Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialModulating effects of lignocaine on propofol.
Pain is a well known complication of propofol injection. Premixing with lignocaine 0.1 mg.kg-1 and injection into a large forearm vein has been recommended. The amount of lignocaine to be added is often empirical when the vein on the dorsum of the hand is used. ⋯ Our study shows that a propofol emulsion containing 0.05% lignocaine is effective in reducing the incidence of propofol injection pain. The addition of lignocaine also reduces the incidence of excitatory effects. Increasing the dosage of lignocaine above 0.05% does not improve the results.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1995
Inguinal field block for adult inguinal hernia repair using a short-bevel needle. Description and clinical experience in Solomon Islands and an Australian teaching hospital.
One of the limitations of an inguinal field block is that it does not reliably produce complete anaesthesia. The purpose of this study was to describe a modified short-bevel needle technique, facilitating correct needle placement, for inguinal hernia repair. Anaesthetists from two different institutions performed the described infiltration blocks. ⋯ Results of the modified inguinal field block showed a 97% ability to achieve a "fair" block or better. Intraoperative and postoperative data showed high surgeon and patient satisfaction for the block. The described block using a short-bevel needle is recommended as a suitable method for adult patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1995
Bronchoscopic insufflation of room air for the treatment of lobar atelectasis in mechanically ventilated patients.
Segmental and lobar pulmonary atelectasis is a common occurrence in mechanically ventilated patients. Standard therapy for atelectasis relies on positive pressure ventilation, positive and expiratory pressure (PEEP), tracheobronchial toilet and regular chest physiotherapy. ⋯ Bronchoscopic clearance of secretions followed by insufflation of room air at 30 cm H2O into the atelectatic segment was employed on ten occasions in mechanically ventilated patients. Rapid re-expansion of the collapsed segment or lobe occurred in seven out of the ten treatments.
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A survey of the incidence of postoperative vomiting in 1476 children was conducted over a two-month period as part of our quality assurance programme. The incidence of vomiting was 24%, and was highest in children over three years of age and in those receiving opioids. The incidence is lower than that recorded in an earlier (1981) survey in our hospital. Changes in anaesthetic practices may have contributed to this decrease.