Articles: analgesia.
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The mechanism of episodes of fetal bradycardia during epidural analgesia is unknown in the majority of cases. This retrospective study considers the relationship between prolonged fetal bradycardia and epidural analgesia during labour. Of 705 cardiotocographs recorded during administration of epidural analgesia for patients in labour, 207 were suitable for analysis. ⋯ It is concluded that administration of epidural analgesia is significantly associated with episodes of prolonged fetal bradycardia, but that there is usually a return to pre-epidural patterns. The fetal heart rate should be monitored during epidural block administration to confirm the return to baseline rate and normal variability. Episodes of fetal bradycardia that return to a normal pattern do not necessitate early delivery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Patient-controlled epidural analgesia during labor: a comparison of three solutions with a continuous infusion control.
This study examined the efficacy of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) during labor and compared the suitability of three different PCEA solutions. After establishing effective epidural analgesia with 12 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine, 72 parturients in active labor were randomly assigned to one of four groups: physician-controlled continuous epidural infusion using 0.125% bupivacaine (CEI); PCEA using 0.125% bupivacaine (B); PCEA using 0.125% bupivacaine with fentanyl 1 micrograms/ml (BF); and PCEA using 0.125% bupivacaine with fentanyl 1 micrograms/ml and 1:400,000 epinephrine (BFE). The CEI infusion was begun at 12-16 ml/h and adjusted to maintain a T10 sensory level and adequate pain relief. ⋯ Average hourly infusion rates were 13.0 +/- 1.1 ml/h (B), 10.6 +/- 0.6 ml/h (BF), and 9.6 +/- 0.5 ml/h (BFE); group B differs from others (P less than 0.05). No instance of respiratory depression or complication secondary to PCEA was observed. Mild pruritus occurred only with fentanyl-containing solutions, whereas dense motor block developed more frequently with the epinephrine-containing solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of repeat doses of intramuscular ketorolac tromethamine and morphine sulfate for analgesia after major surgery.
A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel study in 542 patients with moderate or severe postoperative pain compared the analgesic efficacy and safety of intramuscular ketorolac 30 mg (324 patients), morphine 6 mg (110 patients), and morphine 12 mg (108 patients) administered as needed as often as every 2 hours for a maximum of 20 doses or 5 days. The efficacy of ketorolac 30 mg was comparable to that of morphine 12 mg on every efficacy measure (average pain intensity, average pain relief, mean overall medication rating, and percentage of patients withdrawing because of inadequate relief). Ketorolac was statistically superior to morphine 6 mg for average pain intensity and mean overall rating. Ketorolac-treated patients had fewer adverse events than those who received either morphine dose.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[No reduction in postoperative complications by the use of catheterized epidural analgesia following major abdominal surgery].
This study was designed to assess whether intra- and postoperative epidural analgesia would diminish the overall rate of postoperative complications after major abdominal operations when compared to a standard anesthetic and postoperative analgesic regimen. A total of 214 patients undergoing infrarenal aortic bypass operations, gastric resection, gastrectomy, Whipple's operation, or duodenum-preserving pancreatic resection were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the epidural group (n = 98) were operated on under light general anesthesia (midazolam, low-dose fentanyl, N2O/O2, pancuronium bromide). ⋯ Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were lower in the epidural group at the same points of observation (2 P less than 0.01), as was the plasma glucose on the 1st postoperative day. The time up to the first postoperative defecation was shorter in the epidural group (79:1.51 h) as compared to the control group (93:1.38 h; 2 P less than 0.0167). The time to hospital discharge was equal in both groups (epidural group 19:1.6 days, control group 18:1.6 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)