British journal of anaesthesia
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of transdermal hyoscine on nausea and vomiting after surgical correction of prominent ears under general anaesthesia.
In a double-blind, randomized study, we have compared the efficacy of transdermal hyoscine with placebo in the reduction of nausea and vomiting in 50 patients, ASA I-II, after surgical correction of prominent ears under general anaesthesia. In the placebo group, 28%, 4% and 48% of patients suffered nausea, retching and vomiting, respectively, during the first 24 h after anaesthesia. ⋯ In the placebo group more patients (48%) needed droperidol as an antiemetic compared with the hyoscine group (16%; P < 0.05). There was significantly more sedation in the hyoscine group.
-
We describe a patient who had a cardiac arrest during anaesthesia, in whom regional cerebral oxygen saturation was being measured by near infrared spectroscopy and the auditory evoked responses (AER) were being recorded. Both of these monitors provided useful information on cerebral oxygenation during cardiac arrest. Changes in the AER as the result of either reduced circulation or hypothermia are similar, and should these two situations occur simultaneously there could be difficulty in the interpretation of the AER.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of amethocaine gel applied topically before venous cannulation in adults.
We have assessed in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, the efficacy and safety of an amethocaine gel preparation for alleviating the pain of venous cannulation. Forty-two unpremedicated adult patients were allocated randomly to receive either amethocaine gel 1 g (4% w/w) or placebo gel 1 g applied to the dorsum of the hand for 40 min before venous cannulation. ⋯ Slight erythema associated with amethocaine occurred in one patient and slight itching in two patients. No other adverse features were evident.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
I.v. tenoxicam for analgesia during caesarean section.
We have studied the analgesic efficacy of a single i.v. dose of tenoxicam 20 mg, given 10 min before induction of anaesthesia in 25 patients undergoing elective Caesarean section. Another group of 25 similar patients served as controls. Nalbuphine consumption in the first 24 h after operation was reduced by 50% when tenoxicam was given. ⋯ The surgeon's assessment of uterine relaxation and bleeding, using a visual analogue score, and infant well-being, as judged by Apgar score and cord blood-gas analysis, showed no significant difference between the two groups. There was no evidence of premature closure of the ductus arteriosus or pulmonary hypertension. We conclude that a single i.v. dose of tenoxicam is a useful pretreatment to minimize the haemodynamic variability of light general anaesthesia at induction-delivery and in reducing 24 h postoperative opioid consumption.