Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Bupivacaine 0.125% improves continuous postoperative epidural fentanyl analgesia after abdominal or thoracic surgery.
The addition of 0.125% and 0.25% bupivacaine to continuous postoperative epidural infusions of fentanyl, in a 10 micrograms.ml-1 concentration, were studied in 39 patients following abdominal or thoracic surgery in prospective, random, double-blind fashion. Patients received an initial bolus of 0.1 ml.kg-1 of the the study solution and an infusion of 6 ml.hr-1 which was titrated to maintain analgesia (VAS < 40). Assessments of pain (VAS), pulmonary function (pH, PaCO2), and bowel function (time to flatus or po fluids) were made until the second post-operative morning. ⋯ Fewer patients in the 0.125% bupivacaine group than in the 0.25% group developed a transient sensory loss to pinprick and ice (3 vs 10, P < 0.001). Four patients in both bupivacaine groups had leg weakness, those in the 0.125% were all a Bromage 1 score, while in the 0.25% group one had a Bromage 1, one a Bromage 2, and two Bromage 3 scores. The addition of 0.125% bupivacaine improves the analgesia of epidural infusions of fentanyl (10 microgms.ml(-1)) when used following abdominal or thoracic surgery and results in minimal sensorimotor disturbance.
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The purpose of this study was to describe methods, risk factors, and outcomes of airway management in all patients (obstetrics excluded) attended by anaesthetists over 27 months. Preoperatively, anaesthetists recorded patient factors and assessed four airway characteristics. Methods of tracheal intubation and ease of direct laryngoscopy following general anaesthesia (easy, awkward, difficult) were noted. ⋯ Patients with difficult tracheal intubation had an increased rate of desaturation (< 90%), hypertension (> 200 mm Hg) and dental damage on induction of anaesthesia. It is concluded that difficult tracheal intubations occurred infrequently but were associated with increased morbidity. Patient factors and four physical airway characteristics were useful predictors but limited in identifying all problems.
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The effects of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on diaphragmatic fatigue were studied in 20 anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs divided into two groups: control group (Group C, n = 10) and nicardipine group (Group N, n = 10). Diaphragmatic fatigue was induced by intermittent supramaximal electric stimulation to bilateral phrenic nerves at a frequency of 20 Hz for 30 min. In Group N, 5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 nicardipine iv was infused continuously during this fatigue-producing period. ⋯ The decrease of Pdi at low-frequency stimulation was larger in Group N (P < 0.05). The integrated diaphragmatic electric activity (Edi) in both groups did not change at any frequency of stimulation throughout the experiment. We conclude that nicardipine enhances diaphragmatic fatigue.