Anaesthesia
-
Two groups of six patients who had undergone major maxillofacial surgery and who required intermittent positive pressure ventilation, analgesia and sedation for about 48 hours postoperatively were studied. Analgesia in the postoperative period was maintained by an infusion of fentanyl 0.034 micrograms/kg/minute. Sedation was maintained with an intravenous infusion of etomidate such that the patients slept but opened their eyes when addressed and obeyed commands. ⋯ The use of results obtained from the first group of six patients enabled a dosage regimen to be calculated that used a two stage infusion. This regimen enabled a reduction in the time taken to establish the appropriate degree of sedation in the second group of six patients. The two-stage infusion technique provides a means of rapid sedation and of maintaining a suitable clinical response for the prolonged periods that may be necessary when patients are transferred to an intensive therapy unit.
-
Biography Historical Article
Nitrous oxide in Bristol in 1836. A series of lectures by William Herapath (1796-1868).
-
A questionnaire was sent to senior registrars in General Medicine and Anaesthesia enquiring into the amount of training they received in Intensive Therapy and their attitudes to this in the light of their expectations for a consultant post. The results suggest that training is inadequate and that trainees are dissatisfied with the current situation.
-
One hundred and fifty women in labour provided with extradural analgesia were monitored and an incidence of Horner's syndrome of 1.33% was noted. Fifty women undergoing Caesarean section under extradural analgesia were also monitored and an incidence of Horner's syndrome of 4% was noted. From the results we found it impossible to predict which patients would develop a Horner's syndrome.