Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of epidural levobupivacaine 0.5% with or without epinephrine for lumbar spine surgery.
Levobupivacaine, the S(-) isomer of bupivacaine, is less cardiotoxic than racemic bupivacaine. In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study of epidural anesthesia, we compared the onset, extent, and duration of sensory and motor blockade produced by plain 0.5% levobupivacaine (15 mL, 75 mg) with that of 0.5% levobupivacaine with the addition of 1:400,000 or 1:200,000 epinephrine in 117 patients undergoing elective spine surgery. The time to onset of adequate sensory block (T10 dermatome) was similar in all groups (12.4 +/- 6.6 min for plain levobupivacaine, 13.9 +/- 7.9 min for levobupivacaine with 1:400,000 epinephrine, and 12.7 +/- 4.9 min for levobupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine), with an average peak block height of T5. ⋯ Peak serum levobupivacaine levels were reduced in each of the epinephrine-containing groups. We conclude that 0.5% levobupivacaine with or without 1:200,000 or 1:400,000 epinephrine produced effective epidural anesthesia in patients having lumbar spine surgery. Epinephrine 1:400,000 is as effective as 1:200,000 in reducing the resultant serum levobupivacaine levels after epidural anesthesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of preoperative epidural morphine on postoperative analgesia in children.
We examined the effects of preoperative epidural morphine associated with general anesthesia on postoperative morphine requirements. Twenty-one children older than 6 yr scheduled for major surgery were randomly assigned to two groups, a control group and an epidural group that received a single epidural morphine injection.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMetaraminol infusion for maintenance of arterial blood pressure during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery: the effect of a crystalloid bolus.
We randomly allocated women having elective cesarean delivery to receive either no bolus (Control Group, n = 31) or 20 mL/kg lactated Ringer's solution (Bolus Group, n = 35) IV before spinal anesthesia. An infusion of metaraminol started at 0.25 mg/min was titrated to maintain systolic arterial blood pressure in the target range 90%-100% of baseline. ⋯ There was no difference between groups in regards to changes in systolic arterial blood pressure or heart rate over time, or maternal or neonatal outcome. We conclude that when metaraminol is used to maintain arterial pressure during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery, crystalloid bolus is not essential provided that sufficient vasopressor is given in the immediate postspinal period.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntraoperative plateletpheresis and autologous platelet gel do not reduce chest tube drainage or allogeneic blood transfusion after reoperative coronary artery bypass graft.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is postulated to decrease postoperative mediastinal chest tube drainage (MCTD) and allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT) after surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, recent metaanalysis of the literature reveals that few good quality (therapeutic yield) trials that show a benefit have been published. The potential hemodynamic instability caused by plateletpheresis has not been emphasized. ⋯ Fifty-three percent of the Pheresis group patients exhibited significant hemodynamic instability, versus 27% of the Control group (P < 0.05). This study was unable to show any reduction in MCTD or ABT, although the plateletpheresis technique may offset platelet dysfunction caused by aspirin or increased blood exposure to nonbiologic surfaces, or it may compensate for lack of antifibrinolytic use. The significantly increased incidence of hemodynamic instability in the Pheresis group means that the risk/benefit ratio must be determined for individual cardiac surgical units.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWhat constitutes an effective but safe initial dose of lidocaine to test a thoracic epidural catheter?
To investigate the effects of age and dose on the spread of thoracic epidural anesthesia, we placed thoracic epidural catheters in 50 surgical patients divided into groups by age (Group I [young], 18-51 yr; Group II [old], 56-80 yr) and randomly assigned patients to receive either 5 mL (A) or 9 mL (B) of 2% lidocaine (plain) injected via the epidural catheter. Hemodynamic variables were measured (heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, noninvasive impedance cardiac index) at baseline and every 5 min for 30 min. Detectable blockade occurred within 8 min after injection of 3 + 2 mL or 3 + 6 mL in 48 of 50 patients. ⋯ Minor decreases in mean arterial blood pressure (8%-17%) and heart rate (4%-11%) were noted. Two patients in the Old 9 group required IV ephedrine or ephedrine/atropine to treat hypotension and bradycardia. We conclude that given the rapid onset (3-8 min), extensive spread (11-14 dermatomal segments), and consistent hemodynamic stability, thoracic epidural anesthesia should be initiated with lidocaine 100 mg (5 mL 2% lidocaine) to establish proper location of the catheter in the epidural space in both younger and older patients.