British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Transient neurological symptoms after spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lidocaine or general anaesthesia.
Transient neurotoxicity of concentrated local anaesthetics has been thought to be the main reason for transient neurological symptoms after spinal anaesthesia. Profound musculoligamental relaxation by high doses of local anaesthetics may contribute to the development of postoperative musculoskeletal pain. ⋯ Transient neurological symptoms, consisting of pain in the buttocks or pain radiating symmetrically to the lower extremities, occurred in eight patients (27%) receiving spinal anaesthesia and in one patient (3%) receiving general anaesthesia (P < 0.05). We conclude that a transient neurotoxic effect of hyperbaric lidocaine 50 mg ml-1 is probably the main reason for transient neurological symptoms after spinal anaesthesia but musculoligamental relaxation may contribute to the development of low back or leg pain after both anaesthetic techniques.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Sevoflurane requirements for tracheal intubation with and without fentanyl.
We studied 80 healthy ASA 1 patients (aged 20-52 yr) to determine if fentanyl affects sevoflurane requirements for achieving 50% probability of no movement in response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation (MAC-TI). Patients were allocated randomly to one of four fentanyl dose groups (0, 1, 2 and 4 micrograms kg-1). Patients in each group received sevoflurane at a pre-selected end-tidal concentration according to an 'up-down' technique. ⋯ The MAC-TI of sevoflurane was 3.55% (95% confidence intervals 3.32-3.78%), and this was reduced markedly to 2.07%, 1.45% and 1.37% by addition of fentanyl 1, 2 and 4 micrograms kg-1, with no significant difference in the reduction between 2 and 4 micrograms kg-1, showing a ceiling effect. Fentanyl attenuated haemodynamic responses (HR and MAP) to tracheal intubation in a dose-dependent manner, even with decreasing concomitant sevoflurane concentration. Fentanyl 4 micrograms kg-1 suppressed the changes in HR and MAP more effectively than fentanyl 1 or 2 micrograms kg-1 at sevoflurane concentrations close to MAC-TI.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of intubating conditions after rapacuronium (Org 9487) and succinylcholine following rapid sequence induction in adult patients.
We have assessed intubating conditions provided by rapacuronium (Org 9487) and succinylcholine after rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia in adult patients undergoing elective surgery. We studied 335 patients, ASA I and II, in five centres. Two hundred and thirty-four subjects with normal body weight and 101 obese subjects were allocated randomly to one of four treatment groups differing in the neuromuscular blocking drug administered (rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg-1 or succinylcholine 1 mg kg-1) and in the technique used for induction of anaesthesia (fentanyl 2-3 micrograms kg-1 with thiopental 3-6 mg kg-1 or alfentanil 20 micrograms kg-1 with propofol 1.5-2 mg kg-1). ⋯ After intubation, the maximum increase in heart rate averaged 23.1 (SD 25.4%) and 9.4 (26.1%) after rapacuronium and succinylcholine, respectively (P < 0.001). Pulmonary side effects (bronchospasm and increased airway pressure) were observed in 10.7% (95% CI 5.8-17%) and 4.1% (95% CI 1.3-8.8%) of patients given rapacuronium and succinylcholine, respectively (P = 0.021). We conclude that after rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia in adults, clinically acceptable intubating conditions were achieved less frequently after rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg-1 than after succinylcholine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Tetracaine gel vs EMLA cream for percutaneous anaesthesia in children.
We have evaluated the anaesthetic effect of tetracaine gel 1 g, applied for 45 min, compared with EMLA cream 2 g, applied for 60 min, in a randomized, double-blind study in 60 children aged 3-15 yr. Venous cannulation was performed 15 min after removal of the EMLA cream (n = 20) and tetracaine gel (n = 20). Cannulation was performed up to 215 min after removal of the tetracaine gel in another 20 patients. ⋯ Forty to 45% of children in the tetracaine groups reported no pain compared with only 10% in the EMLA group. Only minor adverse effects were observed. We conclude that tetracaine gel provided effective, rapid, long-lasting and safe local anaesthesia, and was significantly better than EMLA cream in reducing pain during venous cannulation in children using the recommended application periods for both formulations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
High-dose aprotinin with gentamicin-vancomycin antibiotic prophylaxis increases blood concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
Both aprotinin and gentamicin-vancomycin antibiotic prophylaxis have been used widely in cardiac surgery to prevent bleeding and infections, respectively. As the drugs are excreted almost entirely by glomerular filtration, we investigated their action on renal function when administered either separately or together. To increase consistency, we measured serum concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C, a new marker of glomerular filtration rate, that many recent studies have shown to be more sensitive than serum creatinine. ⋯ In group D, both markers increased gradually from postoperative day 2 onwards. The increase in cystatin C was significant on postoperative day 5 (from mean 1.02 (SD 0.11) mg litre-1 before operation to 1.35 (0.32) mg litre-1; P < 0.05), reaching a peak on postoperative day 7 (1.45 (0.35) mg litre-1; P < 0.05), while the increase in creatinine concentration was significant on postoperative day 6 (from 1.05 (0.16) mg dl-1 before operation to 1.29 (0.34) mg dl-1; P < 0.05). We conclude that simultaneous administration of high-dose aprotinin and prophylactic use of gentamicin with vancomycin increased serum concentrations of cystatin C and creatinine in the first postoperative week in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.