Anaesthesia
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pethidine compared with meptazinol during labour. A prospective randomised double-blind study in 1100 patients.
A randomised double-blind comparison of pethidine and meptazinol used as analgesics in labour was carried out in 1,100 consecutive women who would normally have received intramuscular pethidine. Pain assessments at 30-minute intervals were made independently by patients and midwives. Maternal and neonatal side effects were noted. ⋯ There was no difference in the analgesia provided by the two drugs; the pattern of side effects was similar, but the incidence of vomiting was greater following meptazinol administration. The babies in the two groups were similar with respect to resuscitation received, weight gains or losses and the incidence of clinical neonatal jaundice. The most striking findings were the poor quality of pain relief experienced by both groups following parenteral analgesics and the high incidence of side effects.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Quality of axillary brachial plexus block. Comparison of success rate using perivascular and nerve stimulator techniques.
A perivascular catheter technique (PVT) and a nerve stimulator technique (NST) for axillary brachial plexus block were compared in terms of quality: complete, incomplete or failed blocks. In a randomised series, 30 PVT blocks and 30 NST blocks were performed by three staff anaesthetists. ⋯ In both groups eight patients needed supplementation with additional conduction blocks of 1-3 peripheral nerves. It is concluded that a nerve stimulator technique may increase the success rate of axillary brachial plexus block to some extent.
-
The case histories of two patients who required the insertion of intratracheal stents are presented. The peroperative anaesthetic management of one case included the use of high frequency jet ventilation of the lungs; in the other case, partial cardiopulmonary bypass was used. The advantages and disadvantages of these two methods are discussed.