Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Crystalloid versus colloid for circulatory preload for epidural caesarean section.
Sixty mothers were randomly allocated to receive either 2 litres of crystalloid or 1 litre of colloid solution (hydroxyethyl starch) in order to preload the circulation prior to elective Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. There were no differences in the incidence of hypotension, degree of haemodilution, umbilical cord blood gas tensions or umbilical blood osmolalities between the two groups.
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The types and frequency of complications attributable solely to anaesthesia, and which caused serious morbidity and substantial negative outcome, were examined in a prospective study of 7306 anaesthetics. The analysis demonstrated that severe complications and mortality attributable to anaesthesia occurred in 0.59% (1:170) and 0.04% (1:2500) of patients respectively. The data suggest that "high-risk' patients are more likely to be affected by errors and a substantial negative outcome than more healthy patients. ⋯ Anaesthetists are faced with an increasing number of patients who are at high risk, and who undergo increasingly extensive surgical interventions. Concomitant with the increasing complexity of care and increasing demands on the anaesthetists may be an expected increase in the incidence of errors. Recognition of the importance of human factors in morbidity and mortality attributable to anaesthesia is a necessary first step.
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The Duostim model TV02 is a new peripheral nerve stimulator designed both for nerve identification in the performance of regional anaesthesia and for monitoring neuromuscular blockade. The output pulses are unipolar and of adjustable constant current. The provision of single twitch (1 Hz and 1/15 Hz) train-of-four and tetanic stimuli, together with indication of the current delivered and the small size of the unit, facilitate its clinical use. Performance was assessed and found to be according to specification.