Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Dec 1993
The Training/Examination Programme in Intensive Care, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists: 2. Examination.
The structure of the Final Examination in Intensive Care for the award of Diploma of Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists is based on a model explicated in the College's Objectives of Training in Intensive Care. There are five sections in the examination: short answer questions, essay questions, investigations, orals and a clinical. The first examination was held in October 1979. ⋯ Eighty-three per cent of the candidates passed at the first attempt. The failure rate has been highest in the clinical section. The examination is regarded as a hard examination but one which is helpful in training and subsequent practice.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Dec 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWarm local anaesthetic--effect on latency of onset of axillary brachial plexus block.
A double-blind, controlled trial was conducted to determine whether warming local anaesthetic reduces the onset time of axillary brachial plexus block. Forty patients were randomised into two groups. ⋯ A solution of 40 ml of lignocaine 1.5% with adrenaline 1:200,000 was used for all patients. Warming the local anaesthetic was not demonstrated to reduce the latency of onset of blockade.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Dec 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialArterial desaturation during induction with and without preoxygenation: evaluation of four techniques.
The incidence and degree of hypoxaemia during induction of balanced anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation were studied prospectively in 80 healthy adults undergoing elective surgery randomly divided into four equal groups of 20. Group 1 was preoxygenated for three minutes. The other three groups were not preoxygenated. ⋯ Two patients in Group 3 and four in Group 4 had hypoxaemia. This incidence was not statistically significant. We conclude that ventilation with 100% oxygen for one minute prior to intubation and preoxygenation for three minutes are equally effective in preventing hypoxaemia during induction.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Dec 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of providing preoperative statistical anaesthetic-risk information.
Are patients who are provided with details about anaesthesia risks on the eve of surgery better informed, and does the information increase their anxiety? Forty (ASA Class I or II) patients scheduled for surgery requiring general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to either a routine or a detailed information group. Levels of anxiety were assessed by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Actual knowledge of risks was assessed by a special visual analogue scale. ⋯ The detailed group, however, had gained more accurate knowledge of the likelihood of two rare complications, death (P < 0.001) and serious tooth damage (P < 0.05). Notwithstanding, there was no difference between the groups in anxiety. Thus, provision of detailed information about the risks of the complications of general anaesthesia did increase patients' knowledge but did not increase patients' levels of anxiety.