Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialTowards optimal analgesia after caesarean section: comparison of epidural and intravenous patient-controlled opioid analgesia.
The provision of optimal analgesia after caesarean section remains a challenge as satisfactory pain relief must be combined with patient satisfaction, including the ability to care for the newborn. In a prospective study of 132 patients, we have compared epidural analgesia with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) after either epidural or general anaesthesia. Different bolus doses of opioid (pethidine 10 mg and 20 mg) in the IVPCA group were also compared. Although epidural morphine provided the greatest efficacy (average pain score out of 10 was 1.8 v. 2.9-3.4 for the other groups), IVPCA, especially with a bolus dose of 20 mg, and especially after epidural anaesthesia, provided the greatest patient satisfaction with the least side-effects.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1993
Comparative StudyEnd-tidal oxygen measurement compared with patient factor assessment for determining preoxygenation time.
Time to adequate preoxygenation was assessed in 200 elective surgical patients, using measurement of end-tidal oxygen concentration. A variety of patient factors were assessed as to their ability to predict the time required to preoxygenate a patient. Of the 200 patients, 23 (11.5%) were unable to be adequately preoxygenated; most of these cases were due to a poor mask fit. ⋯ Although a regression equation could be constructed to calculate time required for preoxygenation, the wide standard errors of the coefficients preclude a clinically useful predictive equation. We thus found that we could not accurately predict time required for preoxygenation and that a routine three minutes preoxygenation may not be sufficient for many patients. However, the measurement of end-tidal oxygen concentration is a very useful method of determining the end-point for preoxygenation.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAnalgesia after caesarean section with intramuscular ketorolac or pethidine.
We compared, in a double-blind randomised study, intramuscular ketorolac 30 mg (n = 49) and intramuscular pethidine 75 mg (n = 51) for analgesia after elective caesarean section under general anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and suxamethonium and maintained with atracurium, nitrous oxide and isoflurane. Intravenous fentanyl 100 micrograms was given after delivery of the neonate. ⋯ However, four patients in the ketorolac group and six patients in the pethidine group requested no further analgesia within 24 hours. Pain VAS and overall assessment of analgesia was similar between groups, although more side-effects (nausea, dizziness) were noted in the pethidine group. Ketorolac 30 mg and pethidine 75 mg provided similar but variable quality of analgesia after caesarean section.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of caudal epidural bupivacaine with adrenaline and bupivacaine with adrenaline and pethidine for operative and postoperative analgesia in infants and children.
This study compares the effectiveness of two drug combinations--(a) bupivacaine with adrenaline and (b) bupivacaine with adrenaline and pethidine--on operative and postoperative pain relief when administered by the caudal route in infants and children. A randomised controlled trial was conducted on fifty children below the age of twelve years: 25 children were randomly allocated to each group. ⋯ Though the group with pethidine had a longer duration of analgesia and sedation, the very high incidence of vomiting and delay in urination observed in this group would preclude the use of pethidine routinely. No respiratory depression was seen in either group.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1993
Use of a new syringe pump (Springfusor) for muscle relaxant infusion.
A new spring-driven syringe pump (Springfusor 10, Go Medical Industries, Subiaco, W. A.) was evaluated for infusion of muscle relaxants in 50 surgical cases. ⋯ The Springfusor was found to be rugged, cheap and easy to use. It lacks dose flexibility but is suitable for continuous background infusion of muscle relaxants during surgery.