Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 1995
The arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide difference in neurosurgical patients during craniotomy.
PETCO2 is often used as an estimate of PaCO2, with the understanding that PaCO2 usually exceeds PETCO2. During intraoperative craniotomies, because hyperventilation is used to therapeutically lower intracranial pressure, the difference between PaCO2 and PETCO2 (P(a-ET)CO2) has therapeutic implications. The P(a-ET)CO2 was hypothesized to be stable during craniotomies with relatively short-term monitoring and controlled cardiorespiratory variables. ⋯ On comparison of subsequent measurements, 18.4% of changes in PaCO2 and PETCO2 (although sometimes small) were in opposite directions. P(a-ET)CO2 did not change with time. The PETCO2 does not provide a stable reflection of PaCO2 in many patients undergoing craniotomies.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialIntravenous regional guanethidine in the treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy/causalgia: a randomized, double-blind study. Guanethidine Study Group.
This double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was designed to determine the short-term and long-term efficacy of intravenous regional block with guanethidine in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)/causalgia. Sixty patients were enrolled to receive four intravenous regional blocks at 4-day intervals with either guanethidine or placebo in 0.5% lidocaine. Each patient was randomized to receive either one, two, or four blocks with guanethidine. ⋯ At 4 days after the initial block, the group treated with placebo experienced a greater decrease in pain scores than those treated with guanethidine, although this difference was not statistically significant. On long-term followup there was no difference in pain scores between groups receiving one, two, or four guanethidine blocks. Overall, only 35% of patients experienced clinically significant relief on long-term followup even though all were treated early in the evolution of RSD.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPrevention of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section: six percent hetastarch versus lactated Ringer's solution.
This study was designed to determine whether preoperative administration of 6% hetastarch decreases the incidence and severity of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. Forty nonlaboring ASA class I and II women having nonurgent cesarean sections were randomized to receive either 500 mL of 6% hetastarch plus 1 L lactated Ringer's solution (LR) (n = 20), or 2 L of LR (n = 20) prior to induction of spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Neonatal outcome, as determined by Apgar scores and cord blood gas analyses, was good and similar in both groups. We conclude that 6% hetastarch plus LR is more effective than LR alone and that its routine use before spinal anesthesia for cesarean section should be considered.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSystemic adenosine infusion alleviates spontaneous and stimulus evoked pain in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain.
In seven patients with peripheral neuropathic pain, the effect of systemic adenosine infusion on pain symptoms was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study. The study infusions, adenosine (50 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) or placebo, were given intravenously (IV) during 45-60 min at two separate occasions. Before and during infusions, bedside examination of sensibility and quantitative sensory testing (QST), i.e., assessments of perception thresholds for touch, touch-evoked pain, cold, warmth, painful heat, and cold, were performed. ⋯ Pinprick-evoked pain in the neuropathic areas was reduced from 53 +/- 11 to 29 +/- 10 mm (P < 0.05). No other sensory modality was consistently changed during adenosine infusion. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that adenosine infusion alleviates spontaneous neuropathic pain, tactile allodynia, and pinprick hyperalgesia in patients with peripheral neuropathic disorders, probably by a central mechanism of action.