International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ramosetron for preventing nausea and vomiting during termination of pregnancy.
Women undergoing general anesthesia for dilatation and curettage have a high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting. We therefore evaluated the efficacy and safety of ramosetron, a new compound having serotonin receptor antagonist activity, for preventing nausea and vomiting in termination of pregnancy. Eighty women scheduled for dilatation and curettage received, in a randomized, double-blind manner, an intravenous placebo or ramosetron at three different doses (0.15 mg, 0.3 mg, 0.6 mg) at the end of surgery (n = 20 per group). ⋯ No clinically serious adverse events due to the study drugs were observed in any group. Our results suggest that ramosetron 0.3 mg is an effective antiemetic for prophylaxis against emetic symptoms after dilatation and curettage. Increasing the dose to 0.6 mg provides no further benefit.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntrathecal fentanyl-induced pruritus during labour: the effect of prophylactic ondansetron.
Fentanyl is commonly used for spinal analgesia during labour but it is associated with a high incidence of pruritus. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to evaluate the effect of prophylactic ondansetron on the incidence and severity of pruritus among parturients receiving intrathecal fentanyl as part of combined spinal-epidural analgesia. Seventy-three women were randomised to receive either saline placebo (group P, n = 25), ondansetron 4 mg (group O4, n = 23) or ondansetron 8 mg (group O8, n = 25) intravenously before intrathecal fentanyl 25 micrograms and bupivacaine 2 mg. ⋯ There were no significant differences between groups for severity of pruritus or requirement for treatment (naloxone given to 45%, 28% and 35% of groups P, O4 and O8 respectively). Secondary outcomes such as the incidence of headache, pain and nausea were not significantly different between groups. We conclude that prophylactic ondansetron 4 or 8 mg intravenously was ineffective in reducing the incidence or severity of intrathecal fentanyl-induced pruritus during labour.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEfficacy and side effect profile of varying doses of intrathecal fentanyl added to bupivacaine for labor analgesia.
The purpose of this randomized, double blinded and controlled study was to determine the optimal dose of intrathecal fentanyl when combined with bupivacaine 2.5 mg for initiation of labor analgesia. Parous parturients with cervical dilation between 3 and 5 cm were randomized to receive intrathecal fentanyl 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 micrograms, combined with bupivacaine 2.5 mg, followed by a lidocaine/epinephrine epidural test dose. Visual analog pain scores (VAPS) and the presence of side effects were determined every 15 min until the parturient requested additional analgesia. ⋯ The incidence of pruritus was greater in all fentanyl groups compared to control. These data suggest that, when combined with intrathecal bupivacaine 2.5 mg, fentanyl 15 micrograms provides satisfactory analgesia to all parturients. Higher fentanyl doses produced no additional benefit in duration or quality of analgesia.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialStandard preoxygenation technique versus two rapid techniques in pregnant patients.
The aim of this study was to compare three different preoxygenation techniques in pregnant women by measuring end-tidal fractional oxygen concentration (FETO2): the traditional technique of 3min tidal volume breathing (VT x 3 min), 8 deep breaths (8 DB) and 4 deep breaths (4 DB). Twenty pregnant volunteers without pulmonary diseases were studied during the third trimester (36-38 weeks' gestation). Women were preoxygentated using a non-rebreathing respiratory circuit with a 3-L reservoir bag and a Capnomac Ultima calibrated before each patient to monitor FETO2 continuously. ⋯ The average time required for obtaining an FETO2 >/= 90% was 107+/-37s. Both the VT x 3 min and the 8 DB techniques are therefore more effective for preoxygenation in pregnant patients than the 4 DB technique. In an acute obstetric emergency before rapid-sequence induction of general anaesthesia, 8 DB preoxygenation technique could be recommended.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyComplications of obstetric regional analgesia: how much information is enough?
Two hundred parturients who had received epidural analgesia during labour (100 in Melbourne, Australia and 100 in London, UK) were asked on the first postnatal day about their sources of antenatal information on pain relief in labour, their awareness of potential complications of epidural analgesia and the level of risk at which they would wish to be informed before consenting to a procedure. Sources of antenatal information were similar in the two countries although more women in Australia received information from an anaesthetist or obstetrician than in the UK, whilst more women in the UK received information from the media than in Australia. Knowledge of risks was also similar although the Australian subjects were more aware of infective complications while those in the UK were more aware of intravascular injection of local anaesthetic; these differences may reflect recent high-profile cases in the two countries. ⋯ The majority of women considered that the benefits of epidural analgesia outweighed each of the potential complications. Women differ in their requirements for antenatal information about regional analgesia and its complications, with some wanting to know every complication, however rare. Anaesthetists should be flexible in their disclosure of information when obtaining consent for regional analgesia and consider the particular wishes of each patient rather than follow rigid centralised guidelines.