European journal of anaesthesiology
-
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.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effects of propofol on laryngeal reactivity and the haemodynamic response to laryngeal mask insertion.
The ease of the insertion of laryngeal mask and the haemodynamic response were assessed 2 min after induction of anaesthesia with either propofol 2.5 mg kg-1 or thiopentone 4.0 mg kg-1 in 38 ASA I premedicated patients. The inserting conditions scored as excellent, good, poor and unable to insert were significantly better with propofol than with thiopentone (P < 0.001). Insertion of the laryngeal mask was followed by a transient but significant increase in both systolic (P < 0.05) and diastolic (P < 0.01) arterial pressure in the thiopentone group; there was no comparable response in the propofol group. The heart rate varied little from baseline in both groups.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of propofol and isoflurane anaesthesia: the need for ephedrine and glycopyrrolate.
Sixty patients, ASA I-III, presenting for elective colonic surgery were studied to assess the stability of blood pressure and heart rate during anaesthesia with three equally potent anaesthetic techniques. Patients in group I (n = 20) received thiopentone induction, isoflurane and nitrous oxide; patients in group II (n = 20) received total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol; and patients in group III (n = 20) received intravenous propofol supplemented with nitrous oxide. Fentanyl and vecuronium were used in all three groups. ⋯ The drug was administered after intubation but before skin incision in the majority of cases (9/11). Glycopyrrolate was given to significantly more patients in group III (P < 0.025) to treat bradycardia, and in 21 of a total of 34 patients given glycopyrrolate it was administered before surgery. With the use of these additional drugs, there were no differences in the number of patients with 5 min episodes of hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia or bradycardia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)