British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Extradural analgesia in labour: complications of three techniques of administration.
We have studied the complications associated with three techniques used to maintain extradural analgesia in labour: midwife top-up doses of 0.25% bupivacaine 10 ml, continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine 10 ml h-1 and patient-controlled extradural analgesia (PCEA) with self-administered 3-ml bolus doses of 0.25% bupivacaine. A significantly higher intervention rate by an anaesthetist was required in the continuous infusion group. ⋯ Uneventful hypotension occurred in three women; two receiving PCEA and one receiving continuous infusion. Ten women experienced sensory blocks extending above T7 with no ill effects; seven receiving PCEA and three continuous infusion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Assessment of intubating conditions in children after induction with propofol and varying doses of alfentanil.
We have assessed tracheal intubating conditions in 60 ASA I or II children, aged 3-12 yr, after induction of anaesthesia with alfentanil 5, 10 or 15 micrograms kg-1, followed by an induction dose of propofol. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not given. ⋯ Intubation was successful in 70%, 95% and 95% of patients after alfentanil 5, 10 or 15 micrograms kg-1, respectively, and conditions were considered to be excellent in 20%, 70% and 80% of patients, respectively. Side effects included pain on injection of propofol (27%), excitatory movements (5%) and bradycardia (1.7%).
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Comparative Study
Neuromuscular and haemodynamic effects of mivacurium in elderly and young adult patients.
We have studied the neuromuscular effects of mivacurium and changes in heart rate and arterial pressure in 40 elderly (aged 70 yr) and 20 young adult (aged 18-40 yr) patients anaesthetized with thiopentone, fentanyl, nitrous oxide in oxygen and halothane. Neuromuscular block was monitored by train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve and recording of the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis muscle using a force displacement transducer and a neuromuscular function analyser (Myograph 2000, Biometer Ltd). Twenty elderly and 10 young adults received single doses of mivacurium 0.15 mg kg-1 and spontaneous recovery was recorded. ⋯ Onset of maximum block occurred at a mean time of 122 (SD 32) and 125 (49) s in elderly and young adults, respectively. Recovery of T1 to 25% occurred in 22.0 (5.7) and 17.2 (4.4) min, and T1 to 90% in 32.8 (6.9) and 24.4 (5.8) min in elderly and adult subjects, respectively. Recovery of the TOF ratio to 0.7 occurred in 32.8 (7.1) and 26.0 (15.0) min in the elderly and young subjects, respectively (all P < 0.05 between young and elderly).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Comparative Study
Tracheal intubation in a manikin: comparison of supine and left lateral positions.
Tracheal intubation in the left lateral position may be necessary in some circumstances. Using a manikin we demonstrated that anaesthetic trainees found tracheal intubation in the left lateral position was more difficult and took longer than in the supine position. However, the time to successful tracheal intubation decreased with practice, indicating the presence of a learning curve. We suggest that tracheal intubation in the left lateral position should become part of training in the management of the difficult airway.