Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSpinal 2-chloroprocaine: the effect of added fentanyl.
Chloroprocaine is being investigated as a possible replacement for spinal lidocaine. Adding fentanyl to lidocaine increases the quality of spinal anesthesia without prolongation of block. We report the characteristics of 2-chloroprocaine (2-CP) spinal anesthesia with or without fentanyl in 8 volunteers receiving 40 mg 2-CP with saline or 20 micro g fentanyl in a double-blinded, randomized, crossover manner. Spinal anesthesia was successful for all subjects with complete block regression, ambulation, and void by 110 min. Itching occurred in all subjects receiving fentanyl, though medication was not required. No subject reported signs of transient neurological symptoms. Peak block with fentanyl averaged T5 (T3-7) and without fentanyl T9 (L1-T4) (P = 0.005). Regression to L1 was 78 +/- 7 min with fentanyl and 53 +/- 19 min without fentanyl (P = 0.02). Tourniquet was tolerated for 51 +/- 8 min with fentanyl and for 34 +/- 14 min without fentanyl (P = 0.02). Complete regression of block occurred at 104 +/- 7 min with fentanyl and by 95 +/- 9 min without fentanyl (P = 0.02). We conclude that 2-CP spinal anesthesia provides rapid onset and adequate potency, giving it a positive profile for ambulatory surgery. The addition of fentanyl lengthens regression to L1 and tourniquet tolerance while minimally lengthening block duration. ⋯ Spinal 2-chloroprocaine (40 mg) provides rapid onset and reliable blockade without signs of transient neurological symptoms, giving it a positive profile for ambulatory surgical settings. The addition of fentanyl appears to lengthen the regression to L1 dermatome and tourniquet time while minimally lengthening duration of block.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2004
ReviewAre peripheral opioid antagonists the solution to opioid side effects?
Opioid medication is the mainstay of therapy for severe acute and chronic pain. Unfortunately, the side effects of these medications can affect patient comfort and safety, thus limiting their proven therapeutic potential. Whereas the main analgesic effects of opioids are centrally mediated, many of the common side effects are mediated via peripheral receptors. Novel peripheral opioid antagonists have been recently introduced that can block the peripheral actions of opioids without affecting centrally mediated analgesia. We review the clinical and experimental evidence of their efficacy in ameliorating opioid side effects and consider what further information might be useful in defining their role. ⋯ The major analgesic effects of opioid medication are mediated within the brain and spinal cord. Many of the side effects of opioids are caused by activation of receptors outside these areas. Recently developed peripherally restricted opioid antagonists have the ability to block many opioid side effects without affecting analgesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2004
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialClonidine prolongs spinal anesthesia in newborns: a prospective dose-ranging study.
Spinal anesthesia may reduce the incidence of morbidity that follows general anesthesia in neonates and in former preterm infants. However, bupivacaine alone provides a block too short for complete surgery in up to 40% of the patients. Clonidine lengthens spinal anesthesia in adults and caudal block in children without significant side effects. We conducted a controlled, prospective, dose-ranging study of clonidine in spinal anesthesia in 75 neonates, including 50% of former preterm infants, undergoing elective inguinal herniorrhaphy. Patients were given a spinal anesthetic with either 0.5% plain isobaric bupivacaine (1 mg/kg), or bupivacaine plus 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 micro g/kg clonidine. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, SpO(2), sensory block extension and duration were the main data recorded. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, SpO(2), and block extension were similar in the five groups. Duration of spinal block increased from 67 (58-82) min in the control group up to 111 (93-125) min in the group receiving 1 micro g/kg clonidine (P < 0.003). Transient hypotension occurred more often (P < 0.05), and caffeine was given more often, when 2 micro g/kg clonidine was given. We conclude that 1 micro g/kg clonidine provides a significant improvement in spinal anesthesia duration in newborns without significant side effects. ⋯ Spinal anesthesia is suitable but often too short for complete surgery in newborns. This controlled, randomized, prospective, dose-ranging study was conducted in 75 neonates to test the hypothesis that clonidine could significantly lengthen bupivacaine spinal block. Clonidine 1 micro g/kg, added to spinal isobaric bupivacaine, doubles the duration of the block without significant deleterious hemodynamic or respiratory side effects.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2004
Case ReportsPituitary apoplexy presenting as unilateral third cranial nerve palsy after coronary artery bypass surgery.
The new onset of pituitary apoplexy is a rare perioperative complication of coronary artery bypass surgery. A variety of clinical presentations of pituitary apoplexy have been reported including absence of clinical symptoms or headache, sudden deterioration of mental status, visual changes, Addisonian crisis, and ophthalmoplegia, including third cranial nerve palsy and/or ptosis. Early diagnosis and treatment usually results in excellent outcome. We report a case of pituitary apoplexy that presented with only a unilateral dilated pupil, ptosis, and vision change within 3 h after coronary artery bypass surgery. The patient recovered fully after early pituitary tumor resection and hormonal therapy. ⋯ Unilateral pupil dilation is a rare perioperative complication after coronary artery bypass surgery. We report a case of pituitary apoplexy that presented clinically as unilateral dilated pupil, ptosis, and visual loss shortly after coronary artery bypass surgery.
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In this clinical trial we evaluated the clinical effects of levobupivacaine in spinal anesthesia in children. An open, noncomparative study was performed on 40 children, aged 1-14 yr, undergoing elective lower abdominal or lower limb surgery. A plain solution of S(-)-bupivacaine 5 mg/mL at a mean dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight (range, 0.2-0.5 mg/kg body weight) was administered via the L3-4 or L4-5 interspace with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. After injection, the patients were placed supine. The spread and duration of sensory analgesia and the degree of motor block were recorded. Satisfactory surgical anesthesia was achieved in 39 of the 40 children. One child received supplemental anesthesia. The mean highest level of sensory block was T4 (range, T2 to L1), and the mean time to the regression of sensory block to T10 was 90 min (range, 43-185 min). A complete motor block was achieved in 36 children. These results are similar to those obtained with racemic bupivacaine in subarachnoid anesthesia in children. ⋯ This noncomparative, descriptive study showed that levobupivacaine, the S(-)-enantiomer of bupivacaine, has equivalent clinical efficacy in spinal anesthesia in children to that of racemic bupivacaine.