British journal of anaesthesia
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Kartagener's syndrome is a hereditary syndrome involving a combination of dextrocardia (situs inversus), bronchiectasis and sinusitis, transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. We describe a patient who had three anaesthetics over a period of a few months. Discussion relates to anaesthetic considerations in the syndrome and to recent findings relating to the molecular mechanisms of left-right development.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pain management after adenoidectomy with ketoprofen: comparison of rectal and intravenous routes.
We compared the efficacy of rectally and intravenously administered ketoprofen for pain management after day-case adenoidectomy. Patients (123 children aged 1-9 yr) were allocated randomly to receive on induction of anaesthesia ketoprofen 25 mg rectally with an i.v. placebo, ketoprofen 25 mg i.v. with a rectal placebo, or placebo both i.v. and rectally. The method of anaesthesia and the operative technique were standardized. ⋯ There was no significant difference between the two ketoprofen groups in their requirement for rescue analgesics. However, both the proportion of children needing rescue analgesics [55 of 84 children (65%) vs. 33 of 39 children (84%); difference 19%, 95% confidence interval 4-34%, P=0.029] and the number of rescue analgesic doses [mean 1.2 (SD 1.2) vs. 2.2 (1.4); mean difference 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.4-1.4, P=0.001] were significantly lower among children receiving ketoprofen than in children receiving placebo. Adverse events, duration of operation, perioperative bleeding, pain scores and time of discharge were similar in the three groups.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Dexamethasone for prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting after epidural morphine for post-Caesarean section analgesia: comparison of droperidol and saline.
We have evaluated the prophylactic effect of i.v. dexamethasone 8 mg in preventing nausea and vomiting during epidural morphine for post-Caesarean section analgesia. Droperidol 1.25 mg and saline served as the control. ⋯ Both dexamethasone and droperidol significantly decreased the total incidence of nausea and vomiting compared with saline, with incidences of 18, 21 and 51% for the three treatments respectively (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). Parturients who received droperidol reported a more frequent incidence of restlessness (16%) than those who received dexamethasone (P<0.05).
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Thirty volunteers underwent intradermal skin testing with increasing concentrations of rocuronium and cisatracurium to evaluate weal and flare responses, and whether either agent would cause mast cell degranulation and sensitization upon re-exposure. We found that intradermal injection of rocuronium and cisatracurium at concentrations > 10(-4) M resulted in positive weal (>8 mm) responses, and positive flare responses at > 10(-4) and > 10(-5) M respectively. ⋯ Skin testing with rocuronium and cisatracurium should be performed at concentrations < 10(-4) and < 10(-5) M respectively to avoid false-positive responses. The ability of these agents to produce positive weal and flare responses at relatively low concentrations may explain the high incidence of potential reactions reported.
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Though he had no formal training in engineering, John Blease of Merseyside invented numerous devices that greatly benefited the practice of anaesthesia. Starting with the turning of component parts for simple anaesthetic machines in the 1930s, he was introduced to clinical anaesthesia and became skilled in the art of dental anaesthesia. ⋯ After World War II he improved this into the Blease 'Pulmoflator', which was the first British positive-pressure ventilator in commercial production. From then until the early 1960s he patented many other inventions, duly utilized in the manufacture of anaesthetic equipment, in which industry the Blease name survives in the company he founded.