South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Comparative Study
An evaluation of the pulse-contour method of measuring cardiac output.
The pulse-contour (PC) method continuously derives the cardiac output in litres per minute from the arterial pressure wave form by using a portable analogue computer. The reliability of the PC method in determining cardiac output was studied in 6 patients during anaesthetic induction for cardiac surgery. The results obtained with the PC method using the radial artery to register the arterial pulse wave were compared with cardiac output measurements using the more conventional thermodilution technique. The PC method would seem to offer a simple, clinically useful method for on-line monitoring of short-term variations in cardiac output.
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A 3-year-old White child was admitted to the critical care unit in a coma after a generalized convulsion. Codeine and salicylic acid were present in his plasma. The possible aetiology and management are discussed.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Effects on cardiac rhythm of premedication with atropine or glycopyrrolate.
The effect of the premedicants atropine and glycopyrrolate on the cardiac dysrhythmic response to instrumentation and intubation was investigated. No significant increase in cardiac dysrhythmias such as bradycardia, atrial and ventricular extrasystoles was found (P greater than 0,01), but a significant increase in tachycardia occurred during induction (P less than 0,05) and intubation (P less than 0,01).
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Pruritus--a side-effect of epidural fentanyl for postoperative analgesia.
The side-effect of pruritus was studied in 31 patients receiving epidural fentanyl 100 micrograms in 8 ml normal saline for postoperative analgesia. A control group of 30 patients received pethidine 1,5 mg/kg 4-6-hourly as required. Thirteen per cent of the patients who received epidural fentanyl experienced pruritus. However, this incidence was not considered unacceptable and the pruritus was mild and of short duration.