Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Association of mortality with age of blood transfused in septic ICU patients.
To determine, retrospectively, the age of packed red blood cell (PRBC) units transfused to patients admitted to the ICU with the diagnosis of severe sepsis and to correlate this variable with outcome. ⋯ This is the first study to report a correlation of mortality with the age of PRBC transfused. The cause of this association is unclear. If this association is confirmed by a prospective randomised trial it would have major implications for the use of PRBC in severe sepsis.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Intravenous fentanyl PCA during labour.
To evaluate the usefulness of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) fentanyl for labour analgesia, its effectiveness for maternal pain and safety for the fetus and newborn. ⋯ Intravenous fentanyl can be used for labour analgesia with the doses reported here as an alternative to epidural analgesia. However, the fetus and neonate must be appropriately monitored. Naloxone and oxygen should be available if neonatal distress occurs.
-
To test the efficacy of the LMA in patients with previous oral or cervical radiotherapy, without upper airway obstruction. ⋯ In patients with limitation of mouth opening after oral radiotherapy, LMA may represent an alternative to tracheal intubation. In patient with cervical sclerosis after radiotherapy; the use of LMA should be avoided.
-
We report the peripartum anaesthetic management for vaginal delivery of a chronic pain patient with an implanted intrathecal pump. This is the first report describing labour analgesia in a patient with such a device. As intrathecal systems become more popular for the management of nonmalignant pain, this situation is likely to be encountered with increasing frequency in the future. ⋯ The presence of an existing intrathecal delivery system does not preclude the use of supplemental epidural analgesia during labour.