Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialHigh-volume spinal anaesthesia. A dose-response study of bupivacaine 0.125%.
The clinical effects of high-volume spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine 0.125% were studied in 30 patients presenting for postpartum sterilisation. Group A, B and C patients received 6, 8 and 10 ml of bupivacaine 0.125% respectively. Onset, duration and regression of sensory block and motor blockade, haemodynamic parameters and postoperative complications were studied. ⋯ Only one patient (Group A) developed a postdural puncture headache. In this study, high-volume spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine 0.125% was found to be satisfactory for postpartum tubal ligation. The optimal volume of bupivacaine 0.125% was 8 ml.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1992
Fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the critically ill: a prospective study of its diagnostic and therapeutic value.
A prospective study was undertaken to assess the diagnostic value and therapeutic usefulness of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the critically ill. ⋯ The use of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the Intensive Care Unit, in combination with the technique of broncho-alveolar lavage, results in a clinically useful outcome in the majority of cases. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is an effective and safe diagnostic and therapeutic tool in critically ill patients.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 1992
A clinical evaluation of the Hemocue haemoglobinometer using capillary, venous and arterial samples.
The 'Hemocue' device for rapid estimation of haemoglobin concentration was evaluated in a clinical setting. Repeatable accuracy of capillary, venous and arterial samples was examined and then compared with standard laboratory venous haemoglobin estimates using a 'Coulter JT' analyser in 42 patients. The mean values for haemoglobin (g/l) and coefficient of variation were capillary 108.2 (8.0); venous 104.9 (2.2); arterial 105.9 (2.0); and laboratory venous 104.6 (1.3). ⋯ Peripheral skin temperature did not influence the accuracy of capillary samples. Hemocue estimations of venous samples were found to be as accurate as laboratory estimations. The lack of repeatable accuracy of capillary estimations was sufficiently large that their use cannot be recommended in clinical practice.