Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1985
[Changes in temperature during transurethral resection of the prostate under peridural anesthesia].
Superficial and central body temperatures were measured during anaesthesia and recovery in eleven elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection under epidural anaesthesia. A significant decrease in central body temperature as measured on the tympanic membrane was found during surgery. After a significant increase during induction of anaesthesia, mean skin temperature remained stable throughout surgery. ⋯ During recovery, all temperatures increased significantly. But mean body temperature returned to normal faster than central body temperature. Routine monitoring of core temperature and the use of warmed irrigation fluids are recommended during transurethral resections in elderly patients.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1985
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSkin testing in the investigation of reactions to intravenous anaesthetic drugs. A prospective trial of atracurium and tubocurarine.
Intradermal skin testing is widely used to determine the causative drugs of presumed anaphylactic anaesthetic reactions. This paper sets out to evaluate the usefulness of skin tests, both intradermal and prick testing, in the prediction of anaesthetic reactions. The muscle relaxant drugs tubocurarine and atracurium were chosen for study since they are known to produce a high incidence of minor histaminoid reactions. ⋯ The results of the trial, combined with external reports to this centre, indicate that intradermal testing of anaesthetic drugs, particularly muscle relaxants, produces a high incidence of false positive results. This probably reflects their pharmacological activity rather than antigenicity. It is recommended, therefore, that skin testing should be reserved for situations in which there are strong indications from laboratory tests, backed by case history, of immune sensitization.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1985
[Peridural morphine in intractable cancer pains. Means and obstacles].
Long-term analgesia with epidural morphine (EM) is a new tool in the management of intractable cancer pain. Twenty-six out of 160 cancer patients referred to the Pain Division for pain assessment were selected for analgesia with long-term epidural morphine, so aiming to define its place amongst more traditional methods of treatment, such as drugs, nerve-blocks, neurosurgery or radiotherapy. All 26 patients were cases of conventional analgesic failure, with very advanced cancer states. ⋯ Analgesic methods in cancer are palliative procedures. In terminal or temporary situations, other more invasive methods are not suited. The EM technique is simple, adjustable to advancing pain and has few side-effects, especially when compared with neurolytic and neurosurgical procedures.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1985
Case ReportsCarbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.
Venous carbon dioxide embolism is a rare but potentially lethal complication of laparoscopy. The risk is increased when it is associated with hysteroscopy. ⋯ The patient had irreversible brain damage and died a week later. Early diagnosis and prevention of this serious complication are discussed.