Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPropacetamol as adjunctive treatment for postoperative pain after cardiac surgery.
Postoperative pain management after cardiac surgery has been mainly based on parenteral opioids. However, because opioids have numerous side effects, coadministration of non-opioid analgesics has been introduced as a method of reducing opioid dose. In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, we evaluated the efficacy of propacetamol, an IV administered prodrug of acetaminophen (paracetamol), as an adjunctive analgesic after cardiac surgery. Seventy-nine patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to receive either propacetamol 2 g (n = 40) or placebo (n = 39) IV in 6-h intervals for 72 h. From the time of extubation, patients had access to an opioid (oxycodone) via a patient-controlled analgesia device. Pain was evaluated on a visual analog scale four times daily, whereas respiratory function tests (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak expiratory flow, and arterial blood gas measurements) were performed once a day. The prespecified primary efficacy variable (cumulative oxycodone consumption at the end of the 72-h postoperative period) was 123.5 mg (51.3 mg) (mean [SD]) in the propacetamol group and 141.8 mg (57.5 mg) in the placebo group (difference in mean, 18.3 mg = 13%; 95% confidence interval, 6.1-42.7 mg; P = 0.15). Pain scores did not differ between the groups at rest (P = 0.65) or during a deep breath (P = 0.72). The groups were also similar in terms of pulmonary function tests, postoperative bleeding, and hepatic function tests, and no significant differences were noted in the incidences of adverse effects. After completion of the study, apost hoc analysis was also performed analyzing the first 24 h as split into 6-h intervals. This analysis showed a significantly (P = 0.036) smaller consumption of oxycodone in the propacetamol group at 24 h (47.1 mg [20.7 mg] versus 57.9 mg [23.9 mg]; difference in mean, 10.8 mg; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-20.9 mg). In conclusion, propacetamol did not enhance opioid-based analgesia in coronary artery bypass grafting patients, nor did it decrease cumulative opioid consumption or reduce adverse effects within 3 days after surgery. However, post hoc analysis showed that oxycodone requirement was reduced within the first 24 h in the propacetamol group. ⋯ This is the first placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy of propacetamol as a complementary analgesic to opioids after cardiac surgery. Propacetamol did not enhance analgesia, nor did it decrease cumulative opioid consumption or reduce adverse effects in a dose of 2 g given every sixth hour for 3 days after surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
The mission of the cochrane anesthesia review group: preparing and disseminating systematic reviews of the effect of health care in anesthesiology.
This article illustrates the basic principles of evidence-based medicine and the work within the Cochrane Collaboration and the Cochrane Anesthesia Review Group. It describes how important randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews are in providing the best evidence to answer clinically relevant questions.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Comparative Study Clinical TrialPreload index: pulmonary artery occlusion pressure versus intrathoracic blood volume monitoring during lung transplantation.
In this study, during lung transplantation, we analyzed a conventional preload index, the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP), and a new preload index, the intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI), derived from the single-indicator transpulmonary dilution technique (PiCCO System), with respect to stroke volume index (SVIpa). We also evaluated the relationships between changes (Delta) in ITBVI and PAOP and DeltaSVIpa during lung transplantation. The reproducibility and precision of all cardiac index measurements obtained with the transpulmonary single-indicator dilution technique (CIart) and with the pulmonary artery thermodilution technique (CIpa) were also determined. Measurements were made in 50 patients monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter and with a PiCCO System at six stages throughout the study. Changes in the variables were calculated by subtracting the first from the second measurement (Delta(1)) and so on (Delta(1) to Delta(5)). The linear correlation between ITBVI and SVIpa was significant (r(2)=0.41; P < 0.0001), whereas PAOP poorly correlated with SVIpa (r(2) = -0.01). Changes in ITBVI correlated with changes in SVIpa (Delta(1), r(2) = 0.30; Delta(2), r(2) = 0.57; Delta(4), r(2) = 0.26; and Delta(5), r(2) = 0.67), whereas PAOP failed. The mean bias between CIart and CIpa was 0.15 l. min(-1). m(-2) (1.37). In conclusion, ITBVI is a valid indicator of cardiac preload and may be superior to PAOP in patients undergoing lung transplantation. ⋯ The assessment of intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) by the transpulmonary single-indicator technique is a useful tool in lung transplant patients, providing a valid index of cardiac preload that may be superior to pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. However, more prospective, randomized studies are necessary to evaluate the role and limitations of this technique.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Difficult endotracheal intubation in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.
Although sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is common, studies assessing the anesthetic management of these patients are rare and consist mainly of case studies. We performed a retrospective case-control study to determine the incidence of difficult intubation in SAS patients and to determine the relationship between the severity of SAS and the occurrence of difficult intubation. Among 113 patients included (36 and 77 in the SAS and control groups, respectively), difficult intubation occurred more often in SAS patients than in controls (21.9% versus 2.6%, respectively; P < 0.05). No relationship was found between the severity of SAS and the occurrence of difficult intubation. Disappointingly, no single factor was associated with the occurrence of difficult intubation in SAS patients. We conclude that SAS is a risk factor for difficult intubation. ⋯ Because patients with sleep apnea syndrome have an increased risk of difficult endotracheal intubation and may present with cardiovascular disease, preoperative preventive measures should be undertaken to avoid untoward events.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2002
Hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions reduce the release of cardiac troponin I and s-100 after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pigs.
In some patients, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can revive spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, neurological outcome often remains poor. Hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions (HHS) have been shown to improve microvascular conductivity after regional and global ischemia. We investigated the effect of infusion of HHS in a porcine CPR model. Cardiac arrest was induced by ventricular fibrillation. Advanced cardiac life support was begun after 4 min of nonintervention and 1 min of basic life support. Upon ROSC, the animals randomly received 125 mL of either normal saline (placebo, n = 8) or 7.2% NaCl and 10% hydroxyethyl starch 200,000/0.5 (HHS, n = 7). Myocardial and cerebral damage were assessed by serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I and astroglial protein S-100, respectively, up to 240 min after ROSC. In all animals, the levels of cardiac troponin I and S-100 increased after ROSC (P < 0.01). This increase was significantly blunted in animals that received HHS instead of placebo. The use of HHS in the setting of CPR may provide a new option in reducing cell damage in postischemic myocardial and cerebral tissues. ⋯ Infusion of hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions (HHS) after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pigs significantly reduced the release of cardiac troponin I and cerebral protein S-100, which are sensitive and specific markers of cell damage. Treatment with HHS may provide a new option to improve the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.