British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of the extradural administration of lofentanil, buprenorphine or saline in the management of postoperative pain. A double-blind study.
Sixty postoperative orthopaedic patients were randomly assigned to three equal groups to study, in a double-blind fashion, the analgesic effects, durations of action and side effects of the extradural administration of lofentanil 5 micrograms, buprenorphine 0.3 mg or physiological saline. No systemic analgesics were given before, during or after surgery, and all the patients had operations on the lower extremities under extradural analgesia (lignocaine and bupivacaine). ⋯ We observed a long duration of action and a marked analgesic effect with lofentanil, a shorter duration of action and less pain suppression with buprenorphine and a rather marked placebo effect after saline. The only side effect noticed in this study was drowsiness in three patients in the lofentanil group and in two patients in the buprenorphine group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A double-blind study of motor blockade in the lower limbs. Studies during spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric and glucose-free 0.5% bupivacaine.
Sensory and motor blockade were studied double-blind during spinal anaesthesia in 20 urology patients who received 0.5% bupivacaine solution 4 ml with or without glucose. Using a new method for determining muscle strength, motor blockade during anaesthesia was recorded quantitatively for flexion of the hip, extension of the knee and plantar flexion of the big toe. Movements of the lower part of the thoracic cage were recorded at the same time. ⋯ Thoracic movements (maximal inspiration to normal expiration) did not appear to be notably influenced by the level of analgesia. Complete regression of motor blockade was not observed for any of the movements at grade O of a modified Bromage scale. Not until 1.5-2 h after the attainment of this grade was the muscle strength of all movements restored (90% of control value).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Spinal anaesthesia with 0.75% bupivacaine and 0.5% amethocaine in 5% glucose.
Three millititre of 0.75% plain bupivacaine and 0.5% amethocaine 3 ml in 5% glucose were used for spinal anaesthesia and compared in a double-blind study of 20 patients undergoing urological surgery. The onset time to maximum cephalad spread of sensory analgesia was approximately 45 min for bupivacaine and approximately 30 min in the amethocaine group (ns). The mean maximum spread of sensory analgesia was similar for both agents: T6-7 180 min after injection, although the cephalad spread of sensory analgesia with bupivacaine persisted for longer at a significantly higher level than that of amethocaine. ⋯ Onset time to complete motor blockade of the lower limbs was similar for both agents. Nine of 10 bupivacaine patients and seven of the 10 patients receiving amethocaine had complete motor blockade of the lower limbs. Duration of motor blockade was significantly longer for all degrees in the bupivacaine group.
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The effects of the cutaneous application of EMLA cream (a eutectic mixture of lignocaine and prilocaine in their base form) were studied in volunteers. When tested by pin-prick, EMLA cream 2.5% and 5% produced analgesia of the area tested, the cream being most effective if left in contact with the skin for 60 min. ⋯ Tests for delayed hypersensitivity reactions were negative. Plasma concentrations of lignocaine and prilocaine were low after a standard application.