Articles: analgesia.
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The paper reviews the literature relevant to the formation of spinal epidural abscess with or without concurrent meningeal infection following epidural catheterisation. The incidence of spinal epidural abscess lies probably in the area of 1:5000 catheterisations. Immunocompromised patients and patients with catheters in situ for more than 48 hrs. are particularly prone to develop epidural abscesses. ⋯ The treatment consists of removal of the catheter, microbiological studies, surgical decompression of the spinal cord, and prolonged antibiotic treatment. It is suggested that insertion of epidural catheters is performed under strict sterility, and that disposable syringes and unbroken vials are used for each injection, which should be administered through an epidural filter. The dressing should be changed daily simultaneously with review of the patient and the insertion site.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Efficacy of thoracic epidural analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
This study was undertaken to determine whether epidural analgesia has any benefit for post-operative pain relief in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive post-operative epidural analgesia with a morphine-bupivacaine combination (Group A, n = 22) or placebo (saline) (Group B, n = 22). The same standard general anaesthetic technique, which consists of nitrous oxide and isoflurane in oxygen was used. ⋯ At 24 h after anaesthesia, pain scores in Group A (2.3 +/- 1.2) were lower than those in Group B (4.4 +/- 1.5) (P < 0.05). However, at 48 h post-operatively, no difference in scores was observed between the two groups. In conclusion, epidural analgesia with a morphine-bupivacaine combination improves pain relief during the first 24 h following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.