Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2008
ReviewCoagulation monitoring: current techniques and clinical use of viscoelastic point-of-care coagulation devices.
Perioperative monitoring of blood coagulation is critical to better understand causes of hemorrhage, to guide hemostatic therapies, and to predict the risk of bleeding during the consecutive anesthetic or surgical procedures. Point-of-care (POC) coagulation monitoring devices assessing the viscoelastic properties of whole blood, i.e., thrombelastography, rotation thrombelastometry, and Sonoclot analysis, may overcome several limitations of routine coagulation tests in the perioperative setting. The advantage of these techniques is that they have the potential to measure the clotting process, starting with fibrin formation and continue through to clot retraction and fibrinolysis at the bedside, with minimal delays. ⋯ A surgical etiology of bleeding has to be considered when viscoelastic test results are normal. In summary, viscoelastic POC coagulation devices may help identify the cause of bleeding and guide pro- and anticoagulant therapies. To ensure optimal accuracy and performance, standardized procedures for blood sampling and handling, strict quality controls and trained personnel are required.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyIntraarticular injection of magnesium sulphate and/or bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery.
Intraarticular bupivacaine is often used for prevention of pain after arthroscopic knee surgery. Intraarticular magnesium, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blocker, would be of particular interest in either producing postoperative analgesia or enhancing the analgesic effect of intraarticular bupivacaine. We designed this study to determine whether intraarticular magnesium sulfate or bupivacaine results in a decrease in visual analog scale (VAS) score followed by a decrease in analgesic requirement and whether their combination would provide more reduction in VAS, and subsequently less analgesic requirement, than either drug alone. ⋯ Magnesium combined with bupivacaine produces a reduction in postoperative pain when given intraarticularly in comparison to either bupivacaine or magnesium alone, or to saline placebo.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyHaloperidol plus ondansetron versus ondansetron alone for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Haloperidol 1 mg and ondansetron 4 mg are equally safe and effective for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis. We compared the combination to ondansetron alone in a mixed surgical population. ⋯ Postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis with both drugs is significantly more effective and longer lasting than ondansetron alone. There is no detectable increase in side effects.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyCombined ultrasound and neurostimulation guidance for popliteal sciatic nerve block: a prospective, randomized comparison with neurostimulation alone.
Ultrasound imaging, an effective tool to localize peripheral nerves, may facilitate block performance. However, its usefulness during popliteal sciatic nerve block has not been assessed. ⋯ Combined ultrasound and neurostimulation guidance does not decrease block time but increases the success rate of popliteal sciatic nerve block observed at 30 min.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2008
The development and validation of a dynamic model to account for the progress of labor in the assessment of pain.
Labor pain is often described as the worst pain in a woman's life, but the experience is highly variable. Although many factors have been linked to labor pain, it has been difficult to assess the individual effects of these factors because labor is a dynamic process and pain intensity changes over the course of labor. Previous studies have used average pain scores. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a model that would allow for the statistical analysis of factors that affect pain throughout labor. ⋯ We have developed and validated a model for describing pain over the course of labor. Our model is suited to the statistical analysis of covariance and could potentially be used to compare the effects of covariants on labor pain and the rate of change of pain.