European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Therapeutic suggestions given during neurolept-anaesthesia decrease post-operative nausea and vomiting.
A double-blind randomized study was performed in 100 patients undergoing thyroidectomy to evaluate the effect of positive therapeutic suggestions made during neurolept-anaesthesia. The classic droperidol-fentanyl-N2O technique was used as these drugs preserve the neurophysiological functions required to process the information in the therapeutic suggestions given during general anaesthesia. Patients in the suggestion group heard positive non-affirmative suggestions during the whole operation. ⋯ Both groups were comparable with respect to demographic variables, anaesthetic technique, drug dosage, duration of anaesthesia and surgery. Patients in the suggestion group suffered significantly less from post-operative nausea or vomiting (suggestion: 47.2% vs. control: 85.7%) and required less anti-emetic treatment (suggestion: 30.6% vs. control: 68.6%). We conclude that therapeutic suggestions heard during neurolept-anaesthesia are processed and decrease post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients after thyroidectomy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
An evaluation of intercostal nerve blockade for analgesia following renal transplantation.
In a double-blinded study we examined the effect of supplementing patient-controlled morphine analgesia with intercostal nerve blockade to identify if this improved analgesia and reduced morphine requirements following renal transplantation. Fifty patients were randomized to receive unilateral intercostal nerve block with either 0.5% bupivacaine or saline to the lower five intercostal nerves. ⋯ Two patients developed a pneumothorax, neither of which were clinically apparent at the time of diagnosis, and only detected by chest radiography. A chest radiograph should therefore be considered mandatory after intercostal nerve blockade.