British journal of anaesthesia
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Although subjects often report difficulty with swallowing shortly after receiving neuromuscular blocking agents, difficulty with swallowing during recovery from neuromuscular blocking agents appears to be infrequent. We have used electromyography to compare onset and recovery at the diaphragm and geniohyoid airway muscles after an intubating dose of mivacurium (0.2 mg kg-1) to determine if the geniohyoid muscles were particularly sensitive to neuromuscular blocking agents. Twelve adults undergoing elective surgery were anaesthetized with propofol and fentanyl and the trachea intubated without neuromuscular blocking agents. ⋯ Recordings were also made of the mechanical response of the adductor pollicis to supramaximal ulnar nerve stimulation. There was no difference in the rate of onset of block for geniohyoid muscles and the diaphragm, but recovery to 25% and 90% of the control response was shorter at the diaphragm (median 14.5 (95% confidence limits 12.9-15.3) min and 23.8 (21.7-26) min) than at the geniohyoid muscle (19.4 (15.6-20.1) min and 29.2 (26.3-31.4) min), respectively (P < 0.05). When the train-of-four ratio of the mechanical response of the thumb reached 70%, the diaphragm and geniohyoid muscles had recovered completely in all patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparative effects of thiopentone and propofol on respiratory resistance after tracheal intubation.
To compare the effects of propofol and thiopentone on tracheal intubation-induced bronchoconstriction, 37 patients were allocated randomly to anaesthesia with either thiopentone 4 mg kg-1 followed by a 15-mg kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion or propofol 3 mg kg-1 followed by a 9-mg kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion. Intubation was facilitated by vecuronium 0.1-0.2 mg kg-1. ⋯ Thirty minutes after commencing isoflurane-nitrous oxide anaesthesia, Rrs declined by 17.5 (SEM 3.6)% from baseline in the thiopentone group, but by only 1.6 (2.6)% in the propofol group. We conclude that the dose of propofol administered provided more protection against tracheal intubation-induced bronchoconstriction than an induction dose of thiopentone.
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Editorial Historical Article
Ether anaesthesia comes to London. December 1846.
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We set out to examine the evidence for the importance of randomization of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in acute postoperative pain. Controlled studies were sought; randomization and analgesic and adverse effect outcomes were summarized. Forty-six reports were identified by searching strategies. ⋯ Of the 29 excluded trials, 19 had pain outcomes but were not RCT; in 17 of these 19 TENS studies, the authors concluded that TENS had a positive analgesic effect. No adverse effects were reported. Non-randomized studies overestimated treatment effects.