Anaesthesia and intensive care
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPostoperative epidural fentanyl infusion--is the addition of 0.1% bupivacaine of benefit?
A randomised, double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted in 90 women scheduled for major abdominal gynaecological oncology surgery to determine the effect of adding 0.1% plain bupivacaine to a thoracic epidural fentanyl infusion. Following combined epidural and general anaesthesia, patients were randomised to receive epidural fentanyl 10 micrograms/ml, with (group FB) or without (group F) bupivacaine. After an initial 50 micrograms bolus of fentanyl, infusion rate was adjusted according to need between 2 and 10 ml/hr for 48 hours. ⋯ There was no significant difference between groups with respect to side-effects or lower limb weakness, although fewer patients in group FB could be mobilised on the morning of the first postoperative day (P < 0.01). Nevertheless, all study patients were ambulant by the same afternoon. We concluded that, in this patient population, the addition of 0.1% bupivacaine to a thoracic epidural fentanyl infusion was beneficial in the early postoperative period.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntramuscular ketorolac for postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic sterilisation.
The analgesic effect of intramuscular ketorolac was assessed by double blind study in forty women presenting for day-case laparoscopic sterilisation. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either ketorolac 30 mg or saline by intramuscular injection immediately following induction of general anaesthesia. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in pain scores, opioid requirements or incidence of nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period. In view of the potential side-effects of ketorolac, and the apparent lack of efficacy when used prophylactically, the routine use of the drug in this group of patients cannot be recommended.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntraoperative and postoperative analgesia using intravenous opioid, clonidine and lignocaine.
The postoperative analgesia afforded after colonic surgery by IV opioid, clonidine and lignocaine given intra- and postoperatively was evaluated. In a double-blind randomised trial, 80 male patients scheduled for colonic resection under general anaesthesia received fentanyl 5 micrograms.kg-1 at induction and another 4 micrograms.kg-1 before skin incision (group A) or fentanyl (same dose) plus clonidine 4 micrograms.kg-1 in 20 min + 2 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 (group B, C) or fentanyl plus clonidine (same dosage) plus lignocaine 2 mg.kg-1 before skin incision, repeated before peritoneal incision and retractor placement (group D). In the four groups, intraoperative boluses of fentanyl 2 micrograms.kg-1 were given in response to the painful stimulation of the procedure. ⋯ No differences were noted between the group B, C, D. Pain analogue scores were better in groups B, C, D compared with group A (P < 0.001). Sedation and side-effects were not increased in groups B, C, D.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Dec 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWarm local anaesthetic--effect on latency of onset of axillary brachial plexus block.
A double-blind, controlled trial was conducted to determine whether warming local anaesthetic reduces the onset time of axillary brachial plexus block. Forty patients were randomised into two groups. ⋯ A solution of 40 ml of lignocaine 1.5% with adrenaline 1:200,000 was used for all patients. Warming the local anaesthetic was not demonstrated to reduce the latency of onset of blockade.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Dec 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialCombined epidural and general anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia for abdominal aortic surgery: a prospective randomised trial.
Fifty patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic surgery were randomised to receive either combined epidural and general anaesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia (CEGA) or general anaesthesia and postoperative intravenous morphine infusion (GA). Prospective data was collected in order to compare the two groups. This included intraoperative cardiovascular changes and postoperative complications. ⋯ Two patients in the CEGA group died postoperatively compared to one in the GA group (not significant). There was no significant difference between groups in the total number or type of postoperative complications. Combining epidural anaesthesia with general anaesthesia altered intraoperative cardiovascular management but did not affect postoperative outcome.