Anaesthesia
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Paravertebral analgesia is highly effective in blocking unilateral afferent input from the trunk, but its bilateral use does not appear to have been described. Eight patients undergoing major abdominal vascular surgery had pre-operative bilateral paravertebral catheters inserted. A dose of 25 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% divided between the two catheters provided the basis of an effective intra-operative analgesic regimen which was continued postoperatively by infusion of bupivacaine for 4 days. ⋯ Three patients were not admitted to the intensive care unit, where mean stays for the group was 10 h (range 0-24 h) and mean hospital stay was 10 days (range 7-14). There were no additional demands made on the nursing staff and no postoperative pain-related complications occurred. We conclude that bilateral paravertebral analgesia, as part of a balanced analgesic technique, is an alternative method of providing effective afferent blockage for major abdominal surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Metoclopramide and prochlorperazine do not decrease propofol hypnotic requirements.
One hundred patients scheduled for minor surgery were given either saline, metoclopramide 0.1 mg.kg-1 or 0.2 mg.kg-1, or prochlorperazine 0.1 mg.kg-1 or 0.2 mg.kg-1 before induction of anaesthesia with a fixed rate infusion of propofol. Neither metoclopramide nor prochlorperazine reduced the induction dose of propofol. The possibility that these agents increased the induction dose could not be excluded.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of the reinforced laryngeal mask airway and tracheal intubation for nasal surgery.
Airway maintenance and protection during anaesthesia and recovery provided by the reinforced laryngeal mask airway was compared with the sequential use of a tracheal tube followed by the Guedel airway in 66 patients having anaesthesia for nasal surgery. One patient was withdrawn from the laryngeal mask group because the airway was difficult to position. All patients had an oropharyngeal pack inserted and Moffett's solution instilled into the nasal cavities. ⋯ Contamination of the lower airway occurred in only five patients. During recovery from anaesthesia the laryngeal mask and Guedel airway were well tolerated by most patients, but only the mask laryngeal provided an unobstructed airway in all patients. The laryngeal mask protects the larynx from contamination during and after operation until the return of the patient's own protective reflexes.
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Letter Case Reports
Suxamethonium-related hyperkalaemic cardiac arrest in intensive care.