European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of intrathecal morphine and continuous femoral 3-in-1 block for pain after major knee surgery under spinal anaesthesia.
Major knee surgery is associated with moderate or severe post-operative pain. Intrathecal morphine and continuous femoral 3-in-1 block were compared prospectively in 40 patients for pain after major knee surgery under spinal anaesthesia, with 4 mL isobaric 0.5% bupivacaine. In a random order, 20 patients received preservative free morphine 0.3 mg mixed with spinal bupivacaine. ⋯ Other side effects were similar in the two groups. All patients were satisfied with their pain therapy. Both intrathecal morphine and femoral 3-in-1 block alone were insufficient for the treatment of severe pain after major knee surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intra-articular analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery: comparison of three different regimens.
One hundred and three patients ASA grades I-II, 16-80 years of age scheduled for arthroscopic meniscectomy were prospectively studied, and randomly allocated to one of four groups: group 1 (n = 25): 0.25% bupivacaine (50 mg) intra-articular (IA), group 2 (n = 27): 1 mg of 0.1% preservative free morphine chloride in saline, group 3 (n = 26): 1 mg of 0.1% preservative free morphine chloride in 0.25% bupivacaine and group 4 (n = 25): normal saline (0.9%). The volume given was always 20 mL. Ketorolac [Toradol, 30 mg intramuscularly (i.m.)] was used as rescue medication; analgesia was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS), a verbal rating scale (VRS), supplemental analgesic consumption post-operatively (SAC) and the presence of side effects. ⋯ In multifactorial analysis no significant differences among groups or side effects was found, pH analysis of the substances used showed no alterations in the basal pH range. The analgesic efficacy of 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% is similar to that of 1 mg of morphine in 20 mL of saline 0.9%. The morphine-bupivacaine mixture was no more efficacious than bupivacaine or morphine alone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Influence of acute normovolaemic haemodilution on the relation between the dose and response of rocuronium bromide.
The influence of acute moderate haemodilution on the relation between dose and response for rocuronium was evaluated in 60 adult patients, ASA grade I, undergoing elective plastic surgery. The patients were randomly allocated to either the control or the haemodilution group. Following the induction of general anaesthesia, the status of acute moderate haemodilution in the haemodilution group was achieved by draining venous blood, and intravenous infusion of lactated Ringer's solution, 6% dextran or gelofusine, during which the levels of haemoatocrit and haemoglobin dropped from 44% to 27.5% and from 148.3 to 91.3 g L-1, respectively. ⋯ The results showed that the dose-response curve for rocuronium during acute moderate haemodilution was shifted in a parallel fashion to the left and the potency of rocuronium was increased. There were significant differences in ED50, ED90 and ED95 between the two groups. The ED50, ED90 and ED95 of rocuronium in the haemodilution group was decreased by 28.2%, 35.4% and 38.8%, respectively, compared with the control group.
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While Horner's syndrome is a rare and occasionally reported complication of epidural 'top-ups' administered for labour and Caesarean delivery, the case reported here followed a low-dose epidural infusion of bupivacaine. Low-dose epidural infusions have generally been regarded as a safer alternative to bolus doses in labour. It is also the case that close supervision is deemed unnecessary in some centres where the mother is receiving such an epidural infusion. This case is reported in order to highlight the potential dangers of a low-dose regime which in spite of the lack of early warning signs may be associated with a high block.