Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of three sites to check the pulse and count heart rate in hypotensive infants.
Current international guidelines state that heart rate counted at the brachial pulse must be absent or <60 b x min(-1) to diagnose cardiac arrest. Some data suggest that this site may not be the best to check cardiac activity. Hypotension is a likely real scenario of the need for chest compressions in infants. We compared the performance of three sites of pulse palpation (brachial, carotid, and femoral) for detecting and counting heartbeat in hypotensive infants. ⋯ Femoral palpation proved to be the best site for detecting heartbeat and counting heart rate in hypotensive infants. These findings challenge the current guidelines. More data are needed, but the current standard of brachial pulse assessment is debatable.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA pilot study of the rectus sheath block for pain control after umbilical hernia repair.
Umbilical hernia repair, a common day surgery procedure in children, is associated with significant postoperative discomfort. The rectus sheath block may offer improved pain management following umbilical hernia repair. In this pilot study, we compared the efficacy of the rectus sheath block with that of our current standard practice--local anesthetic infiltration into the surgical wound--for pain control after umbilical hernia repair in children. ⋯ Our results suggest that the rectus sheath block has no advantage over infiltration of local anesthetic into the surgical wound for postoperative pain management in children undergoing umbilical hernia repair.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparative evaluation of different doses of propofol preceded by fentanyl on intubating conditions and pressor response during tracheal intubation without muscle relaxants.
The aim of our study was to determine the optimal dose of propofol preceded by fentanyl for successful tracheal intubation and to see its effectiveness in blunting pressor response in children aged 3-10 years. ⋯ Propofol 3 mg x kg(-1) (group II) preceded by fentanyl 3 microg x kg(-1) is the optimal dose combination in our study. It provides acceptable intubating conditions in 80% patients, blunts pressor response to intubation without significant cardiovascular depression.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialA trial of fresh autologous whole blood to treat dilutional coagulopathy following cardiopulmonary bypass in infants.
Transfusion of fresh whole blood is superior to blood component therapy in correcting coagulopathies in children following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); however, a supply of fresh homologous whole blood is difficult to maintain. We hypothesized that transfusion of fresh autologous whole blood obtained prior to heparinization for CPB and infused following CPB would be associated with improved coagulation function when compared with standard therapy. ⋯ We conclude that collection of fresh autologous whole blood prior to heparinization and reinfusion following CPB is associated with greater improvement of coagulation status after CPB in infants.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialEarly vs late intraoperative administration of tropisetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.
Tropisetron is a long-acting 5HT3 receptor antagonist and was shown to be effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after tonsillectomy. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of early vs late intraoperative administration of tropisetron with regard to prevention of PONV during the first 48 h after extubation. ⋯ The intraoperative time point (early vs late) of intravenous administration of a single prophylactic dose of tropisetron has no impact on the incidence of PONV during the first 48 h after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy in children.