British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Adding ketamine to morphine for patient-controlled analgesia after thoracic surgery: influence on morphine consumption, respiratory function, and nocturnal desaturation.
I.V. patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine is often used for postoperative analgesia after thoracic surgery, but the required doses may increase postoperative respiratory disorders. Adjunction of ketamine could reduce both doses and related respiratory side-effects. ⋯ Adding small doses of ketamine to morphine in PCA devices decreases the morphine consumption and may improve respiratory disorders after thoracic surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Influence of intraoperative opioid on postoperative pain and pulmonary function after laparoscopic gastric banding: remifentanil TCI vs sufentanil TCI in morbid obesity.
Choice of opioid may influence postoperative pain, recovery, and respiratory homeostasis in morbid obesity. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of target-controlled infusions (TCIs) of remifentanil or sufentanil on postoperative analgesia, recovery, and pulmonary function after laparoscopic gastric banding. ⋯ As few differences occurred in the postoperative period, the theoretical advantage of remifentanil over the longer acting sufentanil can be questioned when using TCI technology.
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The reticular and thalamocortical system is known to play a prominent role in spindle wave activity, and the spindle wave is related to the sedative effects of anaesthetics. Recently, bispectral analysis of the EEG has been developed as a better method to indicate nonlinear regulation including the thalamocortical system linking to the cortical area. In the present study, in order to explore the interference of ketamine with the nonlinear regulation of the sub-cortical system, we examined the effect of ketamine on spindle alpha waves through the bispectral analysis. ⋯ Ketamine shifted the alpha peaks of bicoherence induced by propofol to higher frequencies. This suggests that ketamine changes the alpha spindle rhythms through the modulation of the nonlinear sub-cortical reverberating network.
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The ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA), introduced to UK practice in late 2001, offers potential performance and safety benefits over other airways such as the classic laryngeal mask airway. There are no large series reporting its use. ⋯ In the hands of a regular user, the PLMA was associated with a high rate of insertion success during routine and advanced use in relatively unselected patients. Correct placement rates approached 100%. The incidence of complications was low.
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Multicenter Study
Assessment of healthcare professionals' knowledge of managing emergency complications in patients with a tracheostomy.
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons perform the majority of surgical tracheostomies. Intensive care anaesthetists are increasingly performing bedside percutaneous tracheostomy. The objectives of this study were to characterize emergency complications of tracheostomy and to ascertain healthcare professionals' knowledge of life-saving strategies for the patient with a tracheostomy. ⋯ Knowledge of tracheostomy-related emergencies appears to be insufficient among non-ENT healthcare professionals. This needs to be addressed in order to maximize patient safety.