British journal of anaesthesia
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The use of small endotracheal tubes reduces the trauma of intubation. Ventilator and tracheal pressures were measured during controlled ventilation with various tube dimensions and ventilation volumes. Ventilation with large volumes using small tracheal tubes results in high ventilator pressures. ⋯ Small endotracheal tubes and high ventilation volumes result in a positive tracheal pressure at the end of expiration. The measured end-expiratory pressures are within the limits which might be used therapeutically (in PEEP). The force required to reshape endotracheal tubes of varvious dimensions to an "anatomical" shape was related to the tube dimensions; the beneficial effects of performed, "anatomically shaped" endotracheal tubes can be achieved by using small tubes of standard design.
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Comparative Study
Extradural analgesia for caesarean section: a comparison with general anaesthesia.
Thirty-two patients received lumbar extradural anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section. The results obtained from this series were compared with those from a similar (control) group of parturients who received general anaesthesia. ⋯ Infants sustained respiration more rapidly after regional blockade, otherwise the clinical condition of the infants was similar with extradural and general anaesthesia. No advantage of conduction over general anaesthesia was evident from this study, with respect to the biochemical status of the infant at birth.
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The effect of Althesin, diazepam, ketamine, propanidid and thiopentone on the release of acetylcholine was tested at the mouse neuromuscular junction. Althesin, diazepam and thiopentone increased the quantal content of the end-plate potential. Ketamine at low concentration (3.6 micromol litre-1) had a similar effect, but at high concentration (116.7 micromol litre-1) quantal content decreased sharply. ⋯ The increase in quantal content antagonized the effect of postsynaptic depression on the amplitude of the end-plate potential. The lack of enhancement of acetylcholine release appears to explain the in vitro interaction of propanidid with tubocurarine. The diversity of presynaptic actions of these drugs makes it unlikely that this is an important mechanism in producing anaesthesia.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Comparison of diazepam and flunitrazepam as adjuncts to general anaesthesia in preventing arousal following surgical stimuli.
A comparison has been made between the effects of the administration of flunitrazepam 1 mg i.v. and diazepam 10 mg i.v. in 90 female patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The drugs were given immediately before the skin incision as a booster to the induction agent thiopentone. The response to the incision, the quality of anaesthesia and the need for supplementary medication during maintenance were monitored. ⋯ The frequency of nausea after operation was low. The post-anaesthesia interview revealed that flunitrazepam possesses a more specific anterograde amnesic action than diazepam. Acceptability of the anaesthesia to the patient was equally good in both groups.