European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The orthogonal two-needle technique: a new axillary approach to the brachial plexus.
Ninety-eight patients scheduled for elbow, forearm, wrist or hand surgery were allocated randomly to one of two different techniques of brachial plexus block, both using the axillary approach. The blocks were all performed at the level of the insertion of the lateral margin of the pectoralis major muscle on the humerus. The same mixture and volume of anaesthetic solution (30 mL of a mixture of equal parts of 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline 1:200 000 and 2% lignocaine) was injected through two needles positioned above and below the axillary artery, in the fascial compartments containing the median and ulnar nerves, respectively. ⋯ In a second group (n = 58) the needles were inserted orthogonally with respect to the neurovascular bundle pathway, aimed towards the posterior fascial compartment containing the radial nerve. Using the second technique, all the terminal branches of the brachial plexus were more frequently involved in the block, including the distribution of the musculocutaneous nerve. It seems likely that the inclination of the needles causes a preferential spread of the anaesthetic solution which follows the direction of the needle shaft.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The post-operative analgesic action of midazolam following epidural administration.
To study post-operative analgesia with epidural midazolam, 30 patients who had undergone upper abdominal surgery were divided into two equal groups. When patients complained of pain, they were given either 6 microliters 0.25% bupivacaine (control group) or 6 microliters 0.25% bupivacaine + 0.05 mg kg-1 midazolam (midazolam group) epidurally at a single level between T7 and T12. Blood pressure and heart rate were similar in the two groups. ⋯ The area of analgesia was significantly larger in the midazolam group 10 and 30 min after administration and involved the entire spinal area and the head and face 10 min after administration in six patients. Amnesia was observed in 14 patients in the midazolam group but in only one in the control group. Epidural midazolam together with bupivacaine adds central analgesic, sedative, and amnesic effects to spinal analgesia and is useful for managing post-operative pain.
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A non-invasive method for measuring pulmonary oxygen exchange is described using a plot of inspired oxygen partial pressure (PIO2) vs. oxygen saturation (SpO2). This method was assessed using nine normal subjects and 35 patients undergoing major surgery, including five thoracotomies. In each patient PIO2 was varied to produce a range of values of SpO2 between 85% and 99%. ⋯ The model allows the inspired to arterial difference in PO2 to be divided into (a) an inspired to 'ideal' alveolar difference attributable to the balance between alveolar ventilation and oxygen uptake; (b) an 'ideal' alveolar to end-capillary difference attributable to inhomogeneity in ventilation/perfusion ratios; and (c) end-capillary to arterial difference attributable to true shunt, which was termed 'virtual shunt' because of the uncertainties of assuming fixed values for haemoglobin concentration and arteriovenous oxygen content difference. The coefficient of determination showed that there was a good fit of the model to the data. Because the method is model-based it enables extrapolation to different PIO2 values as well as the study of the evolution of changes in gas exchange under varying conditions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of intravenous and inhalational maintenance anaesthesia for endoscopic procedures in the aspirin intolerance syndrome.
Intravenous (n = 21) and inhalational maintenance anaesthesia (n = 21) were compared by random allocation in patients with the aspirin intolerance syndrome undergoing endoscopic nasal procedures. Premedication was with oral midazolam and intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate 10 mg kg-1. Anaesthesia was induced in both groups with etomidate and alfentanil and ventilation was controlled. ⋯ On later challenge testing, 125 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone significantly reduced the peak expiratory flow (P < 0.05) in one of these patients. The results suggest that intravenous and inhalational maintenance anaesthesia are equally suitable for patients with aspirin intolerance syndrome. Corticosteroids during surgery should be given by the same route used pre-operatively (spray, oral, or spray plus oral) because intravenous injection may have adverse effects.
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The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) provides a view of the larynx and moving vocal cords without loss of airway control and can be used in flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy for both anaesthetized and awake patients. In this retrospective review of 200 consecutive patients over a 30 month period, bronchoscopy was successful via the LMA in all but one patient using a technique of topical anaesthesia and sedation. ⋯ Complication rates were similar to those reported for transnasal awake bronchoscopy. Insertion of the LMA in the awake fasted patient is safe and easily achieved.