Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Epidural dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements.
Epidural steroids may have potential advantages for providing postoperative analgesia. We therefore undertook a study to evaluate the efficacy of epidurally administered dexamethasone in reducing postoperative morphine requirements, as a measure of analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. ⋯ Preoperative epidural administration of dexamethasone 5 mg, with or without bupivacaine, reduces postoperative pain and morphine consumption following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Continuous positive airway pressure does not improve lung function after cardiac surgery.
Despite the well-documented impairment of pulmonary function after cardiopulmonary bypass, effective precautions and ideal management strategies for this problem are still under debate. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) applied during cardiopulmonary bypass on respiratory and hemodynamic variables. ⋯ Continuous positive airway pressure administered during cardiopulmonary bypass decreased shunt fraction and alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference during surgery, but had no sustained effect on either variable postoperatively. We conclude that, in patients with normal preoperative pulmonary function, application of 10 cm H2O CPAP does not improve lung function after cardiac surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Induced hypotension with epidural/general anesthesia reduces transfusion in radical prostate surgery.
Radical prostatectomy is associated with substantial blood loss frequently requiring allogeneic blood transfusion. We investigated the efficacy of deliberate hypotension using combined epidural/general anesthesia in reducing allogeneic transfusion requirements in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. ⋯ Controlled hypotension using a combined epidural/ general anesthetic technique is associated with significantly less blood loss, and a reduction in the use of allogeneic blood in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy compared to general anesthesia alone.