Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
An algorithm for processing vital sign monitoring data to remotely identify operating room occupancy in real-time.
We developed an algorithm for processing networked vital signs (VS) to remotely identify in real-time when a patient enters and leaves a given operating room (OR). The algorithm addresses two types of mismatches between OR occupancy and VS: a patient is in the OR but no VS are available (e.g., patient is being hooked up), and no patient is in the OR but artifactual VS are present (e.g., because of staff handling of sensors). The algorithm was developed with data from 7 consecutive days (122 cases) in a 6 OR trauma center. ⋯ Identified patient in- and out-times were accurate within 4.9 min (CI 4.2-5.7) and 2.8 min (CI 2.3-3.5), respectively, and were not different in accuracy from times reported by staff on OR records. The algorithm's usefulness was demonstrated partly by its continued operational use. We conclude that VS can be processed to accurately report OR occupancy in real-time.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialMagnesium sulfate pretreatment reduces myoclonus after etomidate.
Myoclonic movements and pain on injection are common problems during induction of anesthesia with etomidate. We investigated the influence of pretreatment with magnesium and two doses of ketamine on the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus and pain. A prospective double-blind study was performed on 100 ASA physical status I-III patients who were randomized into 4 groups according to the pretreatment drug: ketamine 0.2 mg/kg, ketamine 0.5 mg/kg, magnesium sulfate (Mg) 2.48 mmol, or normal saline. ⋯ An anesthesiologist, blinded to group allocation, recorded the myoclonic movements, pain, and sedation on a scale between 0-3. Nineteen of the 25 patients receiving Mg (76%) did not have myoclonic movements after the administration of etomidate, whereas 18 patients (72%) in the ketamine 0.5 mg/kg, 16 patients (64%) in the ketamine 0.2 mg/kg, and 18 patients (72%) in the control group experienced myoclonic movements (P < 0.05). We conclude that Mg 2.48 mmol administered 90 s before the induction of anesthesia with etomidate is effective in reducing the severity of etomidate-induced myoclonic muscle movements and that ketamine does not reduce the incidence of myoclonic movements.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPostoperative epidural morphine for postpartum tubal ligation analgesia.
Women undergoing postoperative postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) often experience considerable pain. We hypothesized that epidural morphine, as part of a multi-modal analgesic regimen, would decrease postoperative pain and the need for systemic analgesia after PPTL. In a double-blinded study, patients were randomized to receive epidural saline or morphine 2 mg, 3 mg, or 4 mg after epidural anesthesia for PPTL. ⋯ Nausea, vomiting, and pruritus occurred more often in all morphine groups and subjects who received morphine 4 mg required treatment for these side effects more frequently than the saline or morphine 2 mg groups. In conclusion, epidural morphine 2 mg as part of a multi-modal analgesic regimen improved analgesia and decreased the need for supplemental analgesics after PPTL. The need to treat side effects with morphine 2 mg was not increased compared to a regimen of oral acetaminophen/opioid/nonsteroidal antiinflammatory analgesics.