Anaesthesia
-
Comparative Study
Electromyography in anaesthesia. A comparison between two methods.
Two instruments measuring evoked compound muscle action potentials (EMG) produced by train of four stimulation of the ulnar nerve were compared. The neuromuscular transmission section of a Datex Anaesthesia and Brain Monitor (ABM), which utilises an integration technique to measure the EMG, and the Medelec MS6 , by which amplitude of the EMG was recorded and measured were attached to the same electrodes placed over adductor pollicis. ⋯ The changes in neuromuscular transmission measured by the two methods correlated well, with no statistically significant difference in results. The ABM provides a simple and accurate automatic measurement of evoked EMG for use in the study of neuromuscular transmission.
-
Comparative Study
An assessment of the Humphrey ADE anaesthetic system in the Mapleson A mode during spontaneous ventilation.
The Humphrey ADE anaesthetic breathing system in the Mapleson A mode has been compared with the Magill system in spontaneously breathing conscious volunteers and anaesthetised patients. In the latter, rebreathing occurred at a significantly lower fresh gas flow with the ADE system than when the Magill system was used (mean 45.6 ml/kg/minute and 56.5 ml/kg/minute respectively). There was no significant difference between the fresh gas flow at which rebreathing occurred in conscious volunteers.
-
The problem of sedating patients requiring prolonged controlled ventilation has recently received considerable attention. Various therapeutic regimes are available and there appears to be a general move away from the use of muscle relaxants towards sedative drugs. ⋯ However, enthusiasm for its use must be tempered by recent reports of cardiovascular collapse following its administration. We wish to report a case of intracranial hypertension following the use of phenoperidine in a ventilated patient with a severe head injury.
-
Editorial Historical Article
The fiftieth anniversary of the use of thiopentone in man.