Anesthesiology
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Transdermal scopolamine reduces nausea and vomiting after outpatient laparoscopy.
The authors evaluated the effect of transdermal scopolamine on the incidence of postoperative nausea, retching, and vomiting after outpatient laparoscopy in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A Band-Aid-like patch containing either scopolamine or placebo was placed behind the ear the night before surgery. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl (0.5-2 micrograms/kg iv), thiopental (3-5 mg/kg iv), and succinylcholine (1-1.5 mg/kg iv) and maintained with isoflurane (0.2-2%) and nitrous oxide (60%) in oxygen. ⋯ Patients in the scopolamine group were also discharged from the hospital sooner (4 +/- 1.3 vs. 4.5 +/- 1.5 h; P = 0.0487). Side effects were more frequent among those patients treated with the scopolamine patch (91% vs. 45%; P less than 0.05) but were not troublesome. The authors conclude that transdermal scopolamine is a safe and effective antiemetic for outpatients undergoing laparoscopy.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomized double-blind comparison of epidural versus intravenous fentanyl infusion for analgesia after cesarean section.
The authors conducted a randomized double-blind controlled study comparing groups of patients receiving iv or epidural fentanyl infusions to determine whether, at comparable levels of analgesia, 1) the severity of side effects was different; and 2) plasma fentanyl concentrations differed between the two groups. Twenty-eight ASA physical status 2 women scheduled to undergo elective cesarean section were randomized into two groups to either receive fentanyl intravenously and saline epidurally or fentanyl epidurally and saline intravenously. After delivery of the infants under epidural anesthesia, each patient received a bolus of fentanyl 1.5 microgram/kg either intravenously or epidurally, and a fentanyl infusion was begun via the same route. ⋯ For the remaining 25 patients, similar infusion rates of fentanyl were required to produce similar levels of analgesia at 12 and 24 h. The severity of nausea, pruritus and sedation, and end-tidal PCO2 were similar for both groups. The plasma concentrations of fentanyl were significantly greater in those who received iv fentanyl at 12 h but not at 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
A comparison of washed red blood cells versus packed red blood cells (AS-1) for cardiopulmonary bypass prime and their effects on blood glucose concentration in children.
The effects on blood glucose concentrations of packed red blood cells (AS-1) (group I) versus washed red blood cells (group II) for cardiopulmonary bypass prime were compared in 20 infants weighing less than 10 kg undergoing cardiac surgical procedures. All patients were anesthetized with N2O/O2/isoflurane/fentanyl and received lactated Ringer's solution prior to bypass. ⋯ Blood glucose concentrations were 210 +/- 21 mg/dl versus 78 +/- 14 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) 10 min after initiation of bypass, 241 +/- 48 mg/dl versus 107 +/- 28 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) prior to separation from bypass, and 214 +/- 52 mg/dl versus 97 +/- 19 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) after protamine administration in group I and group II, respectively. The use of washed red blood cells for cardiopulmonary bypass priming solution in infants significantly attenuates the increase in blood glucose concentration otherwise observed during cardiopulmonary bypass.
-
Many children with malignant diseases who present with an anterior mediastinal mass must undergo general anesthesia for tissue diagnosis or tumor resection. One hundred sixty-three pediatric patients over a period of 6 yr were admitted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with a diagnosis of anterior mediastinal mass. Forty four of these patients required surgery and their records were reviewed. ⋯ Four patients were unable to have their tracheas extubated at the conclusion of surgery and one patient required tracheal reintubation in the immediate postoperative period. These patients were treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy after tissue for diagnosis had been obtained. The authors conclude that in the absence of life-threatening preoperative airway obstruction and severe clinical symptoms general anesthesia may be safely induced prior to radiation therapy.