British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Prospective randomized comparison of ultrasound-guided and neurostimulation techniques for continuous interscalene brachial plexus block in patients undergoing coracoacromial ligament repair.
There are few data comparing the onset time of interscalene brachial plexus block performed using ultrasound (US) guidance or nerve stimulation (NS) technique for elective coracoacromial ligament repair. ⋯ Block onset times and success rate were similar whether NS or US was used, although US guidance allowed shorter procedural times, fewer needle punctures, and fewer vascular punctures.
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The aim of the study was to determine whether the fibrinogen level at diagnosis of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is associated with the severity of bleeding. ⋯ The fibrinogen level at PPH diagnosis is a marker of the risk of aggravation and should serve as an alert to clinicians.
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Measuring outcomes and quality in anaesthesia is challenging. In the UK, there is increased focus on these as a result of changes in Department of Health strategy and the imminent introduction of mandatory revalidation for all doctors. A definition of quality may differ according to the observer's standpoint and numerous performance measures may contribute to overall quality. Patients, surgeons, anaesthetic assistants, recovery nurses, managers, and anaesthetic peers are each likely to have their own perspective on 'anaesthetic quality' and would perhaps suggest different metrics to measure it. Speed, efficiency, cost, interpersonal skills, complication rates, patient recorded outcome measures, and satisfaction are all valid as quality measures, but none alone captures anaesthetic quality. Performance data are frequently presented as single-dimension measurements (e.g. pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, patient satisfaction), but this does not address the fact that two or more domains may be closely related (e.g. use of regional anaesthesia and quality of analgesia) or in opposition (e.g. use of regional anaesthesia and speed). ⋯ Performance polygons enable easy comparison with any relevant data set and are a visual tool that potentially has wider applications in healthcare quality improvement.
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The relative respiratory effects of fentanyl and remifentanil, administered as i.v. bolus, have not previously been studied. We determined what remifentanil bolus dose gave the same maximum depression of ventilation as 1 µg kg(-1) of fentanyl. ⋯ Fentanyl, 1 µg kg(-1), and remifentanil, 0.5 µg kg(-1), gave similar maximum ventilatory depression. The onset of and recovery from ventilatory depression were faster with remifentanil.