Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialInterpleural or thoracic epidural analgesia for pain after thoracotomy. A double blind study.
The analgetic effect of bupivacaine given epidurally or interpleurally after thoracotomy was investigated in a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study. 32 patients with both an epidural and an interpleural catheter, were randomized to receive either interpleural or epidural analgesia. The interpleural group was given bupivacaine 5 mg.ml-1 with 5 microgram epinephrine as a 30 ml interpleural bolus, followed by a continuous infusion starting at a rate of 7 ml per hour and epidurally a bolus of 0.9% NaCl followed by a continuous infusion of 0.9% NaCl. ⋯ Adequacy of pain relief was evaluated with the Prins-Henry pain scale. Morphine requirement was registered, there was no difference between the groups in pain scores or need for additional morphine.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPerformance characteristics of a novel reusable intermediate-volume low-pressure cuffed endotracheal tube.
To evaluate the performance of the reusable intermediate-volume low-pressure cuffed "Super Safety Yellow" (Willy Rüsch AG, P.O. Box 1620, D-71332 Waiblingen, Germany) endotracheal tube with regard to cuff seal, tube tip position, and incidence of postoperative throat complaints. The "Super Safety Yellow" was compared with the "Super Safety Clear" (W. Rüsch AG), the "lo-pro (Mallinckrodt Laboratories, Cornamady, Athlone County, Ireland), and the "red rubber" (W. Rüsch AG) tubes. ⋯ Although resembling the "red rubber" tube in the incidence of postoperative throat complaints, the "Super Safety Yellow" may be an alternative to the currently used disposable tubes in anaesthesia. Its performance is comparable with regard to cuff seal and intra-cuff pressure. Additionally, it helps in reducing PVC waste and may lessen costs.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialContinuous positive airway pressure by mask in patients after coronary surgery.
Thirty patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to receive 30% oxygen by mask either with an ambient airway pressure or with 7.4 mmHg (1 kPa) continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for 8 h after extubation. Arterial blood oxygen tension (PaO2) decreased remarkably in the control group after extubation (from 19.2 +/- 5.3 kPa to 12.4 +/- 2.7 kPa) but less in the CPAP group (from 16.4 +/- 3.3 kPa to 14.0 +/- 2.1 kPa). ⋯ Atelectasis was more common in patients with internal thoracic artery grafting and/or pleural drainage. In conclusion, CPAP therapy was well tolerated, and minimized the decrease in PaO2 after extubation, but could not prevent the poor oxygenation or the late development of atelectatic areas on the second postoperative day.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialLocal analgesic and vascular effects of intradermal ropivacaine and bupivacaine in various concentrations with and without addition of adrenaline in man.
Ropivacaine, a new long-acting amino-amide local anaesthetic agent, and bupivacaine, in various concentrations with or without addition of adrenaline, were tested in a randomized, double-blind study using intradermal wheals. Ten non-smoking, healthy, young male volunteers participated. In series I plain solutions of ropivacaine (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and bupivacaine (0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%) were injected intradermally and in series II the same concentrations, with the addition of adrenaline 5 ug.ml-1 (1:200,000), were used. ⋯ Local blanching (pale) was significantly more frequent for plain solutions of ropivacaine, in all tested concentrations. Local redness (pink) was significantly more frequent with plain bupivacaine, in a dose-dependent relation. An initial redness was frequently observed for both local anaesthetics containing adrenaline, followed by blanching at most sites.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of balanced analgesia on early convalescence after major orthopaedic surgery.
Forty-two patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (n = 20) or hip arthroplasty (n = 22) were randomly allocated to receive either continuous epidural bupivacaine/morphine for 48 h postoperatively plus oral piroxicam, or general anaesthesia followed by a conventional intramuscular opioid and acetaminophen regimen. Patients undergoing knee- or hip arthroplasty treated with epidural analgesia had significantly lower pain scores during mobilization under the 48 h epidural infusion compared with patients receiving conventional treatment, while no important differences were observed after cessation of the epidural regimen. ⋯ Late postoperative pain, fatigue and conservative attitudes and routines in the postoperative care, were the most important reasons limiting mobilization and activity. We conclude that effective early (48 h) postoperative pain relief with balanced analgesia does not per se lead to important improvements in convalescence and hospital stay.