Der Anaesthesist
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Propofol and postoperative nausea and/or vomiting].
The objective of this prospective, randomised study was to investigate the incidence of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV) during the first 24 h postoperatively. For a quality assurance study on PONV, we compared two established general anaesthetic procedures in 239 patients undergoing four different types of surgery (subtotal thyroidectomy, laparotomy for gynaecological procedures, laparoscopy, and surgery for extra-abdominal procedures). ⋯ We found that the antiemetic effect of propofol was considerable in the early postoperative period. The higher cost of propofol as compared to other induction agents can be covered by not using nitrous oxide for maintenance of anaesthesia and by the decreased need for antiemetic drugs postoperatively. According to the calculations of our clinical pharmacy, the costs of the propofol infusion regimen exceeded those of balanced anaesthesia by 8.50 DM/h; the need for antiemetics was one-half that of the non-propofol group. Considering a cost of 16 DM for cleaning the bed after vomiting, improvement of the patient's condition during the postoperative period can be achieved without additional expense.
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Effects of anaesthesia and analgesia on postoperative morbidity and mortality remain controversial. Numerous studies have demonstrated that epidural anaesthesia and pain relief by epidural analgesia reduces perioperative stress responses and thus may reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. In patients undergoing vascular surgery, epidural anaesthesia diminished postoperative hypercoagulability. ⋯ One reason for this disappointing finding may be the missing integration of improved postoperative pain relief into general surgical care. A multimodal therapeutic approach, which consists of preoperative patient information, sufficient analgesia, early mobilisation and enteral feeding, may solve this discrepancy. Therefore, prospective controlled studies are needed to assess the influence of this perioperative approach on outcome.
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Postoperative neurological sequelae in patients that have received epidural anaesthesia are not necessarily caused by the epidural anaesthetic technique. As a whole, adverse neurological outcomes following epidural anaesthesia may be subdivided into 3 different ethiological categories. A first category involves events that are not at all caused by the epidural, but merely due to the interference of anaesthesia and/or surgery with a preexisting medical condition. ⋯ These complications include some of the most dramatic sequelae of major neuraxial blockade, such as spinal epidural abscess, spinal infarction, and spinal hematoma. Although extremely rare, the latter complications often result in permanent major neurological deficits. The present manuscript is a review of the most recent, literature addressing post-anaesthetic sequelae, and will discuss their incidence, pathophysiology, clinical course, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
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Until today, the use of epidural analgesia in obstetrics still remains controversial. In the opinion of many obstetricians the use of an epidural for a healthy laboring parturient is not necessary and can lead to potentially harmful side effects. However, painful labor leads to a maternal stress reaction with the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine. ⋯ Several studies show that epidural analgesia can attenuate the maternal stress reaction and thereby improve maternal and fetal well-being, as long as precautions are taken. The avoidance of maternal hypotension with sufficient volume preload with lactated Ringer's solution or colloids, and decreasing the concentration of local anaesthetics by adding opioids will prevent an increase in instrumental deliveries. With the use of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) the amount of local anaesthetics can even further be reduced.
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The administration of epidural opioids is alternatively used in the management of postoperative analgesia. However, the administration is associated with side effects, including respiratory depression, somnolence and pruritus. A rational opioid selection between the hydrophilic and lipophilic opioids morphine, hydromorphone, alfentanil, fentanyl and sufentanil is discussed in this mini-review. ⋯ The same holds true for alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists as adjuvants. However, multicenter dose-ranging studies are necessary to determine both the ideal concentrations of the drug combinations and the general outcome. Moreover, we must also determine cost effectiveness for our postoperative analgesic techniques.