Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntrathecal, but not intravenous, clonidine reduces experimental thermal or capsaicin-induced pain and hyperalgesia in normal volunteers.
Clonidine is approved for intraspinal administration in the treatment of neuropathic cancer pain. Some studies have suggested an analgesic effect after systemic clonidine administration. The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic effects of intrathecal and IV clonidine with acute noxious stimulation and with hyperalgesia from intradermal capsaicin injection in volunteers. Sixteen healthy volunteers received intradermal injections of capsaicin (100 microg) before and after the IV or intrathecal injection of clonidine 50 or 150 microg in a randomized, double-blind manner. Pain and areas of mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia were determined at specified intervals. In addition, pain to noxious heat stimulation was determined. The capsaicin injection produced pain, followed by hyperalgesia and allodynia. The intrathecal, but not IV, injection of 150 microg of clonidine reduced capsaicin-induced pain and area of hyperalgesia. Intrathecal clonidine (150 microg) reduced pain to heat stimulation, whereas IV clonidine did not. The groups did not differ in hemodynamic or sedative effects from clonidine. These data support the value of intraspinal administration of clonidine for the treatment of acute pain and of pain states associated with hyperalgesia. Similarly, they suggest that analgesia from the systemic administration of this alpha2-adrenergic agonist, if any, is weak in doses that produce sedation and reduce blood pressure. ⋯ To the extent that the experimental pain conditions used in this study reflect those in patients with acute and chronic pain, these data support the spinal rather than IV injection of clonidine for analgesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of fresh gas flow and anesthetic technique on the ability to control acute hemodynamic responses during surgery.
We evaluated the effect of the fresh gas flow (FGF) rate and the anesthetic technique on the ability to control the acute hyperdynamic response to a specific surgical stimulus during surgery in 90 consenting ASA physical status I-III patients undergoing lower abdominal procedures. After the administration of midazolam 2 mg IV, anesthesia was induced in all patients with propofol 1.5 mg/kg IV and fentanyl 1 microg/kg IV and was initially maintained with desflurane or isoflurane, 0.7 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration, at total FGF rates of either 1 or 3 L/min. In response to the surgical stimulation of skin incision and retropubic dissection, an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) >20% above the preincision baseline MAP value provoked a stepwise increase in the inspired concentration of the volatile anesthetic or the IV administration of a variable-rate infusion of esmolol. At both FGF rates, the acute hemodynamic response to surgical stimulation was more efficiently treated by increasing the inspired concentration of desflurane than isoflurane. At 1 L/min, the average time to control the increase in MAP was significantly shorter with desflurane (17+/-12 min) compared with isoflurane (29+/-16 min), with 60% of the patients in the isoflurane group requiring rescue therapy. When an esmolol infusion was used to control the increase in MAP, supplementation with fentanyl was required in 40% and 53% of patients anesthetized with desflurane and isoflurane, respectively. In conclusion, desflurane provided more rapid and reliable control of acute hemodynamic responses to surgical stimulation than isoflurane or esmolol when the volatile anesthetics were administered at low FGF rates. ⋯ At low fresh gas flow rates (1 L/min), desflurane more successfully and rapidly controlled the acute hemodynamic responses to painful surgical stimuli than isoflurane.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA double-blind comparison of ropivacaine, bupivacaine, and mepivacaine during sciatic and femoral nerve blockade.
No study has evaluated the efficacy of ropivacaine in peripheral nerve block of the lower extremity. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare ropivacaine, bupivacaine, and mepivacaine during combined sciatic-femoral nerve block. Forty-five ASA physical status I or II patients scheduled for elective hallux valgus repair with thigh tourniquet were randomized to receive combined sciatic-femoral block with 0.75% ropivacaine (ROPI, n = 15), 0.5% bupivacaine (BUPI, n = 15), and 2% mepivacaine (MEPI, n = 15). Time required for onset of sensory and motor block on the operated limb (readiness for surgery) and resolution of motor block, as well as onset of postsurgical pain and time of first analgesic requirement, were recorded. The three groups were similar with regard to demographic variables, duration of surgery, and measured visual analog pain scores. Onset of sensory and motor blockade was similar in Groups ROPI and MEPI and significantly shorter than in Group BUPI (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively). Resolution of motor block occurred later in Groups ROPI and BUPI than in Group MEPI (P = 0.005 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly longer in Groups ROPI (670+/-227 min) and BUPI (880+/-312 min) compared with Group MEPI (251+/-47 min) (P = 0.0001), with a significant decrease in postoperative pain medication requirements (P < 0.05). We conclude that for sciatic-femoral nerve block, 0.75% ropivacaine has an onset similar to that of 2% mepivacaine and a duration of postoperative analgesia between that of 0.5% bupivacaine and 2% mepivacaine. ⋯ Quick onset of block with prolonged postoperative analgesia is an important goal in peripheral nerve blockade. We evaluated the clinical properties of 0.5% bupivacaine, 2% mepivacaine, and 0.75% ropivacaine for sciatic-femoral nerve block and demonstrated that ropivacaine has an onset similar to that of mepivacaine but allows for postoperative analgesia between that of bupivacaine and mepivacaine.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe influence of scalp infiltration with bupivacaine on hemodynamics and postoperative pain in adult patients undergoing craniotomy.
After craniotomy, hypertension may contribute to intracerebral hemorrhage. We studied whether scalp infiltration with bupivacaine during craniotomy reduces postoperative pain and hypertension. In a double-blind fashion, 36 adult patients (ASA physical status II or III) undergoing elective craniotomy were randomly assigned to receive scalp infiltration with either bupivacaine (0.25%) and epinephrine (1:200,000) or saline/ epinephrine (1:200,000) for skeletal fixation, skin incision, and wound closure. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured after anesthesia induction, after skull-pin insertion, after scalp infiltration, during dural closure, during skin closure, on admission to postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and 1 h after admission. Visual analog pain scores were recorded in the PACU. MAP was significantly greater in the saline group at scalp infiltration. HR was significantly faster in the saline group at dural and skin closure. The bupivacaine group reported significantly less pain than the saline group at PACU admission and 1 h after admission. Pain scores did not correlate with hemodynamic measurements. We conclude that scalp infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine blunts certain intraoperative hemodynamic responses and reduces postoperative pain but has no effect on postoperative hemodynamics. ⋯ We sought to evaluate whether scalp infiltration with bupivacaine and epinephrine at the beginning and end of craniotomy would afford more intra- and postoperative hemodynamic stability and influence immediate postoperative pain. We found that intraoperative hemodynamics were not influenced greatly; however, craniotomy patients do have significant postoperative pain, which does not seem to have an influence on hemodynamics in the postanesthesia care unit.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 1998
Clinical TrialThe laryngeal mask airway reliably provides rescue ventilation in cases of unanticipated difficult tracheal intubation along with difficult mask ventilation.
In 1995, our department of anesthesiology established an airway team to assist in treating unanticipated difficult endotracheal intubations and an airway quality improvement (QI) form to document the use of emergency airway techniques in airway crises (laryngeal mask airway [LMA], flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy, retrograde intubation [RI], transtracheal jet ventilation [TTJV], and cricothyrotomy). Over a 2-yr period, team members and staff anesthesiologists completed airway QI forms to document the smallest peripheral SpO2 during an airway crisis, the number of direct laryngoscopies (DL) performed before using an emergency airway technique, and the emergency airway technique that succeeded in rescue ventilation. Team members agreed to use the LMA as the first emergency airway technique to treat the difficult ventilation/difficult intubation scenario. A SpO2 value < or =90% during mask ventilation defined difficult ventilation. Inability to perform tracheal intubation by DL defined difficult intubation. An increase in the SpO2 value >90% defined rescue ventilation. Review of airway QI forms from October 1, 1995 until October 1, 1997 revealed 25 cases of difficult ventilation/difficult intubation. Before airway rescue, the median SpO2 was 80% (range 50%-90%), and there were four median attempts at DL (range one to nine). The LMA had a success rate of 94% (95% confidence interval [CI] 77-100). Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy, TTJV, RI, and surgical cricothyrotomy had success rates of 50% (95% CI 0-100), 33% (95% CI 0-100), 100% (95% CI 37-100), and 100% (95% CI 37-100), respectively. LMA insertion as the first alternative airway technique was useful in dealing with unanticipated instances of simultaneous difficulty with mask ventilation and tracheal intubation. ⋯ Twenty-five cases of simultaneous difficulty with mask ventilation and tracheal intubation occurred after the induction of general anesthesia during the study period. The laryngeal mask was used in 17 cases, and it provided rescue ventilation without complication in 94% of these cases (95% confidence interval 77-100).