Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Acid aspiration prophylaxis in morbidly obese patients: famotidine vs. ranitidine.
Famotidine and ranitidine were compared as agents for the prevention of acid aspiration syndrome in 32 morbidly obese patients undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty. Single-dose oral famotidine or double-dose oral ranitidine were administered on a random basis before surgery. Gastric contents were aspirated through a gastric tube, manually aided by the surgeon with the abdomen open. ⋯ Mean (SD) gastric pH values were 6.2 (1.5) and 6.8 (1.5), respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups and no patient was considered 'at risk' (pH less than 2.5 and gastric volume greater than 25 ml). We conclude that single-dose oral famotidine and double-dose oral ranitidine are equally effective for preventing acid aspiration syndrome in morbidly obese patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Diamorphine analgesia after caesarean section. Comparison of intramuscular and epidural administration of four dose regimens.
In a randomised double-blind study, the efficacy, duration of action and side effects of five diamorphine analgesia regimens following Caesarean section are described. The time to next analgesia was shorter in the 5 mg intramuscular group (3.53 hours) than in any of the four epidural groups: 5 mg (5.7 hours, p = 0.007), 2.5 mg (4.76 hours, p = 0.103), 5 mg with adrenaline 1/200,000 (7.2 hours, p = 0.001) and 2.5 mg with adrenaline 1/200,000 (6.05 hours, p = 0.007). ⋯ The 5 mg dose with adrenaline showed no advantage when compared with 2.5 mg with adrenaline (p = 0.16). No serious side effects were reported in any group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of high and low doses of suxamethonium.
In a double-blind study, 67 young adult patients undergoing anaesthesia for dental extractions were allocated at random to receive either 0.5 mg/kg or 1.5 mg/kg suxamethonium. A greater increase in arterial pressure was seen following induction in the 1.5 mg/kg group, although overall intubating conditions were similar in the two groups. Suxamethonium-associated muscle pains were significantly more common in the group which received the larger dose (p less than 0.05).
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Comparative Study
A comparison of different pre-oxygenation techniques in the elderly.
The efficacy of five different techniques of pre-oxygenation before a modified rapid intubation sequence was assessed, using oxygen saturation measurement, in patients aged over 65 years. Twenty patients in each group were pre-oxygenated using four deep breaths or normal tidal breathing for 1, 2, 3, or 4 minutes. ⋯ The apnoea times with 2, 3 and 4 minutes pre-oxygenation were not significantly different from each other but were significantly longer than after four deep breaths and 1 minute. It is concluded that a pre-oxygenation period of at least 2 minutes should be employed in the elderly before a rapid sequence induction.