Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluating the ventilatory effect of transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange in apnoeic small children with two different oxygen flow rates: a randomised controlled trial.
Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange prolongs safe apnoeic oxygenation time in children. In adults, transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange is reported to have a ventilatory effect with PaCO2 levels increasing less rapidly than without it. This ventilatory effect has yet to be reproduced in children. ⋯ The upper limit of a one-sided 95%CI for the difference between groups was 0.07 kPa.min-1 , lower than the predefined non-inferiority margin of 0.147 kPa.min-1 (p = 0.001). The lower flow rate of 2 l.kg-1 .min-1 was non-inferior to 4 l.kg-1 .min-1 relative to the transcutaneous carbon dioxide increase. In conclusion, an additional ventilatory effect of either 2 or 4 l.kg-1 .min-1 high-flow nasal therapy in apnoeic children weighing 10-15 kg appears to be absent.
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Prophylactic oxytocin administration at the third stage of labour reduces blood loss and the need for additional uterotonic drugs. Obesity is known to be associated with an increased risk of uterine atony and postpartum haemorrhage. It is unknown whether women with obesity require higher doses of oxytocin in order to achieve adequate uterine tone after delivery. ⋯ We studied 30 women with a mean (SD) BMI of 52.3 (7.6) kg.m-2. The ED90 for oxytocin was 0.75 IU (95%CI 0.5-0.93 IU) by isotonic regression and 0.78 IU (95%CI 0.68-0.88 IU) by the Dixon and Mood method. Our results suggest that women with a BMI ≥ 40 kg.m-2 require approximately twice as much oxytocin as those with a BMI < 40 kg.m-2 , in whom an ED90 of 0.35 IU (95%CI 0.15-0.52 IU) has previously been demonstrated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Prothrombin complex concentrate vs. fresh frozen plasma in adult patients undergoing heart surgery - a pilot randomised controlled trial (PROPHESY trial).
There is equipoise regarding the use of prothrombin complex concentrate vs. fresh frozen plasma in bleeding patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We performed a pilot randomised controlled trial to determine the recruitment rate for a large trial, comparing the impact of prothrombin complex concentrate vs. fresh frozen plasma on haemostasis (1 h and 24 h post-intervention), and assessing safety. Adult patients who developed bleeding within 24 h of cardiac surgery that required coagulation factor replacement were randomly allocated to receive prothrombin complex concentrate (15 IU.kg-1 based on factor IX) or fresh frozen plasma (15 ml.kg-1 ). ⋯ We conclude that recruitment to a larger study is feasible. Haemostatic tests have provided useful insight into the haemostatic changes following prothrombin complex concentrate or fresh frozen plasma administration. A definitive trial is needed to ascertain the benefits and safety for each.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Using psychometric ability to improve education in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.
The learning curve for novices developing regional anaesthesia skills, such as real-time ultrasound-guided needle manipulation, may be affected by innate visuospatial ability, as this influences spatial cognition and motor co-ordination. We conducted a multinational randomised controlled trial to test if novices with low visuospatial ability would perform better at an ultrasound-guided needling task with deliberate practice training than with discovery learning. Visuospatial ability was evaluated using the mental rotations test-A. ⋯ No difference was found using the global rating scale: mean (95%CI) low-ability control 53% (95%CI 46-60%); low-ability intervention 61% (95%CI 53-68%); high-ability control 63% (95%CI 56-70%); and high-ability intervention 66% (95%CI 60-72%), p = 0.05. For overall procedure pass/fail, the low-ability control group pass rate of 42% (14/33) was significantly less than the other three groups: low-ability intervention 69% (25/36); high-ability control 68% (25/37); and high-ability intervention 85% (29/34) p = 0.003. Further research is required to determine the role of visuospatial ability screening in training for ultrasound-guided needle skills.