Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Postoperative sore throat in children and the laryngeal mask airway.
Postoperative sore throat is a minor complaint after general anaesthesia of multifactorial aetiology. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and endotracheal tube (ETT) on postoperative sore throat in children. We hypothesized that the incidence of sore throat would be less after the use of the LMA. ⋯ All of the reported sore throats were rated as mild. In conclusion, postoperative sore throats after minor paediatric surgery is uncommon. If it does occur, it is mild and the incidence is unaffected by the choice of an LMA or ETT.
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This prospective study was completed to determine the influence of epidural anaesthesia on the fetoplacental circulation of normal subjects. Thirty-seven normal pregnant patients at term, undergoing elective Caesarean section, had Doppler measurements of the fetal umbilical artery blood flow velocity before and after epidural anaesthesia using lidocaine 2% without epinephrine. There were no differences in systolic/diastolic, resistance or pulsality indices following epidural anaesthesia. These results suggest that this technique has no adverse effect on fetoplacental circulation in normal non-labouring subjects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of a rigid laryngoscope with the ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in infants.
The flexible ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope allows placement of endotracheal tubes as small as 2.5 mm internal diameter. The purpose of this study was to document the safety and efficacy of intubation using an ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope. Proved safety and efficacy would justify the routine use of fibreoptic laryngoscopy in normal infants to maintain skills needed for management of the difficult infant airway. ⋯ After intubation, blood pressure and heart rate increased equally in both groups, returning to normal within one to two minutes. There was no difference in the airway trauma between groups. We conclude that the ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope is a safe and effective method for tracheal intubation in infants and may be used routinely in order to maintain fibreoptic airway skills.
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Anaesthetists choose daily among wide varieties of neuromuscular blocking drugs and rapidly acting hypnotic agents. This study sought to determine whether definitive, immediate knowledge of drug cost might influence clinician choices, ultimately reducing the cost of anaesthesia care. Faculty anaesthetists, residents in training, and nurse anaesthetists served as subjects in this prospective, sequential, blinded study of prescribing habits. ⋯ Ketamine usage normalized by total anaesthesia duration increased (P < 0.05) following sticker placement. The weekly cost of all drugs inventoried normalized for caseload did not differ during the measurement periods. Immediate cost awareness, implemented simply as price stickers on drug units, had minimal impact on clinicians' drug usage in a tertiary care setting.