British journal of anaesthesia
-
We have investigated the incidence of throat complaints 6-24 h after tracheal intubation in 1325 patients. Variables such as anaesthetic drug, intubation time, number of intubation attempts, gastric tube, sex and age were recorded. The incidence of sore throat was considerably lower (14.4%) compared with other reports in the literature and was significantly greater in females (17.0% vs 9.0%) and after thyroid surgery. The incidence of sore throat was not increased after multiple intubation attempts or after administration of suxamethonium or a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker.
-
We studied 60 children undergoing neurosurgical procedures in the sitting position. Routine monitoring included ECG, pulse oximetry, invasive arterial pressure, in particular mean arterial pressure (MAP), and right atrial pressure (RAP). Children were allocated to two groups. ⋯ Inflation of the MAST suit induced a dramatic increase in RAP and JBVP, reinforced by addition of PEEP. There was a strong positive relationship between RAP and JBVP. There were no deleterious side effects or differences between the two groups in peroperative blood product requirements or surgical general conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
-
We have studied in 12 healthy male volunteers the effects of three different body positions (10 degrees head-down tilt, horizontal supine and supine with 50-cm leg elevation from the hip) on the spectral components of heart rate and finger plethysmographic amplitude variability. We have demonstrated the absence of any statistically significant difference in any measure of variability in the time of frequency domain for both of these measures between the three positions. We conclude that neither leg elevation nor 10 degrees head-down tilt is associated with any significant alteration in the dominant parasympathetic cardiac control in comparison with the resting supine position.
-
We describe a miniature electrochemically driven, wrist-worn infusion pump. Generation of gas by an electrolytic reaction compresses a reservoir containing medication and provides a predictable and controllable infusion rate. ⋯ This portable system, using a novel motive force, has advantages of convenience over larger systems and has sophisticated features not present in existing small systems. It has potential as a routine PCA device and it may have uses in other situations requiring convenient infusion or intermittent injection in an ambulatory setting.