European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Double-blind comparison of alizapride, droperidol and ondansetron in the treatment of post-operative nausea.
To compare the efficacy in the treatment of post-operative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV), 75 patients undergoing gynaecological procedures under general anaesthesia using N2O/enflurane who suffered from PONV in the first hour after surgery were randomly allocated to three groups containing 25 patients each to receive either alizapride 100 mg, droperidol 1 mg or ondansetron 8 mg (i.v.). Patients expressed the severity of their nausea on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (none) to 10 (as bad as possible). Vomiting was recorded as present or absent, and the number of emetic events was noted. ⋯ However, comparison between the three groups showed no statistically significant differences. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in the number of patients receiving rescue medication, the number of emetic events and the time from administration of the study drug until rescue medication was given. It is concluded that alizapride 100 mg, droperidol 1 mg and ondansetron 8 mg intravenously are equally effective in the treatment of PONV after gynaecological procedures and that the newer drugs alizapride and ondansetron offer no advantage over droperidol.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Visual evaluation of train-of-four and double burst stimulation, fade at various currents, using a rubber band.
The sensitivity of train-of-four (TOF) or double burst stimulation3,3 (DBS3,3) was examined to detect fade by visual inspection, at varying stimulating currents, using the thumb of the investigated arm maintained abducted by the use of a rubber band. One-hundred adult patients were allocated randomly to (1) train-of-four-rubber band (TOF-RB), (2) train-of-four-control (TOF-control), (3) double burst stimulation-rubber band (DBS-RB), or (4) double burst stimulation-control (DBS-control) group. Each group contained 25 patients. ⋯ In contrast, when measured TOF ratio was 0.51-0.80, at the stimulating current of 50 or 30 mA, the likelihood of visual detection of fade in the DBS-RB group was significantly higher than in the DBS-control group (P < 0.05). With a TOF ratio of 0.61-0.70, in the DBS-RB group the probability of visual detection of fade at 50 or 30 mA was significantly higher than at 20 mA (P < 0.05). This study suggests that when using a rubber band, fade in response to the DBS3,3 is detected by visual inspection more readily at a stimulating current of 50 or 30 mA than without the rubber band.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The optimal dose of local anaesthetic in the orthogonal two-needle technique. Extent of sensory block after the injection of 20, 30 and 40 mL of anaesthetic solution.
Ninety patients undergoing scheduled upper limb orthopaedic surgery were studied to determine the optimal anaesthetic dose using the 'orthogonal two-needle technique'. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive one of three different volumes (20, 30 and 40 mL) (n = 30) of anaesthetic solution (a mixture of equal parts of 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline 1:200,000 and 2% lignocaine). A significant correlation was found between the volume injected and the anaesthetic spread for all tested areas. ⋯ The comparisons between the 20 mL group and the other two groups are significant in all the tested areas, as well as the comparisons between 30 and 40 mL groups in the areas innervated by radial and musculocutaneous nerves. Only the area innervated by the axillary nerve showed a weaker volume-analgesia relation, confirming the elusiveness of this area to anaesthesia in the axillary approaches. The improved results observed using greater amounts of anaesthetic solution might result from a higher intrasheath pressure with disruption of sheath septa, or from a greater availability of drug for all the terminal branches of brachial plexus, or both.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Nitrous oxide inhalation as an adjunct to intravenous induction of general anaesthesia with propofol for day surgery.
Fifty patients were randomly allocated to receive either a preinduction inhalation with nitrous oxide (50%) in oxygen or fentanyl with preoxygenation, before induction of anaesthesia with propofol. Both groups of patients showed a significant rise in arterial oxygen saturation prior to propofol induction which established similar depths of anaesthesia, determined by the acceptability of the laryngeal mask placement. ⋯ Reduction in arterial blood pressure was also more rapid in the fentanyl group compared with the nitrous oxide group. Preinduction inhalation of nitrous oxide (50%) in oxygen appears to be an effective and acceptable method of preoxygenating the patient and augmenting the propofol induction of anaesthesia.
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Fifteen patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery were studied in order to investigate the efficacy of high frequency jet ventilation of the non-dependent lung with respect to arterial oxygenation. During the study PaO2, PaCO2, arterial pressures and heart rate were recorded during ventilation of both lungs in the lateral decubitus position during one-lung ventilation and during high frequency jet ventilation of the non-dependent lung. Mean PaO2 was 28 +/- 8.75 kPa and mean PaCO2 was 5.4 +/- 0.7 kPa during control. ⋯ With high frequency jet ventilation to the non-dependent lung, mean PaO2 increased to 25 +/- 6.75 kPa and PaCO2 decreased to 5.16 +/- 0.9 kPa respectively. Arterial pressures and heart rate remained stable during the study period. In conclusion high frequency jet ventilation of the non-dependent lung was effective in providing arterial normoxaemia and normocapnia during one-lung ventilation.