Anaesthesia
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The effects of a sedative infusion of propofol on haemodynamics and oxygen transport were examined in critically ill adult patients. Ten patients receiving mechanical ventilation for treatment of septic shock and respiratory failure were given a decreasing rate propofol infusion designed to achieve and maintain a stable sedation level. ⋯ There were no significant changes in cardiac output, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption or arterial blood lactate concentrations. Controlled propofol sedation is well tolerated in appropriately monitored and resuscitated critically ill adult patients, and appears to have no major effects on whole-body oxygen transport.
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Comparative Study
Continuous regional analgesia in comparison with intravenous opioid administration for routine postoperative pain control.
This study compares retrospectively the postoperative analgesia provided via intravenous opioids with continuous regional techniques (interpleural and epidural infusions) administered as a clinical routine by an anaesthesia-based Acute Pain Service. In 2630 patients no severe complications resulting in morbidity or mortality occurred; the rate of potentially serious complications was in the 0.5% range and comparable between the techniques. ⋯ Patient satisfaction with these techniques was higher than with intravenous opioid administration. In conclusion, continuous regional analgesia in a routine clinical setting is comparable to intravenous opioid administration with regard to safety, but results in significantly better analgesia with fewer side effects.
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We describe the effect of repeated suxamethonium doses during propofol-fentanyl-N2O/O2 anaesthesia in a 29-year-old woman with active myasthenia gravis receiving chronic pyridostigmine therapy. Despite adequate pre-operative pseudocholinesterase activity, suxamethonium resistance occurred. Neither bradycardia nor residual neuromuscular block were seen after repeated doses of suxamethonium.