British journal of anaesthesia
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We describe the anaesthetic management of a parturient with achondroplasia presenting for Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. A block extending from T4 to S4 was established over 25 min using a total of 12 ml of 2.0% lidocaine (lignocaine) with epinephrine (adrenaline) 1:200,000 and fentanyl 37.5 micrograms. Apart from mild discomfort during peritoneal incision, her perioperative course was uneventful. Achondroplasia is reviewed and the anaesthetic implications of the condition are discussed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with granisetron in women undergoing thyroidectomy.
We have evaluated the efficacy and safety of granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type-3 receptor antagonist, for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women undergoing thyroidectomy. In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 100 ASA I patients, aged 30-57 yr, received placebo or granisetron at three different doses (20, 40 or 100 micrograms kg-1) (n = 25 each), i.v., immediately before induction of anaesthesia. A standard general anaesthetic technique was used. ⋯ There were no clinically important adverse events in any group. We conclude that granisetron 40 micrograms kg-1 was an effective antiemetic for the prevention of PONV after thyroidectomy. Increasing the dose to 100 micrograms kg-1 provided no further benefit.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Differential onset of median nerve block: randomized, double-blind comparison of mepivacaine and bupivacaine in healthy volunteers.
We have compared the delay in onset of 1% mepivacaine and 0.33% bupivacaine in different nerve fibre types in 10 volunteers undergoing median nerve blocks, in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Hot, cold, pinprick and light touch sensations, compound motor action potentials (CMAP), sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) and skin temperature were recorded at 2-min intervals. Hot, cold, pinprick, light touch sensations, SNAP and CMAP were significantly inhibited, and skin temperature was significantly increased after administration of both agents. ⋯ Bupivacaine and mepivacaine inhibited SNAP and CMAP with a similar time delay to steady-state. Bupivacaine produced steady-state inhibition of hot and cold sensations significantly later than mepivacaine; nevertheless, the sequence that sensory modalities failed, with few exceptions, and the extent of anaesthesia at 40 min were similar for both agents. Our technique provides a novel, multi-modal method of comparing local anaesthetics and related agents over time.
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We have studied the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux associated with the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in 82 paralysed patients undergoing ventilation for elective orthopaedic surgery. Anaesthesia was managed by skilled LMA users. A pH-sensitive probe was passed nasally into the oesophagus before induction and recordings made during five phases of anaesthesia. ⋯ There were no reflux events (pH < 4.0) during any phase of anaesthesia. We conclude that the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux is low in paralysed patients undergoing ventilation for elective orthopaedic surgery when antagonism of neuromuscular block is avoided. The validity of these findings for unskilled LMA users is unknown.