Anaesthesia
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Review Meta Analysis
Peri-operative intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate and postoperative pain: a meta-analysis.
Intravenous magnesium has been reported to improve postoperative pain; however, the evidence is inconsistent. The objective of this quantitative systematic review is to evaluate whether or not the peri-operative administration of intravenous magnesium can reduce postoperative pain. ⋯ Numeric pain scores at rest and on movement at 24 h postoperatively were reduced by 4.2 (95% CI -6.3 to -2.1; p < 0.0001) and 9.2 (95% CI -16.1 to -2.3; p = 0.009) out of 100, respectively. We conclude that peri-operative intravenous magnesium reduces opioid consumption, and to a lesser extent, pain scores, in the first 24 h postoperatively, without any reported serious adverse effects.
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Major trauma is a leading cause of death and disability in the UK, particularly in the young. Pre-hospital emergency medicine (PHEM) involves provision of immediate medical care to critically ill and injured patients, across all age ranges, often in environments that may be remote and are not only physically challenging but also limited in terms of time and resources. PHEM is now a GMC-recognised subspecialty of anaesthesia or emergency medicine and the first recognised training program in the UK commenced in August 2012. This article discusses subspeciality development in PHEM, the competency based framework for training in PHEM, and the provision of pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia.
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The purpose of this study was to assess whether applying dorsal table tilt to a seated parturient positioned for neuraxial anaesthesia (i.e. facing laterally with her legs over the side of the table) increased the size of the target area for the neuraxial needle. We performed lumbar ultrasonography on 20 pregnant women with the table level (0°) and tilted 8° and 15° dorsally. For each position, the size of the 'target area', defined as the visible length of the ligamentum flavum in the longitudinal paramedian view, and the interlaminar distance, were measured at the L3-4 interspace. ⋯ Interlaminar distances were not significantly increased. These data show that using dorsal table tilt in obstetric patients increases the target area for neuraxial needles. Additional research is required to assess whether this eases the placement of neuraxial needles in clinical practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomised controlled trial of dexmedetomidine for suspension laryngoscopy.
We randomly allocated 80 patients to intravenous dexmedetomidine (0.25, 0.5, or 1 μg.kg(-1) ) or placebo 15 min before anaesthetic induction. Dexmedetomidine 0.5 and 1.0 μg.kg(-1) significantly reduced the mean (95% CI) propofol effect-site concentrations by 0.83 (0.63-1.03) μg.ml(-1) , p = 0.001 and 1.29 (1.12-1.46) μg.ml(-1) , p = 0.0003 at intubation, by 1.05 (0.85-1.25 μg.ml(-1) , p = 0.0006 and 1.33 (1.15-1.51) μg.ml(-1) , p = 0.0002 when surgery started, and by 0.59 (0.39-0.79) μg.ml(-1) , p = 0.030 and 0.72 (0.57-0.87) μg.ml(-1) , p = 0.004 on completion of surgery, respectively. ⋯ Bradycardia was treated after dexmedetomidine in six patients: five after 1.0 μg.kg(-1) ; and one after 0.25 μg.kg(-1). Single-dose dexmedetomidine can reduce anaesthetic requirements, with both desirable and undesirable haemodynamic effects.
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In this, the second of two articles covering specific medical emergencies, we discuss the definitions, epidemiology, pathophysiology, acute and chronic management of pulmonary embolus and acute severe asthma.