Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of the 2% and 1% formulations of propofol during anaesthesia for craniotomy.
This study investigated the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic equivalence of 1% and 2% propofol emulsions when used for total intravenous anaesthesia for intracranial surgery. The same infusion rate (6.7 mg.kg-1 x h-1) of the two preparations was administered. Induction doses, recovery times, and haemodynamic profiles were identical. ⋯ Plasma triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher with the 1% solution, but there were no differences in cholesterol concentrations. The 1% and 2% emulsions appeared to be pharmacologically equivalent with similar minor effects on arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Two percent propofol may be preferable to the 1% solution for maintenance of anaesthesia in patients in whom a large lipid load might be considered undesirable.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Intra-articular morphine and bupivacaine analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery.
We assessed the effectiveness of intra-articular solutions of morphine, bupivacaine with adrenaline and a combination of both, compared with placebo in facilitating mobilisation and reducing postoperative pain and analgesic requirements for 24 h after operation. Forty patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery were studied in a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. ⋯ Morphine alone provided the best analgesia and significantly decreased analgesic consumption for 24 h after surgery. We conclude that 1 mg of intra-articular morphine provides effective pain relief following arthroscopic knee surgery and that the addition of bupivacaine is of no benefit.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of postoperative analgesia following spinal or epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section.
Postoperative analgesia, using a patient-controlled analgesia system, was studied in 32 women after elective Caesarean section performed under either spinal or epidural anaesthesia. Patients who had spinal anaesthesia had significantly higher pain scores and morphine consumption during the first 4 h postoperatively than patients who had epidural anaesthesia. ⋯ After 8 h there was little difference in pain scores or morphine use between the two groups. Total morphine consumption in the first 24 h postoperatively was not significantly different between the two groups.
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Postoperative nausea and vomiting is one of the most common complications of inpatient and day case surgical procedures. In a climate where total cost of an illness is becoming increasingly important, postoperative nausea and vomiting is a major contributor to direct and indirect costs for both the hospital and patient. ⋯ Postoperative nausea and vomiting is perceived by patients to account for equal or more debilitation than surgery itself and may cause them to lose wages due to absence from work. Reducing the incidence of nausea and vomiting and its associated problems may therefore provide opportunities to improve patient care, decrease the size of waiting lists and improve utilisation of scarce healthcare resources.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Postoperative pain relief in children. A comparison between caudal bupivacaine and intramuscular diclofenac sodium.
Two hundred and fifty children undergoing herniotomy or orchidopexy under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to receive pre-operatively either diclofenac sodium 1 mg.kg-1 given intramuscularly or a caudal injection of bupivacaine 0.25% 1 ml.kg-1 with or without adrenaline or no analgesia. Plasma diclofenac and beta-endorphin concentrations were determined in eight and 21 patients respectively. Postoperative pain was assessed by ward nurses who were blinded to the group allocation. ⋯ Caudal analgesia abolished the stress-induced increase in plasma beta-endorphin level which was found in the children given diclofenac and in those who served as controls. Total plasma clearance of intramuscular diclofenac sodium appears to be higher in children than in adults. A single intramuscular dose of diclofenac significantly reduces the need for an opioid analgesic in children after inguinal herniotomy or orchidopexy, and owing to its long duration of action, it offers an alternative or complementary method of pain relief to caudal analgesia.