Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of total intravenous with balanced anaesthesia for middle ear surgery: effects on postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain, and conditions of surgery.
We compared postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pain and conditions for surgery in patients scheduled for middle ear surgery. In a double-blind study, 100 patients were randomly allocated to receive either balanced anaesthesia (group A) using fentanyl, propofol and isoflurane, or total intravenous anaesthesia (group B) using propofol and remifentanil infusions. Pain scores, nausea/vomiting scores, conditions for surgery and analgesic requirements were recorded for 18 h post operatively. ⋯ The overall incidence of PONV was 34% and 17% in groups A and B, respectively. Initial pain scores were higher in group B in the recovery ward (p = 0.003) and patients required more morphine administration (p = 0.002); however, pain scores were similar on the ward. Conditions for surgery were found to be better in group B.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Prevention of propofol-induced injection pain by remifentanil: a placebo-controlled comparison with lidocaine.
In a randomised, double-blind study we compared the efficacy of continuous remifentanil infusion (0.25 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) with 40 mg lidocaine and placebo in the prevention of injection pain due to intravenous propofol administration (1.5-2 mg x kg(-1)) in 155 patients scheduled for elective surgery. Pain severity was evaluated using a four-point scale. ⋯ There was no significant difference between remifentanil and lidocaine. Remifentanil provided effective pain relief, comparable with lidocaine, and is an alternative as part of an intravenous anaesthesia regimen to using another concomitant drug.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of target-controlled therapy with patient-controlled administration of propofol combined with midazolam for sedation during dental surgery.
Forty anxious day case patients undergoing extraction of third molar teeth under local anaesthesia with sedation, were studied in a randomised double-blind controlled trial. A target-controlled infusion of propofol was compared with patient-controlled propofol for sedation, combined with a small dose of midazolam to improve amnesia. The objectives of the study were to measure the total dose of propofol used by the two groups and assess recovery and patient satisfaction. ⋯ Five patients became over-sedated in the target-controlled group compared with none in the patient-controlled group. Only one of the three tests of performance showed that the target-controlled patients were more sedated. Patient satisfaction was high in both groups despite a greater recollection of events in the patient-controlled group.
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We have investigated the factors predicting umbilical arterial pH (UA pH) and standard base excess (UA BE) in 337 consecutive elective Caesarean sections performed under spinal anaesthesia. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with UA pH and UA BE as the dependent factors. ⋯ The significant factors predicting UA BE were: use of ephedrine and the interaction between ephedrine use and duration of hypotension (adjusted R2 = 0.52, F15,321 = 25.0, p < 0.0001). We conclude that, in order to minimise the risk of fetal acidosis, ephedrine should not be used before delivery, uterine incision-to-delivery time should be as short as possible, and alpha-agonists such as metaraminol or phenylephrine should be used to minimise both the magnitude and duration of hypotension.
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Over a period of one year, a weekly telephone survey identified 161 stable patients with weaning delay (defined as patients ventilated for at least 6 h per day for more than 2 weeks) in intensive care units in the Northern Region of England. Their median age was 69 years (range 21-88 years). Sixty patients (37%) were admitted with medical conditions, 89 (55%) were postoperative patients, whereas 12 (8%) were surgical but required non-operative admission. ⋯ Twenty patients (12%) required more than 28 days of respiratory support. These patients occupied on average 6.0% of available intensive care unit beds in the region. This study suggests that in the Northern Region of England there are a significant number of stable but ventilator-dependent patients occupying intensive care beds.