Paediatric anaesthesia
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2001
Clinical TrialA novel thermoregulatory system maintains perioperative normothermia in children undergoing elective surgery.
Body heat loss during anaesthesia may result in increased morbidity, particularly in high-risk populations such as children. To avoid hypothermia, a novel thermoregulatory system (Allon) was devised. We tested the safety and efficacy of this system in maintaining normothermia in children undergoing routine surgical procedures. ⋯ Perioperative thermoregulation using the Allon system is safe and effective in maintaining body temperature within a narrow range in children undergoing brief surgical procedures.
-
The pressures exerted on fragile structures in the infant during epidural injections have never been studied previously. ⋯ The residual pressures seem to vary more with the volume injected than the rate of injection or the pressures developed during the injection. The relationship between the rate of injection and pressures is significant when compared with adults where the pressures have been measured after an injection rate of 1 ml.s(-1) and 1 ml.5 s(-1). This is a very fast rate compared with our rates of injection of 1 ml over 1 and 2 min. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend a rate of 1 ml.2 min(-1) in infants. In neonates, a slower rate of injection would be preferable.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPrevention of vomiting after strabismus surgery in children: dexamethasone alone versus dexamethasone plus low-dose ondansetron.
Postoperative vomiting is a common complication after strabismus surgery. The combination of dexamethasone and ondansetron decreases vomiting after strabismus surgery, while dexamethasone alone decreases vomiting after tonsillectomy in children. We compared the effect of dexamethasone alone to ondansetron plus dexamethasone on postoperative vomiting among children undergoing strabismus surgery. ⋯ There was a remarkably low incidence of postoperative vomiting of 5%; with the combination of dexamethasone plus a low-dose of ondansetron which more effectively decreased vomiting after strabismus surgery in children when compared with dexamethasone alone.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe efficacy of oral clonidine premedication in the prevention of postoperative vomiting in children following strabismus surgery.
We evaluated the efficacy of clonidine given orally preoperatively for preventing postoperative vomiting (POV) in children undergoing propofol-nitrous oxide anaesthesia for strabismus surgery. Sixty children, ASA physical status I, aged 2-12 years, received diazepam, 0.4 mg x kg(-1) or clonidine, 4 microg x kg(-1) (n=30 each) orally, in a randomized double-blind manner. ⋯ No clinically adverse event was observed in any of the groups. In summary, pretreatment with oral clonidine enhances the antiemetic efficacy of propofol for the prevention of POV after paediatric strabismus surgery.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialMorphine with or without a local anaesthetic for postoperative intrathecal pain treatment after selective dorsal rhizotomy in children.
Selective dorsal rhizotomy is a surgical procedure with a selective division of posterior spinal nerve rootlets to treat spasticity in children. The extensive surgical procedure with multilevel laminectomies and the nerve root manipulation result in intense pain postoperatively. Two intrathecal (IT) regimes of pain treatment were compared in these children, concerning their pain relief and possible side-effects. ⋯ Bupivacaine/morphine resulted in a lower, but not significant, difference in pruritus and lower muscle spasm. Haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters did not differ between the groups. Intrathecal continuous infusion of bupivacaine and morphine was superior to intermittent morphine in the treatment of pain after selective dorsal rhizotomy operations.