European journal of anaesthesiology
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Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing a short-stay ophthalmic operation (orbital hydroxyapatite implantation) were recruited over 1 year to assess the frequency and duration of post-operative nausea and vomiting over 7 days. The incidence of nausea and vomiting in hospital was recorded. Patients scored their nausea and vomiting four times daily at home. ⋯ However, there was a statistically significant correlation between nausea and pain. The high incidence of nausea and vomiting observed in this study appears to provide additional evidence of an oculo-emetic reflex. The timing of discharge and appropriate patient education are discussed.
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An audit of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was undertaken in 935 female patients who used morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain relief after major gynaecological operations in a district general hospital. We investigated retrospectively five different antiemetic policies and a reference group without policy from January 1993 to July 1995. The department's computerized audit system was used to analyse the observations. ⋯ This emphasizes the importance of corporate involvement in the development, formulation and evaluation of departmental protocols if compliance is to be high. We conclude that audit as a corporate effort improves the acceptance of departmental protocols. This reduces PONV significantly irrespective of the type of antiemetic drug used.
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The haemodynamic effects of anaesthesia with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)/sufentanil for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were investigated and compared in patients with unimpaired left ventricular function (ejection fraction > or = 45%, left ventricular end diastolic pressure < or = 16 mmHg) and patients with impaired left ventricular function. In 38 consecutive patients scheduled for CABG (21 with unimpaired and 17 with impaired left ventricular function), anaesthesia was induced with etomidate, sufentanil and pancuronium. After tracheal intubation, the lungs were normoventilated (end tidal Pco2 4.9-5.6 kPa) with an oxygen-air mixture (Fio2 0.5). ⋯ A total of 14 out of 21 patients (67%) with unimpaired and 10 out of 17 patients (59%) with impaired ventricular function required supplementary administration of opioids to control temporary hypertension after sternotomy. No episodes of myocardial ischaemia were detected during the study period using ST segment analysis (leads II and V5). The results of this study suggest that GHB provides adequate haemodynamic conditions in the prebypass period and may be a suitable agent for TIVA also in patients with impaired left ventricular function undergoing CABG.
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Editorial Historical Article
150 years of anaesthesia--a long way to perioperative medicine: the modern role of the anaesthesiologist.
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Letter Case Reports
Anaphylactoid reaction induced by pancuronium during general anaesthesia.