Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Auscultation is a well-established technique to confirm the position of double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs). However, some authors have recommended that fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is also indicated. The aims of this study were to determine first if bronchoscopy after blind placement of DLTs improved positioning; and second if preoperative bronchoscopy could detect difficult intubation. ⋯ Fibreoptic bronchoscopy after blind placement of DLTs resulted in repositioning 78% left-sided DLTs and 83% right-sided DLTs. Preoperative bronchoscopy did not always detect an airway abnormality which might lead to difficult positioning of the DLTs. In conclusion, auscultation is an unreliable method of confirming the position of DLTs and should be followed by fibreoptic bronchoscopy.
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Learning needs assessment is the term applied to the process of identifying or diagnosing a learner's educational needs. It is the foundation of a systematic continuing medical education (CME) programme. Needs assessment has been identified as the most pressing problem of medical education directors in North America. ⋯ Paediatric anaesthesia, anaesthesia for trauma surgery and thoracic anaesthesia had top ranks among the subspecialty fields. Regional anaesthesia techniques received higher need and interest ranks than intravenous and inhalational techniques. The learning needs of anaesthetists of a large urban centre have been identified, and this information is useful to CME planners.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Perioperative effects of oral ketorolac and acetaminophen in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy.
Prophylactic administration of analgesics before surgery can decrease the intraoperative anaesthetic requirement and decrease pain during the early postoperative period. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 90 healthy ASA physical status I or II children undergoing bilateral myringotomy, we compared the postoperative analgesic effects of oral acetaminophen and ketorolac, when administered 30 min before induction of anaesthesia. Patients were randomized to receive saline (0.1 ml.kg-1), acetaminophen (10 mg.kg-1) or ketorolac (1 mg.kg-1) diluted in cherry syrup to a total volume of 5 ml. ⋯ The ketorolac group had lower postoperative pain scores and required less frequent analgesic therapy in the early postoperative period compared with the acetaminophen and placebo groups. In contrast, there were no differences in pain scores or analgesic requirements between the acetaminophen and the placebo groups. We conclude that the preoperative administration of oral ketorolac, but not acetaminophen, provided better postoperative pain control than placebo in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Rocuronium (ORG 9426) neuromuscular blockade at the adductor muscles of the larynx and adductor pollicis in humans.
The effects of rocuronium, 0.25 or 0.5 mg.kg-1, were measured simultaneously on the adductor muscles of the larynx and adductor pollicis in 14 adult patients. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol and fentanyl. Tracheal intubation was performed without muscle relaxants. ⋯ Maximum blockade was 37 +/- 8% and 69 +/- 8%, respectively (P less than 0.05), and time to 90% T1 recovery was 7 +/- 1 min and 20 +/- 4 min, respectively (P less than 0.05). With 0.5 mg.kg-1, the onset time was also more rapid at the vocal cords (1.4 +/- 0.1 min) than at the adductor pollicis (2.4 +/- 0.2 min, P less than 0.001). Maximum blockade was 77 +/- 5% and 98 +/- 1%, respectively (P less than 0.01), and time to 90% T1 recovery was 22 +/- 3 min and 37 +/- 4 min, respectively (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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To record, tabulate and report problems associated with anaesthesia, we have developed an information collection system and computer software to follow all patients attended by an anaesthetist at a teaching hospital in Canada. For the last 15 mo, data for 17,000 patients have been collected and the system is ongoing. Data collection is from three sources: carbonless copies of the handwritten Operating Room (OR) and Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) records, other hospital databases, and postoperative visits. ⋯ Comparison of data entered into the computer programme to a retrospective chart review revealed discrepancies of less than 0.5%. Collection, verification and computer entry takes five minutes per patient and the on-going cost is estimated at $4 per patient record. Analysis of the information collected in this database has been useful for research of adverse outcome following anaesthesia, resident expertise profiles, and the administrative management of an anaesthesia department.