Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe sitting versus right lateral position during combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery: block characteristics and severity of hypotension.
In the present study we evaluated whether the sitting position during initiation of small-dose combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE) would induce less hypotension as compared with the lateral position. Sixty women undergoing elective cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to receive a spinal injection consisting of 6.6 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine with sufentanil 3.3 microg in either the lateral or the sitting position. After securing the epidural catheter, patients were turned to a 15 degrees left lateral supine position. ⋯ In the lateral group, blocks extended more cephalad than with the sitting position (P = 0.014). Apgar scores did not differ, but umbilical artery pH values were significantly higher in patients of the sitting group (7.31 +/- 0.04 versus 7.26 +/- 0.03; P = 0.02). We conclude that performing a CSE technique for cesarean delivery in the sitting position was technically easier and induced less severe hypotension.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDoes the timing of tracheal intubation based on neuromuscular monitoring decrease laryngeal injury? A randomized, prospective, controlled trial.
Vocal cord injuries (VCI) and postoperative hoarseness (PH) are common complications after general anesthesia. Poor muscle relaxation at the moment of tracheal intubation may result in VCI. There is a large interindividual variation in neuromuscular depression after administration of neuromuscular blocking drugs. ⋯ Similar findings were observed for VCI: 9 versus 5 patients; respectively (P = 0.268); type of VCI: thickening of the vocal cords: 8 (monitoring) versus 5 (2-min) patients (P = 0.423), hematomas: 2 patients in each group (not significant). The present study demonstrated that neuromuscular monitoring improved endotracheal intubating conditions. However, tracheal intubation at maximum intensity of neuromuscular block was not associated with a decrease in vocal cord injuries.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyGabapentin: an alternative to the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors for perioperative pain management.
The cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, was a popular analgesic adjuvant for improving perioperative pain management. We designed this placebo-controlled study to test the hypothesis that gabapentin could produce similar reductions in postoperative pain and opioid analgesic usage, thereby improving the recovery process. One hundred patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy procedures were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: 1) control group received placebo capsules and pills before and for 2 days after surgery, 2) rofecoxib group received 50 mg/d PO and placebo capsules before and after surgery and, 3) gabapentin group received 1.2 g/d PO and placebo pills before and after surgery, and 4) combination group received rofecoxib 50 mg/d and gabapentin 1.2 g/d PO before and after surgery. ⋯ Discharge eligibility scores in groups 2 and 4 were improved at 24 h when compared with group 1, and patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management was significantly higher at 24 h in all 3 analgesic treatment groups. At the 72 h follow-up, all of the patients in group 4 were completely satisfied with their pain management compared with only 32%, 64%, and 72% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Gabapentin (1.2 g/d PO) appears to be an acceptable alternative to rofecoxib (50 mg/d PO) for short-term use as an adjuvant to opioid analgesics in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe dose of succinylcholine required for excellent endotracheal intubating conditions.
In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we attempted to define the dose of succinylcholine that provides excellent intubation conditions in patients within 60 s during simulated rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced in 180 patients with 2 microg/kg fentanyl and 2 mg/kg propofol. After loss of consciousness, patients were randomly allocated to receive 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 mg/kg succinylcholine or saline solution (control group). ⋯ The incidence of excellent intubating conditions was significantly more frequent (P < 0.001) in patients receiving succinylcholine than in the controls and in patients who received 2.0 mg/kg succinylcholine (P < 0.05) than in those who received 0.3 mg/kg succinylcholine. The calculated doses of succinylcholine (and their 95% confidence intervals) that are required to achieve excellent intubating conditions in 50% and 80% of patients at 60 s are 0.39 (0.29-0.51) mg/kg and 1.6 (1.2-2.0) mg/kg, respectively. It appears that there are no advantages to using doses of succinylcholine larger than 1.5 mg/kg.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyMiddle ear pressure changes during anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide are similar among airway devices.
We tested the hypothesis that middle ear pressure (MEP) is influenced by the choice of airway device during anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide (N2O) in the gas mixture. Eighty consecutive anesthetized, paralyzed ventilated patients (ASA physical status I-II, 18-65 yr) were randomly allocated for airway management with the orally inserted tracheal tube, classic laryngeal mask airway, ProSeal laryngeal mask airway, or laryngeal tube suction with or without N2O 66% in the gas mixture. MEP was measured from both ears in random order by a blinded observer before induction of anesthesia and every 10 min for 70 min. ⋯ MEP was unchanged in the air groups but increased in the N2O groups with N2O (P < 0.0001) and decreased with air (P < 0.02). Baseline values for MEP were similar, but MEP was always higher for the N2O groups (P < 0.001). We conclude that the choice of airway device does not influence MEP among orally inserted tracheal tube, classic laryngeal mask airway, ProSeal laryngeal mask airway, and laryngeal tube suction during anesthesia with or without N2O in the gas mixture.