Anaesthesia and intensive care
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Oct 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of isoflurane, halothane and fentanyl in patients with decreased ejection fraction undergoing coronary surgery.
The aim of the study was to compare three anaesthetic agents in patients with ejection fraction below 0.40 subjected to coronary revascularization surgery. Twenty five elective coronary surgical patients with ejection fraction below 0.40 were prospectively studied. Premedication was pethidine 1 mg/kg and induction was fentanyl 0.03 mg/kg and pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg. ⋯ Neither pressure nor flow decreased in patients receiving fentanyl. Following weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, systemic vascular resistance decreased significantly in all groups. Cardiac index, however, did not increase above control values and arterial pressure consequently decreased; there was no significant difference between groups.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Oct 1996
Biography Historical ArticleWilliam Morton and the first successful demonstration of anaesthesia.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Oct 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialMorphine for postoperative analgesia. A comparison of intramuscular and subcutaneous routes of administration.
Intermittent parenteral bolus doses of morphine are commonly used for postoperative analgesia. Morphine is typically given by intramuscular or intravenous injection but there are theoretical advantages for the subcutaneous route of administration. Fifty-nine patients entered a prospective randomized double-blind cross-over study comparing intermittent intramuscular and subcutaneous morphine boluses. ⋯ The majority of patients indicated a strong preference for the subcutaneous route. There were no significant differences in pain scores, respiratory rate, arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, sedation or nausea scores between intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of morphine. Postoperative analgesia by subcutaneous morphine bolus injection is as effective as intramuscular injection with a similar side-effect profile but with greater patient acceptance and less risk.