British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Tetracaine gel vs EMLA cream for percutaneous anaesthesia in children.
We have evaluated the anaesthetic effect of tetracaine gel 1 g, applied for 45 min, compared with EMLA cream 2 g, applied for 60 min, in a randomized, double-blind study in 60 children aged 3-15 yr. Venous cannulation was performed 15 min after removal of the EMLA cream (n = 20) and tetracaine gel (n = 20). Cannulation was performed up to 215 min after removal of the tetracaine gel in another 20 patients. ⋯ Forty to 45% of children in the tetracaine groups reported no pain compared with only 10% in the EMLA group. Only minor adverse effects were observed. We conclude that tetracaine gel provided effective, rapid, long-lasting and safe local anaesthesia, and was significantly better than EMLA cream in reducing pain during venous cannulation in children using the recommended application periods for both formulations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
High-dose aprotinin with gentamicin-vancomycin antibiotic prophylaxis increases blood concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
Both aprotinin and gentamicin-vancomycin antibiotic prophylaxis have been used widely in cardiac surgery to prevent bleeding and infections, respectively. As the drugs are excreted almost entirely by glomerular filtration, we investigated their action on renal function when administered either separately or together. To increase consistency, we measured serum concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C, a new marker of glomerular filtration rate, that many recent studies have shown to be more sensitive than serum creatinine. ⋯ In group D, both markers increased gradually from postoperative day 2 onwards. The increase in cystatin C was significant on postoperative day 5 (from mean 1.02 (SD 0.11) mg litre-1 before operation to 1.35 (0.32) mg litre-1; P < 0.05), reaching a peak on postoperative day 7 (1.45 (0.35) mg litre-1; P < 0.05), while the increase in creatinine concentration was significant on postoperative day 6 (from 1.05 (0.16) mg dl-1 before operation to 1.29 (0.34) mg dl-1; P < 0.05). We conclude that simultaneous administration of high-dose aprotinin and prophylactic use of gentamicin with vancomycin increased serum concentrations of cystatin C and creatinine in the first postoperative week in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Influence of metoclopramide on plasma cholinesterase and duration of action of mivacurium.
Mivacurium is metabolized by plasma cholinesterase (PCHE). Metoclopramide inhibits PCHE in vitro and in vivo. We have assessed the effect of metoclopramide on duration of action of mivacurium and measured PCHE at baseline and at the time of maximal block. ⋯ PCHE activity at the time of maximum block decreased within each group (P < 0.01) but there was no difference between groups. In a second biochemical study of eight patients, a small decrease in PCHE activity was detected after metoclopramide 0.15 mg kg-1, but before administration of mivacurium (P < 0.025). We conclude that metoclopramide prolongs the duration of action of mivacurium.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of the laryngeal mask airway on oesophageal pH: influence of the volume and pressure inside the cuff.
We studied gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) with a face mask and laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and the effects of inflation pressure and volume of the LMA cuff on oesophageal pH, in 60 patients. Patients were managed with either a face mask (group I) or LMA inflated to obtain a seal in the anaesthesia circuit at 7 cm H2O (group II) or 15 cm H2O (group III). ⋯ No correlation was found between pressure and volume inside the cuff and variations in oesophageal pH. We conclude that LMA use was associated with increased reflux in the low oesophagus but oesophageal pH was not influenced by variations in pressure or volume inside the LMA cuff.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Continuous cardiac output measurement: pulse contour analysis vs thermodilution technique in cardiac surgical patients.
We have analysed the clinical agreement between two methods of continuous cardiac output measurement pulse contour analysis (PCCO) and a continuous thermodilution technique (CCO), were both compared with the intermittent bolus thermodilution technique (BCO). Measurements were performed in 26 cardiac surgical patients (groups 1 and 2, 13 patients each, with an ejection fraction > 45% and < 45%, respectively) at 12 selected times. During operation, mean differences (bias) between PCCO-BCO and CCO-BCO did not differ in either group. ⋯ Significantly higher absolute bias values of PCCO-BCO compared with CCO-BCO were also found early after operation in the ICU. Thus PCCO and CCO provided comparable measurements during coronary bypass surgery. After marked changes in SVR, further calibration of the PCCO device is necessary.