Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialTransdermal scopolamine: an alternative to ondansetron and droperidol for the prevention of postoperative and postdischarge emetic symptoms.
Given the controversy regarding the use of droperidol and the high cost of the 5-HT3 antagonists, a cost-effective alternative for routine use as a prophylactic antiemetic would be desirable. We designed two parallel, randomized, double-blind sham and placebo-controlled studies to compare the early and late antiemetic efficacy and adverse event profile of transdermal scopolamine (TDS) 1.5 mg, to ondansetron 4 mg IV, and droperidol 1.25 mg IV for antiemetic prophylaxis as part of a multimodal regimen in "at risk" surgical populations. ⋯ Premedication with TDS was as effective as droperidol (1.25 mg) or ondansetron (4 mg) in preventing nausea and vomiting in the early and late postoperative periods. However, the use of a TDS patch is more likely to produce a dry mouth.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2007
An update on pediatric anesthesia liability: a closed claims analysis.
Respiratory complications were associated with half of pediatric malpractice claims from the 1970s to 1980s in the ASA Closed Claims Database. Advances in pediatric anesthesia practice have occurred in the 1980s and 1990s and may be reflected in liability trends. ⋯ Death/BD remained the dominant injuries in pediatric anesthesia malpractice claims in the 1990s. Cardiovascular events joined respiratory events as the major sources of liability.