients with Mitral Stenosis.- Continous Estimates of Cardiac Output by Ultrasonic Oesophageal Probe.- The Plasma Elimination Kinetics of Thiopentone Following Prolonged Infusion to Reduce Intracranial Pressure.- Dissociation between Resting and Reflex Cardiovascular Effects of High Dose Fentanyl and Alfentanyl in the Dog.- Airway Pressure and Gas Flow Measurements in the Weaning of Infants from Controlled Ventilation with the Siemens 900C System.- Hemodynamics of Hemorrhagic or Endotoxic Shock in Dogs under Thiopentone Anaesthesia: Effects of Additional Thiopentone or Ketamine.- Effects of Droperidol on Peripheral Vasculature During Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Man.- Development of Tachyphylaxis and Phase II Block after Depolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs.- Abstracts.- Measurement of Plasma Fentanyl Concentration ― Comparison of three Methods.- Ventilatory Movement Discoordination in the Postoperative Period and During Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation.- Dosing of IV Anaesthetics: New Infusion Techniques Developed by Pharmacokinetic Methods.- The Use of Antithrombin III in ICU Patients in Shock.- Occupation and Health of U.K. Women Doctors and Dentists: Interim Report on the Findings in Hospital Staff.- Comparison of Halothane and Isoflurane when Used to Control Intra-operative Hypertension in Patients Subjected to Coronary Artery Surgery.- Ventilatory Depression During and after Infusions of Fentanyl and Alfentanyl in Man.- Discussion Session: The Involvement of the Anaesthetist in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.- The Involvement of Anaesthetics in the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Pain.- Peripheral versus Central Approaches to Pain and its Treatment.- The Role of the Anaesthetist in a Multidiciplinary Pain Clinic.- The Role of the Anaesthetist in Pain Teaching and Research.- Posters.- Parenteral Nutrition in Multiple Trauma: Use of Branched Chain Amino-acids.- Hemodynamic Effects of Ketamine Following Administration of Acebutol in the Dog under Thiopentone Anaesthesia.- The Effects of Methohexitone and Alfentanil on Oxygen Consumption.- A new Valveless All Purpose Ventilator.- Effect of Changes in Blood Pressure on Central Respiratory Activity.- Epidural Morphine Effect on the Somatosensory Evoked Potentials.- Ketamine-Diazepam as an Adjunct to Regional Anaesthesia.- Comparison of Levonantradol 1 or 2 mg I.M. with Pethidine and Placebo for Postoperative Analgesia.- Recovery from Disoprofol Anaesthesia: A Comparison with Althesin.- Legal Measures in Romania to Minimise Health Risks for Anaesthetists.- The Influence of Antihypertensive Drugs on Intracranial Pressure.- Abstracts.- The Microcomputer in Self-assessment for Examinations in Anaesthesia.- Effects of Fazadinium on Respiratory Functions and its Correlation with Neuromuscular Transmission in Children.