Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Axillary plexus block using a peripheral nerve stimulator: single or multiple injections.
This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was undertaken to evaluate the success rates of axillary brachial plexus block performed with the help of a peripheral nerve stimulator when either one, two or four of the major nerves of the brachial plexus were located. Seventy-five patients undergoing upper limb surgery were randomly allocated to one of the following five groups according to the nerve and number of nerves to be located; G-1: musculo-cutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves; G-2: musculo-cutaneous plus one of the other three nerves; G-3: radial nerve; G-4: median nerve; G-5: ulnar nerve. ⋯ Only one out of the 15 patients in G-1 and G-2 needed completion of their block before surgery whereas seven out of 15 for G-3 and eight out of 15 for G-4 and G-5 needed completion of their block (P less than 0.01). We conclude that when performing an axillary block with the help of a peripheral nerve stimulator, stimulation of the musculo-cutaneous nerve and one other nerve or stimulation of all four major nerves of the brachial plexus gives a higher success rate than stimulation of only one nerve, whether the stimulated nerve is the median, radial or ulnar.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of meperidine and pancuronium for the treatment of shivering after cardiac surgery.
Shivering after cardiac surgery can produce adverse haemodynamic and metabolic sequelae. In this study, the metabolic effects of shivering and the efficacy of treatment with meperidine or pancuronium were studied, using a metabolic cart, in 61 patients who had undergone cardiac surgery. The patients received premedication with morphine, perphenazine and diazepam or lorazepam, and were anaesthetised with fentanyl or sufentanil and diazepam. ⋯ Hourly measurements were made of haemodynamic variables (MAP, PAOP, CVP, SVR, PVR, CI), carbon dioxide production, oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient. If the patient shivered, the measurements were recorded prior to drug treatment and repeated 30 min later following randomization to either: meperidine 0.25 mg.kg-1 (Group 1), meperidine 0.5 mg.kg-1 (Group 2) or pancuronium 0.06 mg.kg-1 intravenously (Group 3). Thirty-two patients shivered and mean VO2 and VCO2 values were greater in the shivering group than in the nonshivering patients (VO2 334.8 +/- 17.6 vs. 240.5 +/- 8.8 ml.min-1; VCO2 238.8 +/- 17.2 vs 199.2 +/- 8.4 ml.min-1, P = 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Intraoperative clonidine enhances postoperative morphine patient-controlled analgesia.
In this prospective study, the postoperative analgesic effects of intraoperative iv clonidine were evaluated. Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to either balanced anaesthesia with iv clonidine (Group 1) or balanced anaesthesia alone (Group 2). A PCA infuser was connected immediately after tracheal extubation. ⋯ Clonidine did not exacerbate sedation or side effects. However, clonidine provided better analgesia in men and in patients less than 65 yr of age. Intraoperative iv clonidine enhances morphine analgesia after abdominal surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of esmolol and labetalol for the treatment of perioperative hypertension in geriatric ambulatory surgical patients.
This is an open randomized study comparing the efficacy and safety of i.v. esmolol and labetalol in the treatment of perioperative hypertension in ambulatory surgery. Twenty-two elderly patients undergoing cataract surgery under local anaesthesia were studied. The main inclusion criteria were development of systolic blood pressure greater than 200 mmHg or diastolic greater than 100 mmHg. ⋯ None of the patients treated with labetalol experienced any prolonged side effects such as orthostatic hypotension. In conclusion, esmolol may produce considerable bradycardia in elderly patients when hypertension is not accompanied by tachycardia. Labetalol was easier to administer in the ambulatory setting and one-tenth the cost of esmolol.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Premedication of children with oral midazolam.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the safety, efficacy and feasibility of oral midazolam premedication in children were evaluated in an ambulatory surgery unit. Eighty unmedicated children (ASA PS I or II, ages 1-6 yr) were randomly assigned to one of four groups receiving midazolam 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 mg.kg-1 or a placebo 30 min before separation from parents. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, sedation and anxiolysis scores were recorded before premedication, every five minutes for 30 min and then during induction of anaesthesia and recovery. ⋯ Mean times to discharge from hospital were similar for all four groups. The side effects, loss of balance and head control, blurred vision and dysphoric reactions were observed only in the 0.75 and 1.0 mg.kg-1 midazolam groups. We conclude that oral midazolam 0.5 mg.kg-1 is a safe and effective premedication and that 0.75 and 1 mg.kg-1 while offering no additional benefit, may cause more side effects.