British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Hypoxaemia and pain relief after lower abdominal surgery: comparison of extradural and patient-controlled analgesia.
We have examined postoperative pain in patients allocated randomly to receive extradural bolus diamorphine 3.6 mg, extradural infusion of 0.15% bupivacaine with 0.01% diamorphine or patient-controlled i.v. administration of diamorphine at a maximum rate of 1 mg per 5 min, after total abdominal hysterectomy. Extradural infusion analgesia produced the smallest pain scores from 12 to 24 h after surgery (P < 0.05). More patients in the extradural infusion group were moderately hypoxaemic (SpO2 < 90% > 12 min h-1) after operation, compared with the two other groups (P < 0.05). The group using patient-controlled analgesia received more diamorphine and suffered a greater incidence of emetic sequelae (P < 0.05).
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Propofol and alfentanil in children: infusion technique and dose requirement for total i.v. anaesthesia.
We estimated the dose of propofol (initial dose followed by a stepped infusion) when given with two different infusion rates of alfentanil for total i.v. anaesthesia in 59 children aged 3-12 yr. Patients in series 1 (four groups) received an alfentanil loading dose of 85 micrograms kg-1 and an infusion of 65 micrograms kg-1 h-1. Patients in series 2 (groups 5 and 6) received an alfentanil loading dose of 65 micrograms kg-1 and infusion of 50 micrograms kg-1 h-1. ⋯ Probit analysis was used to determine the dose requirement of propofol. In series 1, the ED50 was 6.0 mg kg-1 h-1 (95% confidence limits 5.5-6.2 mg kg-1 h-1) and ED95 8.6 (6.8-7.8) mg kg-1 h-1. Corresponding values for series 2 were ED50 7.5 (8.0-9.8) mg kg-1 h-1 and ED95 10.5 (9.6-13.1) mg kg-1 h-1.
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The procedure of retrograde tracheal intubation has been facilitated by the use of a multilumen catheter guide. When used as an anterograde guide, it would easily follow the retrograde guide and would direct placement of the tracheal tube atraumatically. A new technique is described that allows stabilization of the anterograde catheter and its insertion deep inside the trachea to prevent dislodgement of the tracheal tube from the laryngeal inlet. This catheter guide may also be used as a conduit for high-frequency jet ventilation with monitoring of the airway pressure, thus providing wider margins of safety in patients with difficult upper airways.
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Case Reports
General anaesthesia and the hypereosinophilic syndrome: severe postoperative complications in two patients.
Two patients with markedly increased eosinophil counts developed severe postoperative complications after general anaesthesia. One patient suffered life-threatening Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), while the other presented with a coagulopathy and less severe respiratory problems. ⋯ These cases suggest that, in patients with marked eosinophilia requiring general anaesthesia, perioperative steroid cover is advisable. This may reduce or prevent serious lung damage and other complications.
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Neuromuscular blocking drugs (NMB) are involved in most of the anaphylactic reactions occurring during anaesthesia. Patients are evaluated usually 6 weeks after the reaction, by skin testing. In order to obtain an earlier diagnosis, we have measured plasma concentrations of histamine, tryptase and NMB-specific IgE antibodies in 14 patients after an anaphylactoid reaction. ⋯ Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the concentrations of NMB-specific IgE antibodies observed at the time of the reaction and 8 weeks later. Thus anaphylaxis to neuromuscular blocking drugs can be demonstrated at the time of the reaction by measuring plasma concentrations of histamine, tryptase and specific IgE. In the event of the patient's death, such measurements may be useful in identifying the likely cause.