Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Epidural infusion of levobupivacaine and sufentanil following thoracotomy.
A prospective, randomised, double-blind study was conducted to compare the efficacy of two doses of levobupivacaine combined with sufentanil for continuous epidural infusion following thoractomy. A total of 72 patients undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy were enrolled. An epidural catheter was inserted between the levels of T4 and T6 before induction of anaesthesia and a loading dose of levobupivacaine and sufentanil was administered. ⋯ Visual analogue pain scores after coughing (VASi) were always higher in group B (p < 0.05); VAS pain scores at rest were higher for the first 4 h and at 16 and 28 h in group B (p < 0.05). Total morphine consumption and requests number was lower in group A (p < 0.05). Better pain relief was achieved using epidural 0.125% levobupivacaine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of cricothyroidotomy on manikin vs. simulator: a randomised cross-over study.
We compared the time taken to perform cricothyroidotomy on a manikin to that on a medium fidelity simulator, to assess the effect of psychological stress and time pressure on performance. Seventy anaesthetists participated in this randomised cross-over study. ⋯ Anaesthetists with more experience performed the procedure more quickly on both manikin and simulator. We conclude that psychological stress and time pressure in real-life scenarios can affect the performance of cricothyroidotomy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy using the Airway Scope compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope.
The Airway Scope is a new rigid laryngoscope. This intubation device provides a non-line-of sight view of the glottis. A non-line-of sight view is expected to cause less movement of the cervical spine during laryngeal visualisation. ⋯ Cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy with the Airway Scope was 37%, 37% and 68% less than that with the Macintosh laryngoscope at the C0/C1, C1/C2 and C3/C4 motion segments, respectively (p < 0.05). The movement of the atlanto-occipital distance using the Airway Scope was 42% less than that during laryngoscopy using the Macintosh laryngoscope (p < 0.05). Laryngoscopy using the Airway Scope involves less movement of the cervical spine compared to conventional laryngoscopy using the Macintosh laryngoscope.