Anesthesiology
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Lidocaine may be useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain states. The authors hypothesized that lidocaine would reduce tactile allodynia observed in a rat nerve injury model. In an effort to determine the site of drug action, effects after intravenous, intrathecal, and regional administration were compared. ⋯ Intravenous, but not intrathecal or regionally applied, lidocaine produces dose-dependent suppression of allodynia associated with nerve injury. The effects far outlast plasma concentrations of lidocaine. The mechanism of these prolonged effects is unknown.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Influence of high-dose aprotinin on anticoagulation, heparin requirement, and celite- and kaolin-activated clotting time in heparin-pretreated patients undergoing open-heart surgery. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Aprotinin causes a prolongation of the celite-activated clotting time (CACT), but not of the kaolin-activated clotting time (KACT). Therefore, concern has been raised regarding the reliability of CACT to monitor anticoagulation in the presence of aprotinin. The current study was designed to test the efficacy of aprotinin to improve anticoagulation, and to investigate whether the prolongation of CACT reflects true anticoagulation or is an in vitro artifact. To elucidate this antithrombotic effect of aprotinin, this study was done in patients prone to reduced intraoperative heparin sensitivity. ⋯ Aprotinin treatment in combination with heparin leads to less thrombin generation during CPB. Aprotinin has anticoagulant properties. Celite-activated ACT is reliable for monitoring anticoagulation in the presence of aprotinin, because the prolonged CACT in the aprotinin group reflects improved anticoagulation. Kaolin-activated ACT does not reflect this effect of aprotinin.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effects of acadesine on the incidence of myocardial infarction and adverse cardiac outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia (McSPI) Research Group.
Acadesine (AICA riboside) (5-amino-1-[beta-D-ribofuranosyl]imidazole-4-carboxamide) is a purine nucleoside analog belonging to a new class of agents generally termed adenosine regulating agents (ARAs) that increase the availability of adenosine locally in ischemic tissues. The effects of acadesine on the incidence of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) an on the incidence of all adverse cardiovascular outcomes (cardiac death, MI, congestive heart failure, life-threatening dysrhythmia, or cerebrovascular accident) was investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. ⋯ The results of this trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between acadesine and placebo using the prespecified criterion for MI. Of interest are the results of the post hoc analysis, using the more specific criterion for MI, which indicate that acadesine may reduce the incidence of larger Q-wave infarctions after coronary artery bypass surgery. A second trial is underway to evaluate this contention.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of perioperative analgesic technique on rate of recovery after colon surgery.
Choice of perioperative analgesia may affect the rate of recovery of gastrointestinal function and thus duration and cost of hospitalization after colonic surgery. ⋯ Epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and morphine provided the best balance of analgesia and side effects while accelerating postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function and time to fulfillment of discharge criteria after colon surgery in relatively healthy patients within the context of a multimodal recovery program.
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Epidural fentanyl/bupivacaine infusions often are limited to high dependency units or intensive care units. One thousand fourteen patients receiving epidural fentanyl/bupivacaine infusions for analgesia after major surgery who were managed in the general surgical ward were prospectively surveyed. ⋯ Postoperative epidural fentanyl/bupivacaine infusions are effective and can be managed readily in general postsurgical wards with minimal complications provided that appropriate patient observations are performed.