Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The use of low-dose mivacurium to facilitate insertion of the laryngeal mask airway.
Ninety patients were assigned randomly in a double-blind manner to receive 0.9% sodium chloride, mivacurium 0.04 mg.kg-1 or mivacurium 0.08 mg.kg-1 intravenously, followed by propofol 2.5 mg.kg-1. A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted 90 s later. The LMA was positioned correctly during the first attempt in 87% of patients and this was not significantly altered by the use of mivacurium. ⋯ Patients were apnoeic for a mean (SD) time of 0.67 (0.72) min after propofol alone, compared with 1.72 (1.06) min and 3.05 (1.36) min in patients who also received mivacurium 0.04 and 0.08 mg.kg-1, respectively (p < 0.01). Patients who received mivacurium had a lower incidence of postoperative sore throat (24-30% vs. 53%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, low-dose mivacurium facilitates LMA insertion and decreases the incidence of postoperative sore throat.
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A study involving 2738 patients in 15 hospitals in the United Kingdom was undertaken to evaluate the effect of simple methods of pain assessment and management on postoperative pain. The study consisted of four parts: a survey of current practice in each hospital; a programme of education for staff and patients regarding pain and its management; the introduction of formal assessment and recording of pain and the use of a simple algorithm to allow more flexible, yet safe, provision of intermittent intramuscular opioid analgesia; and a repeat survey of practice. One hospital from each of the former health regions of England and Wales was selected for inclusion in the project. ⋯ Similar decreases were seen in the incidence of nausea and vomiting. There was also a slight reduction in the incidence of postoperative complications. This study shows that simple techniques for the management of postoperative pain are effective in reducing the incidence of pain both at rest and during movement and should form part of any acute pain management strategy.
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Pain on injection of propofol is a common problem, the cause of which remains unknown. The chemical properties and preparation of propofol, proposed mechanisms for the cause of the pain and clinical strategies to prevent pain on injection of propofol are reviewed in the hope of shedding some light on the subject.