British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Influence of preoperative gastric aspiration on the volume and pH of gastric contents in obstetric patients undergoing caesarean section.
Aspiration of gastric contents, the most common anaesthetic cause of maternal mortality, is decreased by emptying of the stomach and the use of antacids and H2-receptor antagonists. One hundred and eighty-three mothers presenting for emergency Cesarean section were allocated to three groups. In group 1, the stomach was emptied before operation via an orogastric tube and thereafter 30 ml of sodium citrate 0.3 mol litre-1 was ingested 5-15 min before induction of general anaesthesia (our usual practice). ⋯ However, the use of ranitidine and sodium citrate is preferred at subsequent times. Although our data show that preoperative gastric emptying decreased the mean intragastric volumes before Caesarean section, the number of patients at risk of acid aspiration was not reduced. In view of these findings and the unpleasantness of orogastric intubation, we suggest that routine preoperative gastric aspiration via an orogastric tube is not justified, although the manoeuvre should still be used following a recent meal.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Doxacurium chloride: a preliminary clinical trial.
The onset, duration of action and reversibility of doxacurium were studied in 27 anaesthetized patients, using doses of 37.5 micrograms kg-1 (1.5 x ED95) and 62.5 micrograms kg-1 (2.5 x ED95). Onset was slow and, whilst tracheal intubation was always possible 3 or 4 min after injection, the conditions were not ideal. With the higher dose a mean 97.6 (SD 5.2)% block of the response of adductor pollicis to ulnar nerve stimulation was obtained in 9.85 (6.17) min and recovery of the integrated EMG response to 20% of control took 102 min (42 min). ⋯ Antagonism of block with edrophonium 1 mg kg-1, whilst fast in onset, was rarely complete; with neostigmine 50 micrograms kg-1 antagonism was satisfactory. No adverse haemodynamic effect was seen, although a gradual onset of bradycardia, which responded to atropine or glycopyrrolate, was noted in 12 of the patients. No histamine release or other adverse effects were noted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of prolonged sedation with propofol on serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations.
We compared changes in serum lipid concentrations in ICU patients receiving a 3-day continuous infusion of propofol with those in patients receiving conventional sedation. No adverse effects were observed and the serum lipid concentrations were not significantly influenced by propofol. It is concluded that propofol might be a suitable agent for long-term sedation in the ICU, although serum lipid concentrations should be monitored throughout its administration.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Alfentanil obtunds the cardiovascular and sympathoadrenal responses to suxamethonium-facilitated laryngoscopy and intubation.
Alfentanil 75 micrograms kg-1 or saline (control group) was given 1 min before induction of anaesthesia in 20 healthy patients premedicated with diazepam 0.14 mg kg-1 and pethidine 1 mg kg-1. Anaesthesia was induced with a sleep dose of thiopentone preceded by glycopyrrolate. Suxamethonium 1 mg kg-1 was used to facilitate laryngoscopy (which lasted 10 s) and tracheal intubation. ⋯ All these changes were attenuated in patients pretreated with alfentanil (n = 10), but four patients had chest wall rigidity. Changes in the QT interval correlated directly with the changes in plasma noradrenaline concentration (r = 0.67). Plasma adrenaline concentrations decreased during induction of anaesthesia in both groups.