Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Comparative StudyComparative histopathology of epidural hydrogel and silicone elastomer catheters following 30 and 180 days implant in the ewe.
New catheter materials, termed Hydrogels, have been developed recently that are stiff until exposed to hydration. The purpose of this study was to compare the 30 and 180 day histopathology of catheters composed of a common silicone elastomer versus a Hydrogel elastomer blend (HEB). Epidural catheters composed of either silicone or HEB were implanted in 19 yearling ewes for either 30 or 180 days. ⋯ The HEB catheter was easily inserted with standard epidural needles facilitated by the inherent stiffness of the catheter prior to hydration. HEB catheters remained patent throughout 30 days of saline injections per implanted ports. Silicone catheters demonstrated increased fibrosis relative to the HEB catheter material in the epidural space and in subcutaneous tissue.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of prior administration of succinylcholine on duration of action of vecuronium during enflurane anaesthesia.
The effects of succinylcholine, which was given to facilitate tracheal intubation on the duration of action of subsequently administered vecuronium bromide, were evaluated in 54 adult patients who underwent abdominal surgeries under enflurane anaesthesia. The electromyographic response to train-of-four ulnar nerve stimulation was measured. Twenty-seven patients received 1 mg.kg-1 of succinylcholine, followed by 0.15 mg.kg-1 of vecuronium when the electromyographic response recovered to 50% of control after succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular blockade. ⋯ The duration of blockade induced by the initial 0.15 mg.kg-1 of vecuronium was 56.5 +/- 12.8 (mean +/- s.d.) min for the group with succinylcholine, and 58.5 +/- 21.5 min for the control group. In both groups, the average duration of four consecutive supplemental doses of vecuronium was approximately 35 min. No significant differences between groups were found in the duration of neuromuscular blockade induced by initial and supplemental doses of vecuronium.