Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSub-Tenon's block: the effect of hyaluronidase on speed of onset and block quality.
The role of hyaluronidase on the onset time and quality of single quadrant sub-Tenon's block was studied in a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled manner. One hundred and twenty consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery under local anaesthesia received a sub-Tenon's block with either of two local anaesthetic solutions. One consisted of 2% plain lignocaine 3 ml with 0.5% plain bupivacaine 2 ml. ⋯ Akinesia scores were lower at all time intervals and were significantly lower (P < 0.05) up to 9 minutes after block in the hyaluronidase group. However, block quality as assessed by the surgeon was not significantly different between the groups. The addition of 150 IU hyaluronidase significantly speeds up the onset of surgical anaesthesia produced by a sub-Tenon's block.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1999
Case ReportsSubsequent general anaesthesia in patients with a history of previous anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reaction to muscle relaxant.
Of 151 patients with a possible anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reaction to a muscle relaxant investigated over a 20-year period, follow-up for any subsequent general anaesthesia was complete in 145 (96%). One hundred and twenty-two anaesthetics in 72 patients were documented. There were no anaesthetic-related deaths. ⋯ In the patients with a severe reaction and a positive intradermal test to one or more muscle relaxants, six out of 40 later anaesthetics using muscle relaxants were associated with clinical problems, three being probable anaphylactic reactions, whilst three were minor. Intradermal testing should be performed prior to surgery in this group of patients for the muscle relaxant(s) planned, or an anaesthetic technique which avoids relaxants should be used. This review should encourage other centres to undertake similar follow-up.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1999
Case ReportsChronic subdural haematoma following caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
Intracranial subdural haematoma is a rare complication of spinal anaesthesia. This report describes the case of a 31-year-old woman who presented with post partum headache following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Bilateral haematomata were evacuated via burr-holes performed under total intravenous anaesthesia and the patient made a complete and uneventful recovery. The recognized causes of subdural haematoma are discussed.
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The management of a morbidly obese parturient with a body mass index of 88 is reported. She developed asthma during the pregnancy. Lumbar epidural anaesthesia was successfully used for an elective caesarean section and tubal ligation.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Apr 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEpidural 0.2% ropivacaine for labour analgesia: parturient-controlled or continuous infusion?
In this randomized, open study, we compared the incidence of lower limb motor block associated with epidural labour analgesia provided by parturient-controlled method (PCEA) with continuous infusion (CIEA) using 0.2% ropivacaine. The PCEA group (n = 20) received a demand-only regimen (bolus 5 ml, lockout 15 minutes). The rate of infusion of the CIEA group (n = 20) was 8 ml/h. ⋯ The total volume of ropivacaine used per hour was also lower in the PCEA group (median 8.75 vs 10.5 ml, P < 0.05). No difference in the maternal or fetal outcome was detected. We conclude that PCEA with ropivacaine is an effective mode of analgesia which is dose-sparing and produces less motor block in comparison with CIEA.