In this sample of patients, exact numerical values of Scvo2 and Srao2 are not equivalent to those of Svo2 in varying hemodynamic conditions. However, for clinical purposes, the trend of Scvo2 may be substituted for the trend of Svo2. In addition, previous studies investigating the agreement between Svo2 and Scvo2 were found to be lacking in their chosen statistical approaches.

Our results suggest a dose-dependent impairment of central processing of auditory information after propofol administration. These results are consistent with electrophysiological findings measuring neuronal activity directly, thus suggesting a dose-dependent impairment of central processing of auditory information after propofol administration. However, propofol did not totally blunt primary cortical responses to acoustic stimulation, indicating that patients may process auditory information under general anaesthesia.

A larger decrease in haemoglobin levels in infants and toddlers after HES 70/0.5 (20 ml.kg-1) compared with LR indicates a more effective plasma expansion. HES might be considered as a volume expander in the paediatric population.

Intracranial misplacement of a tracheal tube during attempted nasotracheal intubation is a rare, usually lethal complication. Such incidents are associated with fractures of the face and base of the skull. We report inadvertent intracranial placement of a nasotracheal tube in a patient who had 2 weeks previously undergone transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery for a pituitary tumour. One should be aware that transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery leaves a bony defect in the skull, which is susceptible to perforation by nasally introduced tubes.

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