Anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Epidural and intravenous fentanyl produce equivalent effects during major surgery.
The benefit of epidural versus intravenous fentanyl administration for postoperative analgesia is controversial. In the current study, the intraoperative effects of epidural versus intravenous fentanyl administration were compared during major surgery. ⋯ There appears to be no clinical advantage to epidural administration of fentanyl over intravenous administration during anesthesia for major surgery.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
The magnitude and time course of vecuronium potentiation by desflurane versus isoflurane.
Preliminary studies suggest that desflurane and isoflurane potentiate the action of muscle relaxants equally. However, variability between subjects may confound these comparisons. A crossover study was performed in volunteers on the ability of desflurane and isoflurane to potentiate the neuromuscular effect of vecuronium, to influence its duration of action, and on the magnitude and time course of reversal of potentiation when anesthesia was withdrawn. ⋯ Desflurane potentiates the effect of vecuronium approximately 20% more than does an equipotent dose of isoflurane.
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Hospitalized patients outside of the operating room frequently require emergency airway management. This study investigates complications of emergency airway management in critically ill adults, including: (1) the incidence of difficult and failed intubation; (2) the frequency of esophageal intubation; (3) the incidence of pneumothorax and pulmonary aspiration; (4) the hemodynamic consequences of emergent intubation, including death, during and immediately following intubation; and (5) the relationship, if any, between the occurrence of complications and supervision of the intubation by an attending physician. ⋯ In critically ill patients, emergency tracheal intubation is associated with a significant frequency of major complications. In this study, complications were not increased when intubations were accomplished without the supervision of an attending physician as long as the intubation was carried out or supervised by an individual skilled in airway management. Mortality associated with emergent tracheal intubation is highest in patients who are hemodynamically unstable and receiving vasopressor therapy before intubation.
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In dogs, sheep, and rats, spinal neostigmine produces analgesia alone and enhances analgesia from alpha 2-adrenergic agonists. This study assesses side effects and analgesia from intrathecal neostigmine in healthy volunteers. ⋯ The incidence and severity of these adverse events from intrathecal neostigmine appears to be affected by dose, method of administration, and baricity of solution. These effects in humans are consistent with studies in animals. Because no unexpected or dangerous side effects occurred, cautious examination of intrathecal neostigmine alone and in combination with other agents for analgesia is warranted.