Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Recovery times and side effects after propofol infusion and after isoflurane during ear surgery with additional infiltration anaesthesia.
Two anaesthetic procedures that did not include nitrous oxide were compared in a randomised study of 50 patients for tympanoplasty and tympanoscopy: propofol given for induction and maintenance, and thiopentone-isoflurane given for induction and maintenance, respectively. Induction in the first group was with a bolus injection of propofol and the same agent was given for the duration of anaesthesia by continuous intravenous administration. Thiopentone was given until loss of the eyelash reflex and anaesthesia maintained with isoflurane 0.4-2.0%. ⋯ The two patient groups were analysed for age, sex and weight as well as for side effects during the induction, maintenance and recovery periods, such as coughing, vomiting, venous pain, spontaneous movements, singultus, headaches, dysrhythmias and psychic disorders possibly due to anaesthesia. Side effects were moderate in both groups. Recovery time was statistically significantly shorter in the propofol group and the patients in this group appeared to be much more aware after recovery than those in the thiopentone-isoflurane group.
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Review Case Reports
Spinal haematoma following epidural analgesia. Report of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and a bleeding diathesis.
A patient who developed an epidural haematoma with multifactorial aetiology (bleeding diathesis, ankylosing spondylitis, chronic alcoholism and acute pancreatitis) after epidural analgesia for pain relief is described. Our conclusion is that adequate laboratory screening of blood coagulation, including platelet count, should be carried out in this category of patient before attempted epidural blockade, the risks of which must be weighed against the benefits. The block should be allowed to wear off intermittently and repeated neurological assessment performed if an epidural catheter is used for repeated injections or for a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic. Neuroradiological examination should be carried out promptly if an epidural haematoma is suspected and surgical decompression performed without delay if the diagnosis is confirmed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison between propofol and ketamine for anaesthesia in the elderly. Haemodynamic effects during induction and maintenance.
The haemodynamic effects of propofol and ketamine were studied in two groups of eight randomly allocated elderly patients (mean age 85.8 years) anaesthetised for hip replacement. Group 1 patients patients received propofol 1 mg/kg by intravenous bolus for induction and 0.1 mg/kg/minute by continuous infusion for maintenance. Group 2 patients received ketamine 1.5 mg/kg by intravenous bolus as induction dose and 50 micrograms/kg/minute by continuous infusion for maintenance. ⋯ Myocardial oxygen consumption showed a significant decrease of 27%. There was a significant increase in blood pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (by 97%) in group 2. Cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance remained unchanged whereas myocardial oxygen consumption showed a very significant increase of 100%.
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Propofol and methohexitone were evaluated as hypnotics in a total intravenous anaesthesia technique without nitrous oxide in 50 patients of ASA grade 1 or 2. Analgesia was provided by a constant alfentanil infusion and the depth of anaesthesia was controlled by varying the infusion rate of propofol or methohexitone. Induction and intubation responses were smooth and moderate in the propofol group and side effects were few. ⋯ Postoperatively 96% of the propofol patients were clear-headed within 20 minutes, in contrast to only 48% in the methohexitone group. We conclude that propofol together with alfentanil, both given by a bolus plus infusion technique, provide controllable and satisfactory total intravenous anaesthesia without recourse to nitrous oxide or other inhalational agents. Methohexitone was not as satisfactory as propofol.
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Comparative Study
Bladder temperature as an estimate of body temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass.
Bladder temperature measured by a thermistor-tipped urinary catheter, was compared to oesophageal, nasopharyngeal, rectal and cutaneous temperatures in 33 patients during cardiopulmonary bypass. The bladder site was warmer than all other monitored sites in the pre-bypass period and showed least variation in temperature. The rate of change of bladder temperature during cooling and rewarming on bypass was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower than for oesophageal and nasopharyngeal temperatures, but was greater than or similar to the rate of change of rectal and cutaneous temperatures. This method of temperature measurement was found to be satisfactory during major surgery and also during the postoperative period in the intensive care unit.