The British journal of clinical practice
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The information gained when abnormalities are detected by pre-operative investigations is of interest to the anaesthetist as it may change the anaesthetic technique and anaesthetic drugs used. Tests should not be routinely used in all patients, but only in those over the age of 50 or in those with an increased chance of abnormalities being detected.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Study of the effectiveness of bupivicaine infiltration of the ilioinguinal nerve at the time of hernia repair for post-operative pain relief.
The effect on post-operative pain relief and analgesic requirements of direct ilioinguinal nerve block using 0.5% bupivicaine (Marcain) at the time of hernia repair was studied. Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups, A and B, both being well matched for age, numbers and sex. Those in whom nerve block was used (Group A) required significantly less intramuscular opiates and strong oral analgesics (co-dydramol) than those who did not receive bupivicaine (Group B) during the first 24 hours post-operatively.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Double-blind clinical trial of nefopam in comparison with pentazocine in surgical patients.
A double-blind clinical study comparing a new non-narcotic analgesic, nefopam, with pentazocine was carried out on 50 Indian patients. Forty patients had undergone surgical procedures, and the remaining 10 had musculoskeletal or traumatic disorders. There were 25 patients in each group. ⋯ It was also noted that the incidence of side effects was greater in the pentazocine group (61) than the nefopam group (22), the difference being statistically highly significant (p less than 0.001, chi 2-test). A few patients (score 4) in both groups required additional morphine as relief analgesic on the first day of therapy. Thus the non-narcotic nefopam is equally effective as the narcotic pentazocine and has less side effects.
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Bilateral dislocation of the shoulders is an uncommon event. The majority are posterior and occur during a seizure, electrical shock or electroconvulsive therapy, and in patients with neuromuscular disorders and psychiatric disturbances. The literature contains only eight cases of traumatic bilateral anterior dislocations. This report describes only the second case sustained during a grand-mal convulsion.