Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1986
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Comparative study of general and spinal anesthesia in elderly women in hip surgery].
The choice between regional versus general anaesthesia for elderly patients undergoing hip surgery is debated. It is vitally important to see if the type of anaesthetic administered affects per- and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Seventy women more than 75 yr old suitable for spinal anaesthesia were included in this study. ⋯ In patients having general anaesthesia, 22.9% developed bronchopneumonia as opposed to 8.6% in the spinal anaesthesia group (p less than 0.05). The mortality rate at three months was rather similar in the two groups. It was concluded that, in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative central dysfunction and bronchopneumonia, spinal anaesthesia should be preferred in geriatric patients for lower limb surgery.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1986
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Effects of intermittent muscle stimulation on muscle catabolism in patients immobilized in the ICU].
Are muscular contractions obtained by electrical stimulation able to reduce muscle catabolism in immobilized patients? Ten patients (65 to 79 yr old), hospitalized in an intensive care unit for postoperative failure or cerebral infarction, were studied during nine days. Artificial nutrition was the same for each patient during the study. Two periods of four days where defined and randomized for each patient, separated by one day; during the stimulation period (S), intermittent electrical stimulation of the muscles of the legs (external electrodes) was performed daily 2 X 30 min; during the non-stimulation period (NS), muscular stimulation was not performed. ⋯ Results (X +/- SD) are as follows: the nitrogen balance (g/d) was -1.29 +/- 1.26 during the NS period and 1.43 +/- 1.10 during the S period (NS); 3-methylhistidine (mumol/kg/d) was 3.78 +/- 0.37 during the NS period and 3.15 +/- 0.32 during the S period (p less than 0.01); creatinine (mumol/kg/d) was 92.9 +/- 6.8 during the NS period and 72.9 +/- 25 during the S period (p less than 0.01). It is concluded that a significant decrease in 3-methylhistidine and creatinine excretions is observed during the S period. In intensive care unit patients, muscle protein breakdown may be influenced by intermittent electrical muscle stimulation.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1986
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine for surgery of the hip in the elderly].
In 60 elderly patients, spinal anaesthesia for orthopaedic hip surgery was induced randomly with 15 mg bupivacaine 0.375% without glucose (Group I), 2.5% glucose (Group II) or 7.5% glucose (Group III), in 4 ml. The injection was made in the lateral position, and the patients turned supine immediately after. The onset, extent and duration of sensory and motor blockade, the cardiovascular effects and the quality of anaesthesia were evaluated. ⋯ It was suggested to take into account the more rapid infusion of lactated Ringer's solution (20 ml X kg-1) in Group III. Anaesthesia was satisfactory in 95% of patients in Group I and Group II, and 90% in Group III. Glucose-free bupivacaine produced a long-lasting blockade suitable for hip surgery of long duration.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1986
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Maintenance of obstetrical analgesia by continuous perfusion into the peridural space].
Two methods of epidural analgesia were compared in two randomized groups each of 16 normal women in labour, using bolus or continuous infusion. Analgesia was provided by a mixture of bupivacaine 0.25% and fentanyl. ⋯ There was no statistical difference between the two groups concerning length of labour, number of forceps, Apgar score and patient, obstetrician and anaesthetist satisfaction score. Although continuous epidural infusion was greatly appreciated by the obstetrical team, it would seem to be of interest only when labour is long enough to require larger doses, especially when labour is induced.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jan 1985
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSkin testing in the investigation of reactions to intravenous anaesthetic drugs. A prospective trial of atracurium and tubocurarine.
Intradermal skin testing is widely used to determine the causative drugs of presumed anaphylactic anaesthetic reactions. This paper sets out to evaluate the usefulness of skin tests, both intradermal and prick testing, in the prediction of anaesthetic reactions. The muscle relaxant drugs tubocurarine and atracurium were chosen for study since they are known to produce a high incidence of minor histaminoid reactions. ⋯ The results of the trial, combined with external reports to this centre, indicate that intradermal testing of anaesthetic drugs, particularly muscle relaxants, produces a high incidence of false positive results. This probably reflects their pharmacological activity rather than antigenicity. It is recommended, therefore, that skin testing should be reserved for situations in which there are strong indications from laboratory tests, backed by case history, of immune sensitization.