British journal of anaesthesia
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Multicenter Study
Major complications of central neuraxial block: report on the Third National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
Serious complications of central neuraxial block (CNB) are rare. Limited information on their incidence and impact impedes clinical decision-making and patient consent. The Royal College of Anaesthetists Third National Audit Project was designed to inform this situation. ⋯ The data are reassuring and suggest that CNB has a low incidence of major complications, many of which resolve within 6 months.
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Review Meta Analysis
Benefit and risk of intrathecal morphine without local anaesthetic in patients undergoing major surgery: meta-analysis of randomized trials.
Intrathecal morphine without local anaesthetic is often added to a general anaesthetic to prevent pain after major surgery. Quantification of benefit and harm and assessment of dose-response are needed. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials testing intrathecal morphine alone (without local anaesthetic) in adults undergoing major surgery under general anaesthesia. ⋯ In conclusion, intrathecal morphine decreases pain intensity at rest and on movement up to 24 h after major surgery. Morphine-sparing is more pronounced after abdominal than after cardiac-thoracic surgery. Respiratory depression remains a major safety concern.
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Review Meta Analysis
Antifibrinolytics in cardiac surgical patients receiving aspirin: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
While conventional practice is to discontinue aspirin prior to elective cardiac surgery there is evidence that its continuation may be associated with improved perioperative outcomes. However, uncertainty exists regarding the efficacy of antifibrinolytic agents in the presence of aspirin. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to address the question of the effects of antifibrinolytic agents in cardiac surgery patients maintained on aspirin in terms of both efficacy and adverse events. ⋯ Antifibrinolytic agents are effective for reducing both chest-tube drainage and transfusion requirements in cardiac surgical patients receiving aspirin. We found no difference between antifibrinolytic and placebo in terms of adverse events but the population was predominantly low-risk. Further studies are required to determine the optimal balance between antiplatelet and antifibrinolytic effects in cardiac surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Heated lidocaine/tetracaine patch (Synera, Rapydan) compared with lidocaine/prilocaine cream (EMLA) for topical anaesthesia before vascular access.
We compared the lidocaine/tetracaine patch [Synera (USA), Rapydan (Europe)], a novel heat-aided patch using a eutectic mixture of lidocaine 70 mg and tetracaine 70 mg, with a eutectic mixture of lidocaine 25 mg ml(-1) and prilocaine 25 mg ml(-1) (EMLA Cream). The agents were administered at different time periods for local topical anaesthesia before a vascular access procedure. ⋯ The lidocaine/tetracaine patch provided effective anaesthesia with an application time as short as 10 min and was better than lidocaine/prilocaine cream at all application times shorter than 60 min, demonstrating a substantial improvement in time to onset of anaesthesia. The lidocaine/tetracaine patch provided an important alternative to lidocaine/prilocaine cream for topical local anaesthesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Plain articaine or prilocaine for spinal anaesthesia in day-case knee arthroscopy: a double-blind randomized trial.
Both prilocaine and articaine are short-acting local anaesthetics suited for spinal anaesthesia for day-case knee arthroscopy. Articaine is thought to have a faster onset and shorter duration of action than prilocaine, although no comparative study has been published in the anaesthetic literature. ⋯ Spinal anaesthesia with plain articaine 50 mg resulted in a faster recovery of motor function and earlier spontaneous voiding compared with plain prilocaine 50 mg. Surgical anaesthesia was not different. The incidence of TNS was low.