Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Dexamethasone added to local lidocaine for infiltration along the spinal-epidural needle pathway decreases incidence and severity of backache after gynecological surgery.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone added to local lidocaine infiltration on incidence and severity of backache after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for gynecological surgery. ⋯ Addition of dexamethasone to local lidocaine infiltration effectively decreases the incidence and severity of back pain after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia implemented for gynecological surgery.
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No research group has ever investigated the level of kinesiophobia in a well defined group of preoperative patients treated due to cervical discopathy and degenerative spine disease, confirmed by X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. We aimed to investigate the degree of kinesiophobia and the differences in pain-related and psychosocial characteristics between patients with high and low levels of kinesiophobia, in relation to factors commonly associated with neck pain. ⋯ Kinesiophobia levels are higher in patients with chronic cervical pain before surgical treatment. Fear of movement tends to be higher in women and among patients avoiding sports recreation before surgical treatment. Although sports activity and socio-demographic data are predictors of kinesiophobia, psychological, pain-related, and clinical data are not. These findings should be considered when planning rehabilitation after surgical treatment of cervical discopathy and coexisting degenerative changes.
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Comparative Study
Performance characteristics of seven bilevel mechanical ventilators in pressure-support mode with different cycling criteria: a comparative bench study.
Pressure support ventilation from a bilevel device is a standard technique for non-invasive home ventilation. A bench study was designed to compare the performance and patient-ventilator synchronization of 7 bilevel ventilators, in the presence of system leaks. ⋯ Performance and triggering workload varied significantly between bilevel ventilators, possibly due to software algorithm differences. Adjusting the cycling criteria settings can alter the shape of the inspiratory phase and peak expiratory flow, and improve patient-ventilator synchrony.
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Ketamine in subanesthetic dose added to butorphanol has been reported to give superior pain control when used for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after surgery. However, this admixture is not available commercially and stability data applicable to hospital practice are limited. ⋯ The results indicate that the drug mixtures of butorphanol and ketamine in 0.9% sodium chloride injection were stable for 15 days when stored in polyolefin bags at 4°C, 25°C, or 37°C.
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This study quantified the effects of heat, cold, and pressure on the median nerve and transverse carpal ligament in subjects without carpal tunnel syndrome. ⋯ Application of cold to the hand may reduce compression of the carpal ligament and nerve.