Anesthesia and analgesia
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 1976
Comparative StudyPost-thoracotomy intercostal block: comparison of its effects on pulmonary function with those of intramuscular meperidine.
Study of 34 patients who had undergone thoracotomy revealed that the group given intercostal nerve block analgesia had a significantly smaller decline in vital capacity after operation than did the group given narcotic analgesia only. The postoperative increase in arterial CO2 tension of the nerve block group also was significantly smaller than that of the narcotic group. The study suggests that intercostal nerve block for post-thoracotomy analgesia offers some advantage in preserving effort-dependent pulmonary function when compared with postoperative narcotic analgesia.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 1976
A dosage nomogram for sodium nitroprusside-induced hypotension under anesthesia.
Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used to produce deliberate hypotension in 30 selected patients, 9 to 78 years of age, for total hip replacement under halothane-N2O-O2 anesthesia. Hypotension was induced in the first 13 patients by infusing a 0.01% (100 mug/ml) solution of nitroprusside (NP) in 5% dextrose. Blood pressure was diminished to a level just producing a dry surgical field. ⋯ In addition, the combined data from the retrospective and prospective studies (30 patients) gave a better statistical fit than did those from the preliminary study alone (p less than 0.001, r = -0.8939). The nomogram provides an additional margin of safety in the use of this potent, fast-acting drug. SNP has been found predictable and effective in reducing surgical blood loss in selected patients undergoing total hip replacement.
-
This study was designed to introduce a relevant stimulus at successive time intervals during the entire anesthetic period, including the pre- and postanesthetic periods. Using galvanic skin responses, the authors were able to recognize a plane of light anesthesia and arousal, at which time it is considered that sensory input might be perceived. ⋯ No recall was obtained during the intraoperative period, the first occurrence of recall being in the immediate postanesthetic period and the incidence of recall increasing with increasing time intervals after the end of anesthesia. The authors conclude, however, that since intraoperative awareness without recall is a possibility, care should be taken to avoid emotionally disturbing auditory stimuli throughout the anesthetic procedure.