British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of crystalloid and colloid preloading on uteroplacental and maternal haemodynamic state during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section.
We have studied the effects of crystalloid 1 litre (lactated Ringer's) or colloid 0.5 litre (hydroxyethyl starch) preloading in 26 healthy parturients undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Maternal placental uterine artery circulation was measured using a pulsed colour Doppler technique with simultaneous measurement of maternal haemodynamics. A high incidence of maternal hypotension was observed during spinal anaesthesia in the crystalloid group (62%) but the incidence was lower in the colloid group (38%). ⋯ These individual increases in PI were transient and always returned to baseline values within 2 min. These results suggest that preloading with either solution is ineffective in preventing maternal hypotension and that changes in maternal heart rate, systolic arterial pressure and central venous pressure during spinal anaesthesia were not associated with rapid individual increases in uteroplacental vascular resistance. These changes seemed not to have any major effect, however, on the clinical condition of the newborn, as assessed by Apgar scores and umbilical artery pH values.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of continuous brachial plexus infusion of butorphanol, mepivacaine and mepivacaine-butorphanol mixtures for postoperative analgesia.
We have reported recently that continuous administration of butorphanol into the brachial plexus sheath provided analgesia of a quality superior to that of continuous i.v. administration. In the present study, we have compared postoperative pain relief produced by continuous infusion of one of three types of solution into the axillary sheath: opioid alone, local anaesthetic alone or a mixture of local anaesthetic and opioid. In patients undergoing upper extremity surgery with continuous axillary brachial plexus block, we injected one of the three solutions into the axillary neurovascular sheath: butorphanol 2 mg (group B), 0.5% mepivacaine alone (group M) and 0.5% mepivacaine-butorphanol (group MB); the volume of each solution was 50 ml, administered at a rate of 50 ml per 24 h. At 3 h after operation, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were significantly higher in group M than in group MB (P < 0.01), and higher in group B than in group MB (P < 0.05).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of nebulized lignocaine on airway irritation and haemodynamic changes during induction of anaesthesia with desflurane.
This study was designed to assess the effect of nebulized lignocaine or saline given before induction on the quality of induction of anaesthesia with desflurane in unpremedicated, young, adult males. Of the first six patients, five developed laryngospasm, breath-holding, coughing and increased secretions. In four patients oxygen saturation decreased to 92% or less. ⋯ The incidence and severity of complications were not decreased by administration of nebulized lignocaine and were higher than those reported by other workers. We conclude that in unpremedicated, young, adult males, induction of anaesthesia with desflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen was associated with a high incidence of respiratory irritant effects, tachycardia, hypertension and post-induction bradyarrhythmia. We also found that lignocaine, as used in this study, did not appear to obtund the cardiovascular and respiratory complications during inhalation induction using desflurane.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Manual compared with target-controlled infusion of propofol.
We studied 160 ASA I-II patients, anaesthetized with propofol by infusion, using either a manually controlled or target-controlled infusion system. Patients were anaesthetized by eight consultant anaesthetists who had little or no previous experience of the use of propofol by infusion. In addition to propofol, patients received temazepam premedication, a single dose of fentanyl and 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen. ⋯ With the exception of a clinically insignificant difference in heart rate, haemodynamic variables were similar in the two groups. Six of the eight anaesthetists found the target-controlled system easier to use, and seven would use the target-controlled system in preference to a manually controlled infusion. Anaesthetists without prior experience of propofol infusion anaesthesia quickly became familiar with both manual and target-controlled techniques, and expressed a clear preference for the target-controlled system.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Extradural, paravertebral and intercostal nerve blocks for post-thoracotomy pain.
Forty-five patients were allocated randomly to receive either a single intrathoracic block of four intercostal nerves, a continuous thoracic extradural infusion or a continuous paravertebral infusion of bupivacaine. Patients were allowed additional i.v. boluses of morphine via a PCA device. ⋯ There were no significant differences between the groups in pain, morphine consumption, respiratory function or adverse events. Moderate to severe respiratory depression was detected in 14 patients more than 2 h after operation.