Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1989
Comparative StudyPostoperative analgesia in neonates: an Australia-wide survey.
An Australia-wide survey of the use of postoperative analgesia in neonates has been conducted. A high overall use of analgesia has been recorded with 75% of respondents prescribing an opioid. ⋯ The general attitude is that analgesia is desirable but a fear of respiratory depression inhibits its use, particularly in non-ventilated neonates and after more minor surgery. It is suggested that a wider use of regional anaesthesia techniques may reduce this problem.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1989
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPost-cholecystectomy pulmonary function following interpleural bupivacaine and intramuscular pethidine.
Twenty-four patients who were to undergo cholecystectomy were randomised into two groups, one to receive postoperative analgesia with interpleural bupivacaine, 20 ml of a 0.5% solution with adrenaline 5 micrograms/ml, and the other to receive intramuscular pethidine, 1 mg/kg. Preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function, postoperative pain scores, and days from operation to hospital discharge were recorded and statistically compared. There was no significant difference in pain scores, nor in days to discharge; however, postoperative pulmonary mechanics were significantly poorer in the interpleural group. A hypothesis to explain the differences is offered.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1989
Comparative StudyA controlled oximetric evaluation of inhalational, opioid and epidural analgesia in labour.
The effects on patient oxygenation of nitrous oxide, narcotic and epidural analgesia in labour were evaluated using pulse oximetry. Five groups of ten patients received either no analgesia (Control, Group 1), an epidural block alone (Group 2), nitrous oxide in oxygen alone (Group 3), intramuscular pethidine (Group 4), or nitrous oxide in oxygen combined with intramuscular pethidine (Group 5). Derived parameters included the maximum (MAX), minimum (MIN), average maximum (AV MAX), and average minimum (AV MIN) arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2), and differences between maxima and minima (MAX-MIN). ⋯ All other groups showed no significant difference in any parameter when compared with the control group. The results are discussed with reference to normal and disordered maternal physiological changes in pregnancy. It is suggested that nitrous oxide should not be used for analgesia in labour where there is concern about maternal, placental or foetal reserve.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1989
Acid aspiration prophylaxis in Australian obstetric hospitals--a survey.
During 1987 a confidential survey of all hospitals in Australia providing obstetric services was undertaken to determine the antacid medications used routinely as prophylaxis against acid aspiration pneumonitis. Of the 567 hospitals surveyed, 379 (67%) responded. Of these, 243 hospitals provide an obstetric service which includes caesarean section, and 67% of these perform less than 500 deliveries per annum. ⋯ Results were similar in the emergency caesarean section group. The use of cimetidine or ranitidine was uncommon in all groups. Results of this survey suggest marked differences in attitudes towards acid aspiration prophylaxis between Australian and British obstetric anaesthetic practices.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1989
Comparative StudyA comparison of the effects of suxamethonium, atracurium and vecuronium on intracranial haemodynamics in swine.
Sixteen Yorkshire swine weighing 15-20 kg were studied to compare the effects of suxamethonium, atracurium and vecuronium on intracranial pressure (ICP), heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (BP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in swine with normal or elevated ICP. In each animal an intracranial pressure-volume curve was produced by the inflation of an epidural balloon. The baseline ICP (Po), the ICP at the inflection point (Pi) and on the steep portion (Pmax) of the pressure-volume curve were identified and the balloon volumes recorded. ⋯ Suxamethonium produced an early fall in ICP (0.8 +/- 0.3, 2.6 +/- 1.0 and 3.5 +/- 1.3 mmHg at Po, Pi and Pmax respectively: P = .0005) followed by a rapid rise above the pre-infusion level (1.8 +/- 0.6, 2.8 +/- 0.6 mmHg, and 2.2 +/- 0.5 mmHg at Po, Pi and Pmax respectively: P = .0005). A fall in BP coupled with the rise in ICP resulted in a fall in CPP (5.8 +/- 2.3, 6.1 +/- 1.2, and 6.3 +/- 1.8 mmHg at Po, Pi and Pmax respectively: P = .0005). Although the fall in CPP was not large, in the presence of elevated ICP, where CPP already is marginal, such a decrease may compromise cerebral blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)