Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 1979
Case ReportsClinical report: interscalene block for shoulder operations.
Administration of adequate volumes of local anaesthetic through a single injection into the interscalene space produces blockade of both the brachial and cervical plexuses. A report of 2 patients who underwent operative repair of recurrent dislocation of the shoulder under interscalene block is presented. The advantages and disadvantages of the block for surgery around the shoulder region, and the possible complications are discussed.
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An understanding of the principles of operation and hazards of the surgical diathermy is necessary for the safety of the anaesthetized patient. The surgical diathermy performs its function by the application of high density radio frequency current which can be used to cut or coagulate tissue. Its improper use can result in electrical burns and even electrocution. The principles underlying its safe use are outlined, and detailed recommendations are made to ensure the patient's safety.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1978
Intravenous ketamine anaesthesia for major abdominal surgery--an assessment of a technique and the influence of ataractic drugs on the psychomimetic effects of ketamine.
Eighty-two patients presenting for major abdominal surgery were divided into five groups, and received intravenous ketamine, muscle relaxation and controlled ventilation with oxygen-enriched air. For maintenance of anaesthesia patients were given a single intravenous dose of either droperidol 5 mg, diazepam 5 mg, promethazine 25 mg, flunitrazepam 0.5 mg or lorazepam 2 mg, followed by incremental doses of ketamine. Flunitrazepam and lorazepam were the adjuvants associated with the lowest incidence of dreaming and emergence phenomena; postanaesthetic sequelae occurred most frequently with both ketamine/diazepam and ketamine/droperidol anaesthesia. However, the differences between the five groups failed to reach statistical significance.