Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialContinuous epidural ropivacaine 0.2% for analgesia after lower abdominal surgery.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a lumbar epidural infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% would provide effective analgesia with an acceptably low incidence of motor blockade and side effects after lower abdominal surgery. After combined general and epidural anesthesia and surgery, 125 patients were randomly assigned to receive either saline or ropivacaine 0.2% at a rate of 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 mL/h (Groups R6, R8, R10, R12, and R14, respectively) for 21 h. Supplemental analgesia, if required, was provided with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine. ⋯ Sensory blockade at 8 and 21 h was greater in the ropivacaine groups compared with the saline group. Approximately 30% of R8, R10, and R12 patients, and 63% of R14 patients had demonstrable motor block of the lower limbs at 21 hours. We conclude that lumbar epidural ropivacaine 0.2% reduces parenteral morphine requirements but has little effect on pain scores and may be associated with motor blockade.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntravenous ondansetron for postsurgical opioid-induced nausea and vomiting. S3A-255 Study Group.
The use of opioids for postoperative analgesia may be limited by side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Because ondansetron, a selective serotonin type 3 (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT3]) antagonist, is effective for chemotherapy and general anesthesia-induced nausea and vomiting, we hypothesized that it may also be effective for opioid-induced nausea and vomiting. ASA physical status I-III patients undergoing regional anesthesia were eligible for the study. ⋯ The incidence of adverse events was similarly low across groups. The results of this study support our hypothesis that I. V. ondansetron is effective for postsurgical opioid-induced nausea and vomiting.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of tourniquet release time on the analgesic efficacy of intraarticular morphine after arthroscopic knee surgery.
A randomized, controlled study was conducted in patients undergoing elective arthroscopic knee surgery to assess the effects of tourniquet release time on analgesia after intraarticular (I. A.) injection of morphine. Standardized general anesthetic and surgical techniques were used for all patients, including a thigh tourniquet inflated at pressures between 300 and 350 mm Hg. ⋯ These low pain scores were associated with lower requirements of supplementary analgesics. We conclude that, as compared with releasing the tourniquet immediately after I. A. injection of morphine, maintaining the tourniquet inflated for 10 min provides superior analgesia and decreases the need for supplemental analgesics.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 1997
Patient and surgeon satisfaction with extremity blockade for surgery in remote locations.
In a practice that may be unique to military health care, extremity nerve blocks are established by anesthesiologists before transporting the patient to a remote clinic for surgery without further monitoring by anesthesia personnel. The safety and acceptance of this practice was assessed through a prospective survey of the surgeons and their patients. Six hundred seventy-seven blocks were performed in a 1-yr period with no adverse events related to this practice. ⋯ Of the responding patients, 78% stated that they would be willing to undergo a repeat block. The surgeons were satisfied with the operating conditions in 96% of the cases. This study supports the safety and efficacy of this practice.