British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of oral antihistamine premedication on mivacurium-induced histamine release and side effects.
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we have examined histamine release, haemodynamic and cutaneous effects of mivacurium administered in low (0.105 mg kg-1 = 1.5 x ED95) and high (0.21 mg kg-1 = 3 x ED95) doses and assessed if oral pretreatment with H1/H2 antagonists would blunt the effects of mivacurium-induced histamine release. Patients received either ranitidine 300 mg and dimethindene 0.1 mg kg-1 (H1 blocker) or placebo, orally 1 h before induction of anaesthesia. Twelve patients were allocated to each group. ⋯ Plasma concentrations of histamine increased significantly in five patients in the placebo group after high-dose mivacurium and the mean value was increased. There was no consistent correlation between haemodynamic changes, cutaneous manifestations and histamine concentrations. Significant cardiovascular reactions occurred in six patients in the placebo groups and in only one patient treated with antihistamines.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Nausea and vomiting after cardiac surgery.
We have undertaken a prospective, randomized study to determine the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting during intensive care stay after cardiac surgery, and to study the effect of addition of droperidol to an infusion of morphine used for postoperative analgesia. Data from 398 patients were examined. ⋯ Mean duration of intubation was 4.9 h and was unaffected by the use of droperidol. Droperidol had no effect on mean length of stay in the recovery unit.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Edrophonium and human plasma cholinesterase combination for antagonism of mivacurium-induced neuromuscular block.
We have compared the reversal characteristics of mivacurium after administration of an edrophonium-plasma cholinesterase (PCHE) combination with that produced by each antagonist alone. Forty ASA I adults were given mivacurium 0.15 mg kg-1 during fentanyl-thiopentone-nitrous oxide-isoflurane anaesthesia. TOF stimulation was applied to the ulnar nerve every 12 s, and the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis muscle was recorded. ⋯ This was shorter (P < 0.01) than that observed in patients in the control (16.8 (3.3) min), ED (8.9 (3.6) min) and PCHE (9.3 (1.6) min) groups. There was no difference in recovery indices between groups ED and PCHE. We have demonstrated that the edrophonium-PCHE combination significantly accelerated recovery of mivacurium-induced block compared with that observed with the use of individual antagonists.
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Clinical Trial
Sternomental distance as the sole predictor of difficult laryngoscopy in obstetric anaesthesia.
Sternomental distance and view at laryngoscopy were documented in 523 parturients undergoing elective or emergency Caesarean section under general anaesthesia. Eighteen (3.5%) had a grade III or IV laryngoscopic view (Cormack and Lehane's classification) and were classified as potentially difficult tracheal intubations. There was a significant difference between sternomental distance in those patients with a grade III or IV laryngoscopic view compared with those with a grade I or II (13.17 (SD 1.54) cm vs 14.3 (1.49) cm; P = 0.0013). ⋯ A sternomental distance of 13.5 cm or less had a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 66.7%, 71.1%, 7.6% and 98.4%, respectively. While there was no association between sternomental distance and age, weight, height or body mass index (BMI), there was a significant association between grade of laryngoscopy (III and IV) and older (P = 0.049) and heavier (P = 0.0495) mothers. The results suggest that while sternomental distance on its own may not be an adequate sole predictor of subsequent difficult laryngoscopy the measurement should be incorporated into a series of quick and simple preoperative tests.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Influence of patient position on withdrawal forces during removal of lumbar extradural catheters.
We have investigated the force required to remove lumbar extradural catheters from 88 parturients to determine the effects of patient positioning at removal, relative to the position at insertion. Parturients were allocated randomly to one of four groups: LS (lateral insertion, sitting withdrawal), LL (lateral insertion, flexed lateral withdrawal), SL (sitting insertion, lateral withdrawal) or SS (sitting insertion, sitting withdrawal). ⋯ We found that the withdrawal force was influenced by the relationship between the position at removal and that at insertion, and we recommend that for ease of removal, patients should be placed in the same position as they were at the time of insertion. Compared with all other groups, the withdrawal force in patients in group LS was significantly greater (P < 0.05).