Articles: general-anesthesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Plasma catecholamine response to cataract surgery: a comparison between general and local anaesthesia.
We studied the plasma catecholamine, plasma glucose and cardiovascular responses to cataract surgery in 20 elderly patients allocated randomly to receive either general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia by retrobulbar block. Local anaesthesia prevented the increase in plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline and glucose concentrations found in those patients who received general anaesthesia and also improved cardiovascular stability. The results show the beneficial effects of local anaesthesia in preventing the hormonal, metabolic and cardiovascular changes found when cataract surgery is conducted under general anaesthesia.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1991
Level of consciousness on arrival in the recovery room and the development of early respiratory morbidity.
An audit review of 16,065 patients undergoing operative procedures under general anaesthesia was carried out to examine the relationship between early postoperative respiratory complications and the level of consciousness of patients on arrival in the recovery room. In patients aged over ten years, the incidence of respiratory complications was significantly (P less than 0.005) related to the level of consciousness independent of ASA grade or age. Since the level of consciousness of patients arriving in the recovery room could be modified by changes to anaesthetic practice it is concluded that a significant reduction in respiratory complications might be possible if anaesthetists used general anaesthetic techniques which returned patients awake to the recovery room.
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General anesthesia in premature babies is associated with a significant risk of life-threatening apnea. Spinal anesthesia in the high-risk infant is simple, safe, and effective, but the incidence of apnea with its use has not been previously determined. ⋯ Ketamine as an adjunctive agent adds no apparent risk. The technique is relatively easy, surgery is not compromised, and parental acceptance is high.
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In a group of 880 patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy using local anesthesia, the incidence of postoperative urinary retention was 0.2 per cent. During the same period, a similar group of 200 patients had their hernias repaired using general or spinal anesthesia. The incidence of postoperative urinary retention was 13 per cent. The authors contend that the use of local anesthesia in inguinal hernia repair almost eliminates postoperative urinary retention.