Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Analgesia during radial artery cannulation: comparison of the effects of lidocaine applied by local injection or iontophoresis.
We compared the effect of lidocaine injection with lidocaine iontophoresis for pain relief during radial artery cannulation prior to induction of anaesthesia. Patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 15) received iontophoresis for 10 min prior to cannulation, using 4% lidocaine 4 ml. ⋯ Pain scores were recorded immediately after cannulation using a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS). There was no difference in mean (SD) pain scores [group 1: 2.2 (1.5) cm; group 2: 2.3 (2.7) cm; 95% CI of difference -1.8 to 1.5 cm]. Lidocaine delivered by iontophoresis is an effective and painless method of providing analgesia for radial artery cannulation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Clinical and economic choices in anaesthesia for day surgery: a prospective randomised controlled trial.
We compared the cost-effectiveness of general anaesthetic agents in adult and paediatric day surgery populations. We randomly assigned 1063 adult and 322 paediatric elective patients to one of four (adult) or two (paediatric) anaesthesia groups. Total costs were calculated from individual patient resource use to 7 days post discharge. ⋯ In both studies, there was no difference in postdischarge outcomes at Day 7. Sevoflurane/sevoflurane was more costly with higher PONV rates in both studies. In adults, the cost per extra episode of PONV avoided was pound 296 (propofol/propofol vs. propofol/ sevoflurane) and pound 333 (propofol/sevoflurane vs. propofol/isoflurane).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Hypotension following combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section. Left lateral position vs. tilted supine position.
Eighty-seven pregnant mothers undergoing elective Caesarean section were randomly allocated either to the full left lateral position (n = 45) or to the supine position with 12 degrees left lateral tilt (n = 42) after a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) in the sitting position and an initial 2 min in the full right lateral position. Fewer mothers were hypotensive while in the study position [29 (64%) in lateral group vs. 38 (90%) in the tilted supine group; p = 0.03]. ⋯ Mothers in the lateral group needed a lower dose of ephedrine to treat their hypotension while in their study position (median (interquartile range [range]) 6 (0-12 [0-36]) mg vs. 12 (6-18 [0-36]) mg, respectively; p = 0.04) but ephedrine requirements were similar overall (12 (6-12 [0-36]) mg vs. 12 (6-18 [0-36]) mg), respectively. The full left lateral position reduces the incidence of early hypotension compared with the tilted supine position with tilt, and makes it easier to treat.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The effect of mechanical cleaning and thermal disinfection on light intensity provided by fibrelight Macintosh laryngoscopes.
The increased use of thermal decontamination procedures for fibrelight laryngoscope blades, to comply with international guidelines, will have considerable economical effects. We evaluated the effect of mechanical cleaning plus thermal disinfection at 90 degrees C, with or without subsequent steam sterilisation at 134 degrees C, on light intensity provided by fibrelight laryngoscopes. After mounting the blades in a special frame with a built-in light source, light intensity was measured using radiometer/photometer. ⋯ The majority of fibrelight laryngoscope blades were fairly resistant to the damaging effects of machine washing plus disinfection at 90 degrees C (mean [range] reduction in light intensity 34.6%[2.1-78.3%]). However, when exposed to an additional sterilisation procedure at 134 degrees C, the majority of blades were unable to withstand the combined treatment for 300 cycles (mean [range] reduction in light intensity 86.5%[32.0-98.7%]). This study stresses the need for fibrelight laryngoscope blades which are more resistant to thermal decontamination procedures than those available at present.