Background: Although more than 30 yr ago the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of xenon was determined to be 71%, that previous study had technological limitations, and no other studies have confirmed the MAC value of xenon since. The current study was designed to confirm the MAC value of xenon in adult surgical patients using more modern techniques. Methods: Sixty patients were anesthetized with sevoflurane with or without xenon. They were randomly allocated to one of four groups; patients in group 1 received no xenon, whereas those in groups 2, 3, and 4 received end-tidal concentrations of 20, 40, and 60%, respectively (n = 15 each group). Target end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations were chosen using the "up-and-down" method in each group. After steady state sevoflurane and xenon concentrations were maintained for at least 15 min, each patient was monitored for a somatic response at surgical incision. Somatic response was defined as any purposeful bodily movement. The MAC of sevoflurane and its reduction by xenon was evaluated using the multiple independent variable logistic regression model. Results: The interaction coefficient of the multiple variable logistic regression was not significantly different from zero (P = 0.143). The MAC of xenon calculated as xenon concentration that would reduce MAC of sevoflurane to 0% was 63.1%. Conclusions: The authors could not determine whether interaction in blocking somatic responses in 50% of patients is additive. The MAC of xenon is in the range of the values that were predicted in a previous study.

Background: Although anesthesia with xenon has been supplemented with fentanyl, its requirement has not been established. This study was conducted to determine the plasma concentrations of fentanyl necessary to suppress somatic and hemodynamic responses to surgical incision in 50% patients in the presence of 0.7 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) xenon. Methods: Twenty-five patients were allocated randomly to predetermined fentanyl concentration between 0.5 and 4.0 ng/ml during 0.7 MAC xenon anesthesia. Fentanyl was administered using a pharmacokinetic model-driven computer-assisted continuous infusion device. At surgical incision each patient was monitored for somatic and hemodynamic responses. A somatic response was defined as any purposeful bodily movement. A positive hemodynamic response was defined as a more than 15% increase in heart rate or mean arterial pressure more than the preincision value. The concentrations of fentanyl to prevent somatic and hemodynamic responses in 50% of patients were calculated using logistic regression. Results: The concentration of fentanyl to prevent a somatic response to skin incision in 50% of patients in the presence of 0.7 MAC xenon was 0.72 +/- 0.07 ng/ml and to prevent a hemodynamic response was 0.94 +/- 0.06 ng/ml. Conclusions: Comparing these results with previously published results in the presence of 70% nitrous oxide, the fentanyl requirement in xenon anesthesia is smaller than that in the equianesthetic nitrous oxide anesthesia.

Background: The authors' previous study demonstrated that xenon (Xe) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in combination with sevoflurane can attenuate cardiovascular responses to skin incision. To quantitatively evaluate their suppressive effects on cardiovascular responses, the authors compared the MAC-BAR (minimum alveolar concentration that blocks adrenergic or cardiovascular response to incision) values of sevoflurane when administered with Xe or N2O. Methods: Forty-three patients received sevoflurane with one of three anesthetics; 1 MAC Xe, 0.7 MAC Xe and 0.7 MAC N2O. The MAC-BAR of sevoflurane was determined in each anesthetic using the "up and down" method. The response was considered positive if the heart rate or mean arterial pressure increased 15% or more. The end-tidal sevoflurane concentration given to the next patient was increased or decreased by 0.3 MAC if the response was positive or negative in the previous patient, respectively. The MAC-BAR was calculated as the mean of four independent cross-over responses. Results: The MAC-BAR of sevoflurane, including the contribution of Xe or N2O, was 2.1+/-0.2 MAC and 2.7+/-0.2 MAC when administered with 1 MAC and 0.7 MAC Xe, respectively, and 2.6+/-0.4 MAC when administered with 0.7 MAC N2O (mean +/- SD). Conclusions: Although 1 MAC Xe has a more potent suppressive effect on cardiovascular responses to incision than 0.7 MAC Xe or N2O, Xe and N2O have a similar suppressive effect at 0.7 MAC.

The early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) has been recognized for its health benefits to mothers and newborns. It is defined as the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends supporting mothers with initiating breastfeeding after delivery [1]. It is well-known that EIBF contributes to the reduction of […]

Hemodynamic instability, causing a mismatch between oxygen delivery and demand, is a major contributive factor for organ failure. We can often manage it with regular clinical examination and monitoring of certain basic vital parameters and urine output, but when these fail there is an increased need for hemodynamic monitoring to guide fluid management and vasopressor/inotropic support. This trial, together with {1-3}, was not...