European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Post-tetanic burst count and train-of-four during recovery from vecuronium-induced intense neuromuscular block under different types of anaesthesia.
Recovery of neuromuscular blockade after vecuronium 0.2 mg kg-1 was measured by post-tetanic burst count (PTBC) and train-of-four (TOF) in 120 adult patients anaesthetized by one of four techniques: neuroleptanaesthesia or one minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane, enflurane, or sevoflurane. Onset of recovery was taken when there was reflex movement in response to carinal stimulation. The time course of recovery measured by burst count was similar for all four types of anaesthesia. ⋯ P < 0.05]. The burst count at the onset of reflex movement was less under neuroleptanaesthesia than under isoflurane, enflurane, or sevoflurane anaesthesia (16.3 +/- 4.8, 26.7 +/- 6.7, 27.7 +/- 6.8, 28.0 +/- 8.4, P < 0.05). The ratio of first twitch to control twitch at the onset of reflex movement was the same for all four types of anaesthesia.
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Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing a short-stay ophthalmic operation (orbital hydroxyapatite implantation) were recruited over 1 year to assess the frequency and duration of post-operative nausea and vomiting over 7 days. The incidence of nausea and vomiting in hospital was recorded. Patients scored their nausea and vomiting four times daily at home. ⋯ However, there was a statistically significant correlation between nausea and pain. The high incidence of nausea and vomiting observed in this study appears to provide additional evidence of an oculo-emetic reflex. The timing of discharge and appropriate patient education are discussed.
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An audit of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was undertaken in 935 female patients who used morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain relief after major gynaecological operations in a district general hospital. We investigated retrospectively five different antiemetic policies and a reference group without policy from January 1993 to July 1995. The department's computerized audit system was used to analyse the observations. ⋯ This emphasizes the importance of corporate involvement in the development, formulation and evaluation of departmental protocols if compliance is to be high. We conclude that audit as a corporate effort improves the acceptance of departmental protocols. This reduces PONV significantly irrespective of the type of antiemetic drug used.
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Letter Case Reports
Anaphylactoid reaction induced by pancuronium during general anaesthesia.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
A meta-analysis of nausea and vomiting following maintenance of anaesthesia with propofol or inhalational agents.
A number of prospective randomized comparator studies have suggested that there is a reduction in post-operative nausea and vomiting following maintenance of anaesthesia with propofol compared with inhalational agents. We analysed these studies in more detail by examining the effects of induction agent, choice of inhalation agent, presence/absence of nitrous oxide, age of patient or use of opiate on the incidence of emesis. ⋯ These were examined individually and independently by two of the authors and log-odds ratios, calculated from the incidence data of each individual trial, were determined and combined using a fixed-effects meta-analysis approach. Patients who received maintenance of anaesthesia with propofol had a significantly lower incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting in comparison with inhalational agents regardless of induction agent, choice of inhalation agent, presence/absence of nitrous oxide, age of patient or use of opiate.