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To avoid the risk of R-on-T incident and the unnecessary decrease of cardiac output, we devised an algorithm consisting of six steps for choosing the most appropriate intraoperative pacemaker (PM) mode, which is modified from Heart Rhythm Society and the American Society of Anesthesiologists expert consensus statement. Following this algorithm, we reviewed previous operations at our hospital to evaluate the appropriateness of the choices. Six of 78 cases (7.7%) were unfit to the algorithm because of an inappropriate mode change. The PM mode was changed preoperatively in four patients, even though the surgical site was under the umbilicus. In one case of the two other cases, the PM mode was changed from AAI to VOO. This case could not be avoided by the previous algorithm of the expert clinical statements. In another case, the anesthesiologist did not change PM mode even though the patient underwent parotidectomy and his heart rate depended on PM. Prospective research on this algorithm could clarify its usefulness in the future. Moreover, discussions about this algorithm could help develop this field of study and improve the intraoperative management of PMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Severe hypotension caused by anesthetic administration for anesthesia induction, which might cause ischemic stroke, myocardial injury, acute kidney injury and postoperative mortality, should be prevented. Anesthesiologists are familiar with ultrasound examination of the internal jugular vein (IJV). This study aimed to clarify whether ultrasonographic IJV evaluation just before induction could predict the occurrence of such hypotension. Methods: Adult patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled after excluding patients with cardiovascular disease or ASA-PS ≥ III. Ultrasonographic IJV images were recorded in both the supine and 10° Trendelenburg positions immediately before induction. Using these images, IJV area (IJV-A), diameter and change rate with posture were measured. Hypotension during induction was defined as mean BP < 60 mmHg or > 30% decrease from baseline. Results: Hypotension during induction was observed in 37 of 82 patients. IJV-A in the Trendelenburg position was 2.02 ± 0.86 and 1.72 ± 0.68 in the hypotensive and non-hypotensive groups, respectively (P = 0.08). Logistic regression analysis performed using age, use of calcium antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, baseline mean BP and IJV-A in the Trendelenburg position as variables showed that IJV-A in the Trendelenburg position was an independent predictor of hypotension, with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.11 (95% CI 1.07–9.03, P = 0.04). Area under the curve was 0.595 (95% CI 0.469–0.722) for IJV-A in the Trendelenburg position. Conclusion: IJV-A in the Trendelenburg position was an independent predictor of hypotension during induction. Further study is required to examine the diagnostic accuracy of IJV-A as a predictor for hypotension during induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In isolated area in Japan, only one anesthesiologist must often do new anesthetic techniques such as ultrasound-guided procedures without receiving any teaching. One solution to this problem may involve teleanesthesia, by which experienced anesthesiologists teach novices in remote places, by utilizing information communicatioin technologies. FaceTime™ (Apple, USA), which provides 120p of the resolution and 30 frames per second (fps) is an application of free visual communications using iPod Touch™, iPhone™ or iPad™ (Apple, USA). We investigated the delay time, the loss of the frames and the picture quality of iPad (as the device in the teaching site) in combination with iPod Touch, iPhone4 or iPhone5 (as the device in the isolated site) during FaceTime. At the operating rooms in Sado General Hospital (SGH) located in Sado Island (population; approximately 60,000), Japan, an anesthesiologist prepared 3 mobile devices (iPod Touch, iPhone4 or iPhone5). He called the other anesthesiologist at Yokohama City University Hospital (YCUH; approximately 300 km apart) by FaceTime using 1 of 3 mobile devices. The anesthesiologist at YCUH received the FaceTime call using iPad. After the connection was established, the display of the same cervical ultrasound image at SGH was sent to YCUH to evaluate the distinctness visually. Then we measured the delay time of every second (n = 60) and the loss of the frames (total frames = 30 fps × 60 s = 1,800) in each device for a minute. P < 0.01 was statistically significant. The quality of the pictures on the iPad display sent from iPhone5 was distinctly the best visually. The delay time of iPhone5 was significantly longer than the others (iPod Touch; 0.14 ± 0.02 s, iPhone4; 0.13 ± 0.02 s, iPhone5; 0.19 ± 0.03 s), but clinically acceptable. The loss of the frames of iPhone5 (20; 1.1 %) was significantly less than the others (iPhone4; 900, 50.0 %, iPod Touch; 902, 50.1 %). To teach anesthetic techniques in remote place by FaceTime, iPhone5 as the devise in isolate site was optimum compared with iPod Touch and iPhone4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined fish community structures in floodplain backwaters in the Kiso River, Central Japan, in an uncommon drought year. Nine floodplain backwaters with varying levels of flood inundation frequency were surveyed for winter fish communities, and measured for local environmental variables in summer and winter periods. The winter fish community was better represented, with less diverse and physiologically tolerant species in backwaters with a decreasing flood pulse frequency. The temporal frequency of hypoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen of <2 mg l) and chlorophyll a in summer explained the heterogeneity of the fish community along the gradient of inundation frequency, while no variables measured in winter had an explanatory power. These results suggest that drought-induced, infrequent flood pulses in the autumn-winter period limited the dispersal opportunity of fishes, and thus maintained community structures selected by summer limiting factors until the survey took place in winter. Future comparisons of our data with those in non-drought years would provide important implications to the sustainable management of floodplains for wintering fishes against the increasing probability of future flow regime changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endotracheal tubes used for neonates are not as resistant to breathing as originally anticipated; therefore, spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), without pressure support (PS), are recommended. However, PS extubation criteria have predetermined pressure values for each endotracheal tube diameter (PS 10 cmH2O with 3.0- and 3.5-mm tubes or PS 8 cmH2O with 4.0-mm tubes). This study aimed to assess the validity of these SBT criteria for neonates, using an artificial lung simulator, ASL 5000™ lung simulator, and a SERVO-i Universal™ ventilator (minute volume, 240-360 mL/kg/min; tidal volume, 30 mL; respiratory rate, 24-36/min; lung compliance, 0.5 mL/cmH2O/kg; resistance, 40 cmH2O/L/s) in an intensive care unit. We simulated a spontaneous breathing test in a 3-kg neonate after cardiac surgery with 3.0-3.5-mm endotracheal tubes. We measured the work of breathing (WOB), trigger work, and parameters of pressure support ventilation (PSV), T-piece breathing, or ASL 5000™ alone.Results: WOB displayed respiratory rate dependency under intubation. PS compensating tube resistance fluctuated with respiratory rate. At a respiratory rate of 24/min, the endotracheal tube did not greatly influence WOB under PSV and the regression line of WOB converged with the WOB of ASL 5000™ alone under PS 1 cmH2O; however, at 36/min, endotracheal tube was resistant to breathing under PSV because trigger work increased exponentially with PS ≤ 9 cmH2O. The regression line of WOB under PSV converged with the WOB of T-piece breathing under PS 1 cmH2O. Furthermore, PS compensating endotracheal tube resistance was 6 cmH2O. The WOB of ASL 5000™ alone approached that of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS); however, the pressure of patient effort was normal physiological range at PS 10 cmH2O. PS equalizing WOB under PSV with that after extubation depended on the respiratory rate and upper airway resistance. If WOB after extubation equaled that of T-piece breathing, the PS was 0 cmH2O regardless of the respiratory rates. If WOB after extubation approximated  to that of ASL 5000™ alone, the PS depended on the respiratory rate.Conclusion: SBT strategies should be selected per neonatal respiratory rates and upper airway resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]