British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Acupressure and the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopy.
The efficacy of currently available antiemetics remains poor. Concern with their side effects and the high cost of the newer drugs has led to renewed interest in non-pharmacological methods of treatment. We have studied the efficacy of acupressure at the P6 point in the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopy, in a double-blind, randomized, controlled study of acupressure vs placebo. ⋯ Failure of treatment was defined as the occurrence of nausea and/or vomiting within the first 24 h after anaesthesia. The use of acupressure reduced the incidence of nausea or vomiting from 42% to 19% compared with placebo, with an adjusted risk ratio of 0.24 (95% CI 0.08-0.62; P = 0.005). Other variables were similar between groups.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of propofol, propofol-nitrous oxide and midazolam on cortical somatosensory evoked potentials during sufentanil anaesthesia for major spinal surgery.
Recording of cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (CSEP) enables monitoring of spinal cord function. We studied the effects of propofol, propofol-nitrous oxide or midazolam during sufentanil anaesthesia on CSEP monitoring during major spinal surgery. Thirty patients with normal preoperative CSEP were allocated randomly to one of the following anaesthesia regimens: propofol (2.5 mg kg-1 followed by 10-6 mg kg-1 h-1) with or without nitrous oxide, or midazolam (0.3 mg kg-1 followed by 0.15 mg kg-1 h-1) combined with sufentanil 0.5 microgram kg-1 h-1 in the propofol and midazolam groups, or 0.25 microgram kg-1 h-1 in the propofol-nitrous oxide group. ⋯ CSEP amplitude decreased significantly in the propofol-nitrous oxide group (from mean 2.0 (SEM 0.3) to 0.6 (0.1) microV; P < 0.05) but not in the propofol (from 1.8 (0.6) to 2.2 (0.3) microV) or midazolam (1.7 (0.5) to 1.6 (0.5) microV) groups. The time to the first postoperative voluntary motor response (recovery) delay was significantly greater in the midazolam group (115 (19) min) compared with the propofol and propofol-nitrous oxide groups (43 (8) and 41 (3) min, respectively). Consequently, the use of propofol without nitrous oxide can be recommended during spinal surgery when CSEP monitoring is required.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Electromyographic assessment of neuromuscular block at the gastrocnemius muscle.
We have assessed neuromuscular block electromyographically at the gastrocnemius muscle and compared it with that at the abductor digiti minimi muscle in 60 adult patients undergoing cervical spine surgery under general anaesthesia. All patients were in the prone position. ⋯ Times to return of the first response of the train-of-four (TOF) at the gastrocnemius and abductor digiti minimi muscles were 41.0 (9.1) and 49.9 (8.7) min, respectively (P = 0.01). Recovery of PTC, T1/T0 and TOF ratio at the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly faster than at the abductor digiti minimi muscle.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) as an adjunct to fibreoptic tracheal intubation.
The cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) was evaluated as an adjunct to oral and nasal fibreoptic tracheal intubation in 40 adult patients during general anaesthesia. Time from start to completion of intubation decreased rapidly with experience (median time 138 s). We conclude that the COPA may be a useful adjunct to fibreoptic tracheal intubation, allowing control and support of the airway during the procedure, using various anaesthetic techniques, in an acceptable amount of time. The ability to perform fibreoptic tracheal intubation while effectively supporting the airway using the COPA may be advantageous in managing the difficult airway and in trainee education.