Anaesthesia and intensive care
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The relation between plasma concentration and the effects of atracurium was studied in seven patients anaesthetised with thiopentone, fentanyl and nitrous oxide-oxygen. The response to train-of-four stimulation at ten-second intervals with tetanic stimuli applied every five minutes were recorded. The first sign of transmission returning after complete blockade was usually the post-tetanic facilitated twitch, which was noted when the mean atracurium concentration was 1.15 mg 1(-1) (SD 0.77). ⋯ Once recovery commenced, these four parameters recovered at similar rates, with recovery indices (25 to 75% responses) of 14.8 (SD 1.7), 14.0 (SD 1.0), 14.3 (SD 1.8) and 13.7 (SD 2.1) minutes respectively. Post-tetanic facilitation was most marked during severe but incomplete blockade and tetanic stimulation temporarily reversed the atracurium-induced decrease in train-of-four ratio. Clinically, the use of tetanic stimulation did not improve the sensitivity of neuromuscular monitoring, but post-tetanic count may be useful where monitoring of profound relaxation is required.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 1990
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDouble-blind study of the reversal of midazolam-induced sedation in the intensive care unit with flumazenil (Ro 15-1788): effect on weaning from ventilation.
Midazolam (0.1-0.2 mg/kg/hr) and morphine (2 mg/hr) were given by carefully regulated continuous intravenous infusions to thirty patients who required sedation, analgesia and ventilation for between twelve and twenty-four hours in the Intensive Care Unit. The midazolam and morphine infusions were stopped at the end of the period of sedation required and the efficacy of placebo of flumazenil in reversing the sedative effects of midazolam was compared in this double-blind randomised parallel group study. Patients receiving flumazenil were less sedated (P less than 0.05), able to obey commands (P less than 0.05), weaned from ventilation (P less than 0.05) and extubated (P less than 0.05) significantly earlier than those receiving placebo.