Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialLearning curves of the Airtraq and the Macintosh laryngoscopes for tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists: a clinical study.
The curved laryngoscope blade described by Macintosh in 1943 remains the most widely used device to facilitate tracheal intubation. The Airtraq laryngoscope is a new, single-use device for tracheal intubation. Several studies compared the use of Airtraq and Macintosh laryngoscopes in simulated intubation scenarios on manikins. We evaluated learning and performance of tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists using the Airtraq or Macintosh laryngoscopes in a randomized controlled clinical trial. ⋯ The Airtraq laryngoscope facilitates a more rapid learning curve compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope when used in a clinical setting by novice laryngoscopists. The Airtraq laryngoscope was judged easier to use by novice users.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyGabapentin improves postcesarean delivery pain management: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Gabapentin is effective for preventing and treating acute and chronic postoperative pain; however, it has not been described for use in cesarean delivery. We hypothesized that preoperative gabapentin would reduce postcesarean delivery pain. ⋯ Preoperative gabapentin 600 mg in the setting of multimodal analgesia reduces postcesarean delivery pain and increases maternal satisfaction in comparison with placebo.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyDopexamine has no additional benefit in high-risk patients receiving goal-directed fluid therapy undergoing major abdominal surgery.
Dopexamine has been shown to reduce both mortality and morbidity in major surgery when it is used as part of a protocol to increase oxygen delivery in the perioperative period. A European multicenter study has examined the use of dopexamine in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, showing a trend toward improved survival and reduced complications in high-risk patients when receiving low-dose dopexamine (0.5 μg · kg(-1) · min(-1)). A reduced oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (AT) has been shown to confer a significant risk of mortality in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and allows objective identification of a high-risk operative group. In this study, we assessed the effects of low-dose dopexamine on morbidity after major abdominal surgery in patients who were at increased risk by virtue of a reduced AT. ⋯ With the effective use of goal-directed fluid therapy in elective surgical patients, the routine use of dopexamine does not confer an additional clinical benefit.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2011
Review Comparative StudyThe efficacy and safety of colloid resuscitation in the critically ill.
Despite evidence from clinical studies and meta-analyses that resuscitation with colloids or crystalloids is equally effective in critically ill patients, and despite reports from high-quality clinical trials and meta-analyses regarding nephrotoxic effects, increased risk of bleeding, and a trend toward higher mortality in these patients after the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions, colloids remain popular and the use of HES solutions is increasing worldwide. We investigated the major rationales for colloid use, namely that colloids are more effective plasma expanders than crystalloids, that synthetic colloids are as safe as albumin, that HES solutions have the best risk/benefit profile among the synthetic colloids, and that the third-generation HES 130/0.4 has fewer adverse effects than older starches. Evidence from clinical studies shows that comparable resuscitation is achieved with considerably less crystalloid volumes than frequently suggested, namely, <2-fold the volume of colloids. ⋯ Safe threshold doses need to be determined in studies in high-risk patients and observation periods of 90 days. Such studies on HES 130/0.4 are still lacking despite its widespread and increasing use. Because there are safer and equally effective alternatives in the form of crystalloids, use of synthetic colloids should be avoided except in the context of clinical studies.