British journal of anaesthesia
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Absence of an early pre-emptive effect after thoracic extradural bupivacaine in thoracic surgery.
We have determined if thoracic extradural block before surgical incision for thoracotomy produces pre-emptive analgesia. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 45 patients (ASA II-III) undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy for lung resection were randomized to one of three groups: group 1 received 0.5% bupivacaine and adrenaline 1/200,000 (B+E) 8 ml through a thoracic extradural catheter (tip T3-T5) 30 min before skin incision and saline 8 ml 15 min after skin incision; group 2 received saline 8 ml extradurally before incision and B+E 8 ml after incision; group 3 received saline 8 ml extradurally before and after incision. General anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol, alfentanil and atracurium. ⋯ There was no significant difference between groups, either in PCEA requirements (P > 0.21) or in VAS scores (either at rest, during mobilization of the ipsilateral arm of surgery or after cough). No significant differences between groups were found in the VRS. Thoracic extradural block with bupivacaine did not produce an early preemptive effect after thoracotomy.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A double-blind comparison of 0.25% ropivacaine and 0.25% bupivacaine for extradural analgesia in labour.
Ropivacaine is a new aminoamide local anaesthetic. Compared with bupivacaine, ropivacaine possesses a higher threshold for systemic toxicity and a high selectivity for sensory fibres. We have compared prospectively these two agents in a concentration of 0.25% for extradural analgesia in labour. ⋯ The ropivacaine group had a higher incidence of spontaneous vaginal delivery (70.59% vs 52.00%). There was no significant difference in neonatal outcome as assessed by Apgar scores, umbilical acid-base status and neurological and adaptive capacity score at 2 and 24 h after delivery. We conclude that ropivacaine and bupivacaine in a concentration of 0.25% produced comparable analgesia for pain relief of labour with no detectable adverse effect on the neonate.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Randomized trial of bolus phenylephrine or ephedrine for maintenance of arterial pressure during spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section.
Thirty-eight healthy women undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia at term were allocated randomly to receive boluses of either phenylephrine 100 micrograms or ephedrine 5 mg for maintenance of maternal arterial pressure. The indication for administration of vasopressor was a reduction in systolic pressure to < or = 90% of baseline values. Maternal arterial pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured every minute by automated oscillometry. ⋯ As a consequence atropine was required in 11/19 women in the phenylephrine group compared with 2/19 in the ephedrine group (P < 0.01). Mean umbilical artery pH [95% CI] was higher in the phenylephrine group (7.29 [7.28-7.30]) than in the ephedrine group (7.27 [7.25-7.28]). The results of the present study support the use of phenylephrine for maintenance of maternal arterial pressure during spinal anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section.
-
Neuromuscular blocking drugs in intensive care units (ICU) may cause complications, including prolonged neuromuscular block as a result of overdosage and post-ventilation muscle weakness. These may be increased by using inappropriately high infusion rates for infants, in whom published studies are scarce, and by failure to monitor neuromuscular block. There is little ICU experience of acceleromyography, which may permit more reliable monitoring. ⋯ Recovery time was measured from cessation of infusion until spontaneous TOF ratio recovery of 0.7. Neonates and infants required 45% less vecuronium (mean infusion rate 54.7 (SEM 4.23) micrograms kg-1 h-1) than older children (98.7 (7.07) micrograms kg-1 h-1) and had faster recovery to 70% T4/T1 (45 (IQR 20-51) min vs 65 (55-103) min), with no evidence of prolonged weakness. Routine monitoring of neuromuscular block in ICU is essential; acceleromyography is convenient and reliable.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Single dose i.v. tropisetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery.
In a prospective, randomized, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we have compared the efficacy of a single i.v. dose of tropisetron 0.5 mg, 2 mg and 5 mg in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We studied 385 ASA class I and II female patients undergoing abdominal or vaginal gynaecological surgery, including laparoscopy. ⋯ Compared with placebo, nausea was reduced from 55% to 46%, 34% and 46% (P = 0.25, P = 0.003, P = 0.22), and need for rescue treatment from 39% to 29%, 23% and 35% (P = 0.13, P = 0.017 and P = 0.59) for the same groups. Tropisetron 2 mg appeared to be the optimal dose for prophylaxis against PONV with a side-effect profile similar to that of placebo.