Anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Sympathovagal effects of spinal anesthesia assessed by the spontaneous cardiac baroreflex.
The changes in sympathovagal balance induced by spinal anesthesia remain controversial. The spontaneous baroreflex method allows the continuous assessment of the spontaneous engagement of the cardiac baroreflex, giving an index of sympathovagal balance. The purpose of this study was to follow the effects of spinal anesthesia on spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity. ⋯ Using a noninvasive, continuous technique to estimate cardiac sympathovagal balance, no significant variation in autonomic balance induced by spinal anesthesia was observed. However, untoward episodes of bradycardia and hypotension occurred in three patients, who could not be prospectively identified by the parameters studied.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Cost-benefit and efficacy of aprotinin compared with epsilon-aminocaproic acid in patients having repeated cardiac operations: a randomized, blinded clinical trial.
Aprotinin and epsilon-aminocaproic acid are routinely used to reduce bleeding during cardiac surgery. The marked difference in average wholesale cost between these two drug therapies (aprotinin, $1,080 vs. epsilon-aminocaproic acid, $11) has generated significant controversy regarding their relative efficacies and costs. ⋯ Aprotinin was more effective than epsilon-aminocaproic acid at decreasing bleeding and platelet transfusions. Epsilon-aminocaproic acid, however, was the more cost-effective therapy over a broad range of estimates for bleeding-related costs in patients undergoing repeated cardiac surgery. A cost-benefit analysis using the lower cost of half-dose aprotinin ($540) still resulted in a significant cost advantage using epsilon-aminocaproic therapy (P = 0.022).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Lack of analgesic activity of morphine-6-glucuronide after short-term intravenous administration in healthy volunteers.
The analgesic activity of morphine-6-glucuronide (M-6-G) is well recognized for its contribution to the effects of morphine and its possible use as an opioid analgesic with a wider therapeutic range than morphine. The present study attempted to quantify the relative contribution of M-6-G to analgesia observed after systemic administration of morphine. ⋯ After short-term intravenous administration at doses that produce plasma concentrations of M-6-G similar to those seen after administration of morphine, M-6-G had no analgesic effects in the present placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Mild intraoperative hypothermia prolongs postanesthetic recovery.
Intraoperative hypothermia is common and persists for several hours after surgery. Hypothermia may prolong immediate recovery by augmenting anesthetic potency, delaying drug metabolism, producing hemodynamic instability, or depressing cognitive function. Accordingly, the authors tested the hypothesis that intraoperative hypothermia prolongs postoperative recovery. ⋯ Maintaining core normothermia decreases the duration of postanesthetic recovery and may, therefore, reduce costs of care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Dose-response of rocuronium bromide in children anesthetized with propofol: a comparison with succinylcholine.
The aim of this study was to determine the potency of rocuronium during propofol/fentanyl/N2O anesthesia in children and to compare the time course of action of rocuronium at doses of two and three times the ED95 with that of succinylcholine. ⋯ Both 1.2 mg/kg rocuronium (three times the ED95) and 2 mg/kg succinylcholine provide 90% neuromuscular block within 45 s in 95% of children. The present dose-response data support the use of rocuronium at a dose of 1.2 mg/kg when rapid onset and intermediate-duration neuromuscular block are needed in children.