Anaesthesia
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Comparative Study
The control of post-thoracotomy pain. A comparative evaluation of thoracic epidural fentanyl infusions and cryo-analgesia.
This is a comparative study of two methods to relieve postoperative thoracotomy pain. Continuous thoracic epidural infusion of fentanyl produced superior analgesia when compared with cryo-analgesia of the relevant thoracic nerves. ⋯ This difference was significant at p less than 0.001. Respiratory and cardiovascular measurements were similar in both groups and the only side effect attributable to the epidural fentanyl was itching but this was not a problem.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Epidural fentanyl for shaking in obstetrics.
This study assesses the efficacy of epidural fentanyl in the relief of shaking associated with epidural analgesia. Fifty mothers whose shaking was sufficient to cause distress were divided randomly to receive either fentanyl 25 micrograms in 5 ml sterile normal saline or 5 ml of saline through their in-situ epidural. Shaking stopped within 15 minutes in 18 out of 25 (72%) of those given fentanyl but in only 4 out of 25 (16%) of the saline group and this is statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Fentanyl can be recommended in this context.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cricoid pressure and the pressor response to tracheal intubation.
Forty healthy adults who underwent rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia were allocated randomly to receive either cricoid pressure or its stimulation. The anticipated increase in systolic arterial pressure and heart rate after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were not altered significantly by the application of cricoid pressure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
An evaluation of the incentive spirometer to improve lung function after cholecystectomy.
Forty patients who underwent elective cholecystectomy were allocated randomly to one of two groups. Patients in one group used an incentive spirometer as part of their postoperative chest physiotherapy; those in the other received routine postoperative physiotherapy as dictated by their needs. Each group contained equal numbers of smokers and nonsmokers, and the data from each group were analysed separately. The use of the incentive spirometer did not confer any benefits as judged by clinical evidence of pulmonary complications, pulmonary function tests or length of hospital stay.
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Biography Historical Article
The development of the anaesthetic vaporizer. The contribution of A.G. Levy.
The innovatory features incorporated into A. G. Levy's regulating chloroform inhaler, and their contribution to modern vaporizer design, are examined. Levy may be credited with the important realisation that the gas mixture which leaves the vaporizing chamber is fully saturated at all flow rates; with the concept of the splitting ratio; with appreciation of the importance of the application of Reynolds' researches on laminar and turbulent flow to the design of anaesthetic apparatus; and with the provision of a facility to compensate for changes of temperature in the vaporizing chamber.