Anaesthesia and intensive care
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The development of the Final Examination of Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is described from its inception in 1956 to the present. A statistical analysis was made of the examinations in 1969 and 1970. The correlations between marks for essay questions, within the multiple choice examination and between clinical examinations were low, suggesting that the reliability of these tests was unsatisfactory. ⋯ Continuing analysis has shown higher correlations between and within most parts of the examination. The correlations for the essay marks have remained lower, but essays have been retained in an attempt to assess and encourage the skills involved. Feedback of teaching and learning information obtained from analysis of the examination is provided to Regional Education Officers and Supervisors of Training.
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The administration of New Zealand's first general anaesthetic took place at the Colonial Gaol, Wellington, on the morning of Monday, September 27th, 1847. The agent used was sulphuric ether which was administered by Mr. Marriot, the manufacturer of the Herapath-type inhaler used on this occasion. ⋯ J. P. Fitzgerald.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 1975
Comparative StudyControl of heat balance during arterial surgery.
Patients were studied to quantitate methods used to prevent heat loss during vascular surgery. A combination of techniques limiting heat loss were shown to prevent hypothermia. In addition it was shown that heat balance in patients undergoing vascular surgery did not differ from that in patients undergoing other forms of surgery.
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Two patients with tetanus are reported to illustrate the involvement of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system respectively. Aspects of the autonomic manifestations of tetanus are illustrated and discussed.
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Three groups of adult patients were anaesthetized for elective intra-abdominal surgery. In one group, patients were ventilated with dry anaesthetic gases, and these patients all lost heat. ⋯ The third group, in addition to humidification, had surface insulation and all these patients gained heat. It is suggested that conservative methods which negate heat loss are able to prevent hypothermia by the retention of metabolically produced heat.