British journal of anaesthesia
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We have examined the effects of isoflurane (0.6-2.9% end-tidal) on the auditory evoked response (AER) in six patients before elective surgery. Isoflurane produced significant dose-related changes in the AER: reductions in amplitude and increases in latency of the cortical waves Pa and Nb, and increases in the latency of the brainstem waves III and V. When isoflurane was compared with halothane and enflurane using an MAC-based comparison, we found no differences in the effect of the three agents on the amplitude of the early cortical waves, although the latencies showed significant differences. The consistent dose-related effect on the amplitudes of the cortical waves implies that the AER could be a promising index of the depth of anaesthesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Double-blind comparison of the efficacy of extradural diamorphine, extradural phenoperidine and i.m. diamorphine following caesarean section.
A randomized, double-blind study of the efficacy, duration of action and side effects of three analgesic regimens following Caesarean section is described. Patients received i.m. diamorphine 5 mg, extradural phenoperidine 2 mg or extradural diamorphine 5 mg. Analgesia was of rapid onset in all groups, as judged by reductions in linear analogue pain scores and rank pain scores. ⋯ Itching was reported on direct questioning by 50% of patients in the extradural groups. No serious side effects were reported. Factors affecting the disposition of extradurally administered diamorphine are discussed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Subarachnoid analgesia for caesarean section. A double-blind comparison of plain and hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine.
Equal volumes (2.5 ml, 12.5 mg) of plain 0.5% bupivacaine (glucose-free) and hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine (in 8% glucose) were compared in a randomized double-blind study of 40 patients undergoing Caesarean section under subarachnoid anaesthesia. There were no differences in the rate of onset, maximum spread, number of patients with high cervical levels, duration of anaesthesia or incidence of post-spinal headaches between the two solutions. ⋯ Thirteen patients in the hyperbaric group and 10 in the isobaric group required i.v. ephedrine to treat hypotension. Nine patients (23%) developed a post-spinal headache, and three were treated with an extradural blood patch.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of topical lignocaine on the sympathoadrenal responses to tracheal intubation.
The catecholamine and cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation have been studied in 30 patients undergoing elective gynaecological surgery, allocated randomly to one of three groups: group 1 received 4% lignocaine 160 mg using a Forrester Spray; group 2 received 4% lignocaine 160 mg by "Laryng-o-jet"; group 3 received an equal volume of saline administered by Forrester Spray. In all three groups, there were similar and statistically significant increases in mean arterial pressure and plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations 1 min after intubation, with diminution of these responses by 5 min after intubation. There were no differences between the three groups at any stage, which suggests that topical anaesthesia of the mucosa of the upper airway, as performed conventionally, is ineffective as a means of ameliorating the pressor and catecholamine responses to routine laryngoscopy and intubation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of posture during the induction of subarachnoid analgesia for caesarean section. Right v. left lateral.
Thirty-five women scheduled for elective Caesarean section were randomly assigned to have subarachnoid analgesia induced in either the right or left lateral position. They were then turned supine with a wedge under the right hip. No patient in the right-sided group required further analgesia. Five patients in the left-sided group required postural manipulation to encourage the spread of analgesia and two required supplementary analgesia (P less than 0.01).