British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Autonomic effects of epidural and intravenous fentanyl.
We tested the hypothesis that there is greater suppression of autonomic reflexes during general anaesthesia when fentanyl is administered epidurally than when it is given intravenously. ⋯ We conclude that during general anaesthesia, epidural fentanyl enhances antinociception by a spinal mechanism which can be detected by pupillary dilation but not by changes in arterial pressure or heart rate.
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The carina level has been shown to be near the pericardial reflection and can easily be identified as a landmark on a routine chest radiography. The purpose of this study was to reveal a simple method to predict the adequate central venous catheter (CVC) depth, hereby facilitating safe positioning of the CVC tip. ⋯ When CVCs are inserted to a depth derived by adding the length between the needle insertion point and the clavicular notch and the vertical length between the clavicular notch and the carina, the CVC tip can be reliably placed near the carina level.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of oral pregabalin and aprepitant on pain and central sensitization in the electrical hyperalgesia model in human volunteers.
Central sensitization is an important mechanism of neuropathic pain; its human models could be useful for early detection of efficacy of novel treatments. The electrical hyperalgesia model invokes central sensitization by repetitive stimulation of the skin. To assess its predictive value, we have investigated pregabalin, a standard neuropathic pain treatment, and aprepitant, an NK(1) antagonist, as an example of a drug class active in animal models but not in neuropathic pain patients. Furthermore, we explored if combinations of either of these drugs with the COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib could improve its efficacy. ⋯ The model can serve to predict analgesic efficacy in early human development and investigate the mechanism of action. The model could also be used to explore efficacy of analgesic combinations to provide a rationale for patient studies.