Anaesthesia
-
Spinal anaesthesia should not be performed above the L3/4 interspace if relying on surface anatomy to determine spinal level.
pearl -
When anaesthetists were assessed on their ability to correctly identify a lumbar interspace level in 100 patients undergoing spinal MRI:
- Only 29% identified the space correctly.
- 68% indicated the space was lower than actual.
- 51% were one space out in their estimate.
- 15.5% two spaces.
- 1% three spaces.
- 0.5% four spaces.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intrathecal alfentanil with and without bupivacaine for analgesia in labour.
Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) for analgesia in labour is widely used as a method of providing pain relief while minimising motor blockade. Aiming to further reduce the associated motor weakness, we investigated the use of alfentanil alone as the initial intrathecal injection in a double-blind study. Thirty women were randomly allocated to receive either alfentanil 0.25 mg with bupivacaine 2.5 mg intrathecally, or alfentanil 0.25 mg in the same volume. ⋯ Sixty per cent of women receiving the alfentanil-bupivacaine mixture demonstrated an impaired ability to straight leg raise compared with none of the women in the alfentanil-saline group (p < 0.01). The incidence of adverse effects in mother and fetus was similar in both groups. We conclude that intrathecal alfentanil 0.25 mg alone as part of a CSE technique provides rapid analgesia of satisfactory quality without detectable motor blockade.
-
Multicenter Study
Evaluation of predicted and actual length of stay in 22 Scottish intensive care units using the APACHE III system. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation.
The most recent edition of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation provides a prediction of intensive care unit length of stay in addition to the probability of hospital mortality. Intensive care length of stay is an important determinant of intensive care costs and may be an important indicator of quality of care. Data were collected from 22 Scottish intensive care units over a 2-year period to allow comparison of actual intensive care unit length of stay with that predicted by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III system. ⋯ Length of stay in Scottish intensive care units was found to be consistently lower than that predicted by a model which is based on intensive care practice in the USA. Variations in severity of illness in intensive care unit populations cannot readily explain differences in intensive care unit length of stay. The availability of a model capable of predicting length of intensive care stay, based on data reflecting practice in the UK, would compliment current methods of assessing effectiveness of intensive care.
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The safety and efficacy of cisatracurium 0.15 mg.kg(-1) during nitrous oxide-opioid anaesthesia in infants and children.
We studied the neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of a single, rapidly administered intravenous dose of cisatracurium 0.15 mg.kg(-1) in 27 infants (aged 1-23 months) and 24 children (aged 2-12.5 years). After midazolam premedication, anaesthesia was induced and maintained with thiopental and alfentanil in addition to nitrous oxide in oxygen. Neuromuscular function was monitored by evoked adductor pollicis electromyography. ⋯ Once neuromuscular function started to recover, the rate of recovery was similar in both age groups. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate after the administration of cisatracurium were negligible in both age groups. Cisatracurium, at a dose of 0.15 mg. kg(-1), was effective and well tolerated in infants and children.