Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of two approaches to sciatic nerve block.
This study compared the posterior and popliteal fossa approaches for sciatic nerve block. Patients scheduled to undergo foot surgery were allocated randomly into one of two groups: group A (n = 20) received sciatic nerve block via the posterior approach and group B (n = 20) received a block using the popliteal fossa approach. All blocks were performed with the aid of a peripheral nerve stimulator and alkalinised 0.5% bupivacaine with 1 in 200,000 adrenaline was injected in a dose of 2 mg.kg-1. ⋯ There was no significant difference between the groups in respect of time to onset or duration of block. Patients in group B reported less discomfort during performance of the sciatic nerve block but required supplementary nerve blocks more frequently. We recommend the use of the posterior approach for sciatic nerve block.
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Oxygen saturation and cardiovascular changes during fibreoptic intubation under general anaesthesia.
Sixty patients who required fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation were studied. Arterial oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure and heart rate were monitored continuously during fibreoptic intubation under deep halothane anaesthesia. ⋯ Almost one third of the patients (18 out of 60) suffered a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation below 90% during the intubation sequence and in five patients the saturation fell below 80%. The episodes of desaturation were not related to the induction-intubation time or to the grade of laryngeal visibility at direct laryngoscopy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pipecuronium versus high dose vecuronium. I. A comparison of speed of onset and cumulation during isoflurane anaesthesia.
The onset time and tendency to cumulation of pipecuronium and high-dose vecuronium were studied during nitrous oxide anaesthesia supplemented with isoflurane. Pipecuronium 0.06 mg.kg-1 had a similar duration of action to vecuronium 0.015 mg.kg-1 (42 vs 49 min). Patients who received vecuronium had a shorter onset time of neuromuscular blockade (p less than 0.01). The use of pipecuronium was associated with marked cumulation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pipecuronium versus high dose vecuronium. II. A comparison of speed of onset and cumulation during propofol anaesthesia.
The onset time and tendency to cumulation of pipecuronium and high-dose vecuronium were compared during nitrous oxide anaesthesia supplemented with a propofol infusion. Pipecuronium 0.06 mg.kg-1 had a similar duration of action to vecuronium 0.2 mg.kg-1 (49 vs 43). Patients who received vecuronium had a shorter onset time of neuromuscular blockade (p less than 0.01). Neither pipecuronium nor vecuronium showed marked cumulation.