British journal of anaesthesia
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We have examined, under reproducible conditions, the resistance to airflow of complete anaesthetic breathing systems (Magill, Coaxial Lack, Parallel Lack and Bain systems) and components of these systems. All systems had resistances within the recommended ranges at all flows likely to be experienced in normal clinical practice. The Magill system had the lowest resistance under all conditions. It is concluded that comparisons should be made only between complete breathing systems.
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This paper describes the development of a microprocessor controlled anaesthetic machine comprising an integrated anaesthetic apparatus and monitoring system. Following prolonged reliability trials in the laboratory, changes have been made to major components which were described in earlier publications.
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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.