Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPremedication with clonidine does not attenuate suppression of certain lymphocyte subsets after surgery.
Sixty-four patients undergoing elective major surgery were randomly assigned into a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial to test the hypothesis that premedication with clonidine would attenuate postoperative reductions in circulating lymphocytes. The treatment group (n = 28) received a clonidine skin patch (0.3 mg/d) and a 0.6-mg oral loading dose 60-90 min before surgery. The control group (n = 36) received placebo patches and pills. Absolute blood levels of the following lymphocyte subsets were measured before induction of a standardized general anesthetic (baseline) and the morning after surgery: CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56, and the CD4:CD8 ratio. Significant decreases in lymphocyte subsets CD2, CD3, and CD4 were found in both groups; CD56 was significantly decreased only in the placebo group. However, the extent of lymphocyte depletion from baseline to Postoperative Day 1 between the clonidine and placebo groups was not different. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were measured from blood samples drawn at 8:00 AM on Postoperative Day 1. Plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly lower among patients who received clonidine. However, no significant differences were found in plasma epinephrine or cortisol levels between the clonidine and placebo groups. With a clinical dose, clonidine did not prevent postoperative lymphocyte depletion. alpha2-Agonists may not suppress adrenocortical stress responses sufficiently to prevent postoperative immune suppression. ⋯ Lymphocyte (white blood cell) counts often decrease after major surgery. We hypothesized that clonidine would reduce hormonal stress and blunt reductions in lymphocytes after major surgery. In a randomized trial, we found no differences from placebo in cortisol levels or lymphocyte changes. Lymphocyte levels did not predict infectious complications.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntrathecal bupivacaine reduces pruritus and prolongs duration of fentanyl analgesia during labor: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.
Pruritus is a frequent complication (40%-100%) of intrathecal (IT) fentanyl 25 microg (F) for labor analgesia. The addition of IT bupivacaine 2.5 mg (B) to F has been reported in a nonrandomized series to have a 17.3% incidence of pruritus. This study prospectively evaluated the incidence and distribution of pruritus in laboring parturients receiving IT F + B. Sixty-five laboring parturients were randomly assigned to receive IT F, B, or F + B as part of a combined spinal-epidural technique. Visual analog scores, sensory level, motor strength, and pruritus were recorded before injection and at intervals thereafter. When present, the distribution of pruritus was evaluated. The duration of analgesia was determined as the time from IT drug administration until the patient requested supplemental analgesia. The median duration of analgesia in the F, B, and F + B groups was 62.5, 55.0, and 94.5 min, respectively. Compared with F alone, the combination of F + B led to a decreased frequency of pruritus (36.4% vs 95%). The incidence of facial pruritus (25%) was same in the F + B and F groups; however, the occurrence of pruritus distributed over the rest of the body was significantly more frequent in the F compared with the F + B group. The combination of F + B prolongs the duration of labor analgesia compared with IT F or B alone. F + B also leads to a decreased incidence of pruritus, except in the facial region. ⋯ When administered intrathecally with fentanyl 25 microg in laboring parturients, bupivacaine 2.5 mg attenuates the frequency of pruritus on all parts of the body except the face. This combination also results in a rapid onset and prolonged duration of labor analgesia compared with either drug alone.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialRocuronium versus succinylcholine: are they equally effective during rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia?
The purpose of our study was to assess the onset and quality of muscle paralysis and intubation conditions with succinylcholine (Sch) or rocuronium (Roc) during rapid-sequence induction. Patients were randomly assigned to receive thiopental (5 mg/kg) and Sch (1.5 mg/kg) or thiopental (5 mg/kg) and Roc (1.2 mg/kg). The anesthesiologists performing the endotracheal intubation were blinded by standing with their back to the patient. Thirty seconds after drug administration, laryngoscopy was performed. Intubating conditions were scored, the clinical onset of apnea was noted, and a train-of-four monitor recorded data. All patients were ASA physical status I-III and scheduled for emergency procedures; both groups were demographically similar. Thirteen patients received Roc and 13 received Sch. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the number of patients receiving excellent intubating scores (P = 0.41) or in the combined number of patients receiving good and excellent scores (P = 1.0). There was no significant difference in time of onset of apnea for Sch (22+/-13 s) versus Roc (16+/-8s). The return of the first twitch response was significantly faster with Sch (5.05+/-2.5 min) compared with Roc (17.3+/-21.7 min) (P = 0.0001). ⋯ In pediatric patients scheduled for emergency surgery, thiopental 5 mg/kg and rocuronium 1.2 mg/kg provided conditions for the completion of intubation in <60 s comparable to those provided by thiopental 5 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg. We conclude that rocuronium is a reasonable substitute for succinylcholine in children for rapid-sequence intubation when a rapid return to spontaneous respiration is not desired.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe use of metoprolol and glycopyrrolate to prevent hypotensive/bradycardic events during shoulder arthroscopy in the sitting position under interscalene block.
Sudden profound hypotensive and/or bradycardic events (HBE) have been reported in >20% of patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy in the sitting position under interscalene block anesthesia. Retrospective studies suggest that the administration of beta-blockers is safe and may decrease the incidence of these episodes. We performed a randomized, prospective study to evaluate prophylaxis of these events. One hundred fifty patients were randomized to one of three groups (placebo; prophylactic metoprolol to achieve a heart rate <60 bpm or a maximal dose of 10 mg; or prophylactic glycopyrrolate to achieve a heart rate >100 bpm or a maximal dose of 6 microg/kg) immediately after the administration of the interscalene block. Blood pressure control was achieved with IV enalaprilat as needed. The incidence of HBE was 28% in the placebo group versus 5% in the metoprolol group (P = 0.004). The rate of 22% in the glycopyrrolate group was not significantly different from placebo. Preoperative heart rate and arterial blood pressure, intraoperative sedation score, IV fluids, and enalaprilat use were similar in those patients who had a HBE compared with those who did not. Many aspects of this clinical setting are similar to tilttable testing for patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope, in which beta-adrenergic blockade with metoprolol has also been shown to be effective. We conclude that the Bezold-Jarisch reflex is the most likely mechanism for these events. ⋯ Episodes of acute hypotension and bradycardia occur during shoulder arthroscopy in the sitting position under interscalene block. In this study, we demonstrate that metoprolol, but not glycopyrrolate, markedly decreases the incidence of these episodes when given prophylactically immediately after the administration of the block.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialIs the bispectral index useful in predicting fast-track eligibility after ambulatory anesthesia with propofol and desflurane?
This study was designed to test the hypothesis that outpatients with higher electroencephalographic (EEG) Bispectral Index (BIS) values at the end of anesthesia achieve a modified Aldrete score of 10 and satisfy fast-track eligibility criteria more rapidly after ambulatory surgery. Sixty consenting women undergoing laparoscopic tubal ligation procedures were studied. After premedication with midazolam 2 mg IV, anesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg/kg IV, fentanyl 1.5 microg/kg IV, and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg IV and was initially maintained with either desflurane 4% (n = 31) or a propofol infusion 100 microg kg(-1) min(-1) (n = 29), in combination with nitrous oxide 65% in oxygen. Subsequently, the inspired desflurane concentrations (2%-6%) and propofol infusion rates (50-150 microg.kg(-1) min(-1) were varied to maintain a clinically acceptable depth of anesthesia. The average BIS value during the 3-min interval immediately before the discontinuation of the maintenance anesthetics was recorded. Emergence times and modified Aldrete scores were assessed from the end of anesthesia until patients were considered fast-track-eligible. The BIS values at the end of anesthesia were significantly correlated with the time to reach fast-track eligibility in both the desflurane (r = -0.68) and propofol (r = -0.76) groups. We concluded that the EEG-BIS value at the end of anesthesia is useful in predicting fast-track eligibility after laparoscopic tubal ligation procedures with either a desflurane- or propofol-based anesthetic technique. ⋯ In outpatients receiving either desflurane and propofol anesthesia for laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery, the times to achieve criteria for bypassing the recovery room (i.e., fast-tracking) correlated with the electroencephalographic-Bispectral Index values at the end of anesthesia.