Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPreoperative ketamine improves postoperative analgesia after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.
In this study, we evaluated the preemptive effect of a small dose of ketamine on postoperative wound pain. In a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial, we compared the analgesic requirement in patients receiving preincision ketamine with ketamine after skin closure or placebo after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. One-hundred-thirty-five patients were randomly assigned to receive preincision or postoperative ketamine 0.15 mg/kg or saline IV. Anesthetic technique was standardized. Patients were interviewed regularly up to 4 wk after surgery. Pain score, morphine consumption, side effects, and quality of recovery score were recorded. Patients receiving preincision ketamine had a lower pain score in the first 6 h after operation compared with the postoperative (P = 0.001) or placebo groups (P < 0.001). The mean (95% confidence intervals) time to first request for analgesia in the preincision group, 1.8 h (1.4-2.1), was longer than the postoperative group, 1.2 h (0.9-1.5; P < 0.001), or the placebo group, 0.7 h (0.4-0.9; P < 0.001). The mean +/- SD morphine consumption in the preincision group, 1.5 +/- 2.0 mg, was less than that in the postoperative group, 2.9 +/- 3.1 mg (P = 0.04) and the placebo group, 3.4 +/- 2.7 mg (P = 0.003). There was no significant difference among groups with respect to hemodynamic variables or side effects. No patient complained of hallucinations or nightmares. We conclude that a small dose of ketamine is not only safe, but it also provides preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. ⋯ In women undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery, a small preoperative dose of ketamine (0.15 mg/kg) produced preemptive analgesia. There were no significant hemodynamic and psychological side effects with this dose.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA dose ranging study of dexamethasone for preventing patient-controlled analgesia-related nausea and vomiting: a comparison of droperidol with saline.
We designed this study to determine the minimum dose of dexamethasone for preventing nausea and vomiting associated with the use of morphine by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Two hundred forty female patients were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone 2, 4, 8, or 12 mg IV immediately before induction of anesthesia. Droperidol (0.1 mg/mL with morphine 1 mg/mL in PCA pump) and saline were used as controls. The complete response (no postoperative nausea and vomiting and no need for rescue antiemetic for a 24-h postoperative period) rates for dexamethasone 8 mg (72.2%) and 12 mg (78.9%) were significantly more than for saline (42.9%) (P < 0.05). Patients who received dexamethasone 12 or 8 mg also reported higher patient satisfaction than those who received saline (P < 0.05). These results were as effective as adding droperidol 0.1 mg/mL to the morphine PCA without causing drowsiness, restlessness, or arrhythmias. Smaller doses of dexamethasone (4 or 2 mg) were not effective for this propose. The results suggest that dexamethasone 8 mg IV is the minimum effective dose for the reduction of PCA morphine-related nausea and vomiting. ⋯ Morphine administration by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is often associated nausea and vomiting. In this double-blind study, the minimum effective dose of dexamethasone for reducing this complication was 8 mg. This was as effective as adding droperidol 0.1 mg/mL to the morphine PCA without causing drowsiness, restlessness or arrhythmias.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of liver function after hepatectomy in cirrhotic patients between sevoflurane and isoflurane in anesthesia with nitrous oxide and epidural block.
In this study, we compared postoperative liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis between isoflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia with nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and epidural block. Forty cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh Grade A, aged 40 to 70 yr, scheduled for liver segmentectomy, had anesthesia induced with midazolam 0.1 mg/kg and fentanyl 4 micro g/kg. For maintenance, intermittent epidural administration of 1.5% lidocaine 4 to 6 mL and sevoflurane (sevoflurane group) or isoflurane (isoflurane group) with N(2)O 3 L/min in oxygen 3 L/min was used. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, choline esterase, albumin, prothrombin time, and platelet count were measured before and 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly, with the peaks at 3 days after surgery in both groups. The increases in these variables were significantly larger in the isoflurane group than those in the sevoflurane group. No patient developed hepatic failure. All increases in liver enzymes were small and of questionable clinical relevance. Whether sevoflurane might be a better anesthetic when combined with N(2)O and epidural block for cirrhotic patients than isoflurane with respect to liver damage remains to be determined. ⋯ In cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh Grade A, isoflurane induced more of an increase in serum concentrations of liver enzymes after surgery than sevoflurane when combined with nitrous oxide and epidural block. However, the increases were small, and there was no clinical liver damage.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2004
ReviewA review of intrathecal and epidural analgesia after spinal surgery in children.
In view of the overall experience regarding regional anesthetic techniques to control postoperative pain in infants and children, it is feasible that a similar efficacy and safety profile can be obtained when using such techniques after major orthopedic procedures such as anterior or posterior spinal fusion. I reviewed previous reports regarding the use of neuraxial techniques to provide analgesia after spine surgery in the pediatric population. ⋯ Variations of the analgesic technique include 1). the dose of the medications used; 2). the route of delivery (intrathecal or epidural); 3). the mode of delivery (single dose, intermittent bolus dosing, and continuous infusion); 4). the number of epidural catheters used (one versus two); 5). the medications infused (opioids, local anesthetics, or both); 6). the opioid used (morphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone); and 7). the analgesic regimen of the control group (intermittent "as needed" morphine or patient-controlled analgesia). Although limited data are available to document the analgesic superiority of these techniques over parenteral opioids, clinical data offer evidence of other benefits, including decreased intraoperative blood loss and quicker return of gastrointestinal function.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2004
Clinical TrialContinuous assessment of cerebral autoregulation in subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Cerebral vasospasm remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Cerebral ischemia may ensue when autoregulation fails to compensate for spasm. We examined how autoregulation is affected by vasospasm by using transcranial Doppler. The moving correlation coefficient between slow changes of arterial blood pressure and mean or systolic flow velocity (FV), termed "Mx" and "Sx," respectively, was used to characterize cerebral autoregulation. Vasospasm was declared when the mean FV increased to more than 120 cm/s and the Lindegaard ratio was more than 3. This occurred in 15 of 32 SAH patients. On the basis of the bilateral transcranial Doppler recordings of the middle cerebral artery in vasospastic patients, Mx and Sx were calculated for baseline and vasospasm. Mx increased during vasospasm (0.46 +/- 0.32; mean +/- SD) and was significantly higher (P = 0.021) than at baseline (0.21 +/- 0.24). Sx was also increased (0.22 +/- 0.26 vs 0.05 +/- 0.21 at baseline; P = 0.03). Mx correlated with mean FV (r = 0.577; P = 0.025) and the Lindegaard ratio (r = 0.672; P < 0.006). Mx (P = 0.006) and Sx (P = 0.044) were higher on the vasospastic side (Mx, 0.44 +/- 0.27; Sx, 0.24 +/- 0.23) when compared with the contralateral side (Mx, 0.34 +/- 0.29; Sx, 0.16 +/- 0.25). The increased Mx and Sx during cerebral vasospasm demonstrate impaired cerebral autoregulation. Mx and Sx provide additional information on changes in autoregulation in SAH patients. ⋯ The moving correlation coefficients between slow changes of arterial blood pressure and mean or systolic flow velocity, termed "Mx" and "Sx," respectively, characterize cerebral autoregulation but have not been applied to subarachnoid hemorrhage. A study in 15 patients revealed that Mx and Sx were significantly increased, indicating impaired autoregulation during vasospasm as compared with baseline, as well as on the side of vasospasm in comparison with the contralateral side.