Anesthesia and analgesia
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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 TrialSevoflurane for outpatient anesthesia: a comparison with propofol.
Three different anesthetic techniques were compared in 146 healthy outpatients undergoing ambulatory surgery. In Groups I and II, anesthesia was induced with propofol (1.5-2.0 mg/kg, intravenously [iv]) and maintained with nitrous oxide (N2O) 60% in oxygen and either a propofol infusion, 75-160 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 IV, or sevoflurane, 1%-2% end-tidal, respectively. In Group III, anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane, 1%-4% end-tidal and N2O 60% in oxygen. ⋯ The use of sevoflurane for induction and/or maintenance of anesthesia was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative emetic sequelae compared with propofol. Finally, the times at which patients were considered "fit for discharge" and the actual discharge times were similar in all three groups. Sevoflurane is an acceptable alternative to propofol for induction and maintenance of outpatient anesthesia.
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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.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComputer-controlled infusion of alfentanil versus patient-controlled administration of morphine for postoperative analgesia: a double-blind randomized trial.
This study compared the efficacy of computer-controlled infusion of alfentanil (CCiA) with patient-controlled administration of morphine (PCAM) for postoperative analgesia. Twenty patients were randomly allocated to one of the two study groups to receive either an intravenous CCiA or PCAM regimen. Pain scores measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) and the number of valid demands were used as variables to evaluate the efficacy of the postoperative analgesic therapy. ⋯ The MDPE and MDAPE were 8% and 22%, respectively. The maximum alfentanil concentrations associated with pain and the minimum effective analgesic concentrations of alfentanil varied considerably both inter- and intraindividually. In conclusion, compared to a standard intravenous PCAM regimen, a CCiA is faster in onset of analgesia and is as effective in providing postoperative analgesia.