Anaesthesia
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The vapour pressures of static mixtures of halothane and trichloroethylene and the output of the two vapours from an Oxford Miniature Vaporizer filled with mixtures of the two liquids have been studied. In a small pilot study, a mixture of halothane and trichloroethylene was used for drawover anaesthesia in patients having minor surgery; this seems to work satisfactorily and may have some limited applications.
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The accuracy of the Nellcor N-101 pulse oximeter has been evaluated in adult patients receiving general anaesthesia or intensive care. Readings obtained noninvasively with this instrument were compared with measurements made on arterial blood using a Radiometer OSM2 oximeter. The pulse oximeter was easy to use and within the range tested (70-100 percent saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen) the readings were within I digit of the values obtained by in vitro measurement.
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A patient with Friedreich's ataxia was anaesthetised on two occasions. The neuromuscular blocking agent was atracurium 0.5 mg/kg on the first occasion and tubocurarine 0.5 mg/kg on the second. ⋯ This patient did not demonstrate an abnormal response to either relaxant; the operating conditions were satisfactory and recovery was not delayed. These drugs may be safely used in this condition provided that monitoring is adequate.