Anaesthesia
-
Comparative Study
Continuous regional analgesia in comparison with intravenous opioid administration for routine postoperative pain control.
This study compares retrospectively the postoperative analgesia provided via intravenous opioids with continuous regional techniques (interpleural and epidural infusions) administered as a clinical routine by an anaesthesia-based Acute Pain Service. In 2630 patients no severe complications resulting in morbidity or mortality occurred; the rate of potentially serious complications was in the 0.5% range and comparable between the techniques. ⋯ Patient satisfaction with these techniques was higher than with intravenous opioid administration. In conclusion, continuous regional analgesia in a routine clinical setting is comparable to intravenous opioid administration with regard to safety, but results in significantly better analgesia with fewer side effects.
-
The effects of a sedative infusion of propofol on haemodynamics and oxygen transport were examined in critically ill adult patients. Ten patients receiving mechanical ventilation for treatment of septic shock and respiratory failure were given a decreasing rate propofol infusion designed to achieve and maintain a stable sedation level. ⋯ There were no significant changes in cardiac output, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption or arterial blood lactate concentrations. Controlled propofol sedation is well tolerated in appropriately monitored and resuscitated critically ill adult patients, and appears to have no major effects on whole-body oxygen transport.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Recovery from pre-operative sedation with clonidine--brain stem auditory evoked response.
In a randomised double-blind study, 34 elderly patients (ASA grades 1-2) underwent elective intra-ocular surgery. Patients were allocated randomly to two groups to receive oral clonidine 300 micrograms or oral diazepam 10 mg 2 h before surgery. Facial block and retrobulbar block were given at 2 h after premedication. ⋯ In the diazepam group, there was a significant rise in the interpeak latencies immediately after operation and 120 min after operation and a rise in absolute peak latencies (p < 0.05) immediately after operation. In the clonidine group there was a reduction (p < 0.05) in amplitude of wave V at immediately after operation. We conclude that clonidine 300 micrograms orally before surgery does not delay recovery.