Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1985
Effects of adjuvants to local anaesthetics on their duration. I. Studies of dextrans of widely varying molecular weight and adrenaline in rat infraorbital nerve block.
Local anaesthetics of the amide type were studied in a modified rat infraorbital nerve block model, with which it was possible to determine varying degrees of sensory block. Of the agents investigated, 0.5% bupivacaine tended to give a longer duration of block than 2% prilocaine or 2% lidocaine, while 0.5% etidocaine had the shortest duration. The duration of prilocaine was prolonged by addition of adrenaline, 5 micrograms/ml, more than that of the other agents. ⋯ The extent of prolongation was dependent on the degree of block, the concentration of dextrans in the local anaesthetic solution, and the Mw of the dextran although in a less uniform way. An increase in the relative viscosity of the solutions might be a factor of importance for the prolonging effect of addition of dextran to local anaesthetics. Since a formulation providing analgesia of a long duration would be of clinical value, further studies on combinations of the comparatively low-toxicity agent prilocaine and macromolecular substances are of interest.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1985
Comparative StudyFactors influencing the respiratory capacity after upper abdominal surgery.
The analgesic requirement and some factors influencing the respiratory capacity after upper abdominal surgery were studied during the first 2 days postoperatively in 417 patients, aged 17 to 84 years, undergoing surgery in the upper part of the abdomen. The operations were cholecystectomy or choledocholithotomy through a subcostal incision, partial gastric resection, repair of a diaphragmatic hernia or vagotomy through a midline incision. Pain relief was achieved in a random order either by intercostal block (i.c.b.) and centrally acting analgesics on demand, or by centrally acting analgesics alone. ⋯ Thus it decreased the demand for centrally acting analgesics and resulted in higher PEF values than without i.c.b. for cholecystectomy during the period of effective nerve block and for choledocholithotomy for 2 whole days postoperatively. Smokers seemed to benefit from i.c.b. for 2 postoperative days. The reduction of PEF after cholecystectomy also seemed to be related to the duration of treatment with centrally acting analgesics.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1985
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialRespiratory performance after upper abdominal surgery. A comparison of pain relief with intercostal blocks and centrally acting analgesics.
The respiratory capacity was studied during the first 2 days postoperatively in 94 patients, aged 19 to 75 years and undergoing surgery through an upper abdominal incision. Postoperative pain relief was randomly administered, either by intercostal block (i.c.b.) and centrally acting analgesics on demand, or by centrally acting analgesics alone. Respiratory studies comprising forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and analysis of arterial blood gases were made. ⋯ Thus postoperative i.c.b. following cholecystectomy performed through a subcostal incision resulted in higher FVC, FEV1 and PEF values than without i.c.b. at least during the time of effective nerve block. I.c.b. after subcostal incision also improved arterial oxygen tension. The patients undergoing cholecystectomy and receiving a second i.c.b. 8 h after the first one had better respiratory function than the patients without any block during the first 2 days postoperatively.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1985
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of a small dose of droperidol on nausea, vomiting and recovery after outpatient enflurane anaesthesia.
Young, healthy outpatients (100) undergoing restorative dentistry and/or oral surgery under enfluranenitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia were given 0.014 mg/kg of droperidol or a saline placebo i.v. in a double-blind random fashion 5 min after induction of anaesthesia to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting. Overall, less patients given droperidol were nauseated (18%) or vomited (7%) in comparison with patients given saline (27% and 11%, respectively). During the first postoperative hour, 4% of patients given droperidol were nauseated and 2% vomited, whereas 16% of patients given saline were nauseated and 6% vomited. ⋯ After 60 min, only one patient given droperidol and four patients who received saline and vomited took side steps or were unable to walk. Psychomotor performance was significantly (P less than 0.05) better in a perceptual speed test both 30 and 60 min after anaesthesia in patients receiving saline as compared to those given droperidol. It is concluded that although droperidol is a less effective antiemetic after outpatient than after inpatient enflurane anaesthesia, small doses of droperidol may be used for outpatients prone to vomiting to prevent delayed discharge from the clinic due to prolonged vomiting.