British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Double-blind randomized controlled trial of caudal versus intravenous S(+)-ketamine for supplementation of caudal analgesia in children.
The postoperative analgesic efficacy of S(+)-ketamine after caudal or i.v. administration following sub-umbilical surgery in children was studied to investigate its principal site of analgesic action. ⋯ We have demonstrated that the addition of caudal S(+)-ketamine to bupivacaine prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia. However, the same dose of i.v. S(+)-ketamine combined with a plain bupivacaine caudal provides no better analgesia than caudal bupivacaine alone, indicating that the principal analgesic effect of caudal S(+)-ketamine results from a local neuroaxial rather than a systemic effect.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Anaesthesia for carotid endarterectomy: comparison of hypnotic- and opioid-based techniques.
Although the synergistic interaction between hypnotics and opioids for total i.v. anaesthesia has been repeatedly demonstrated, questions about different dose combinations of hypnotics and opioids remain. The optimal combination would be based on maximal synergy, using the lowest dose of both drugs and having the lowest incidence of side-effects. ⋯ Maintenance of anaesthesia predominantly with propofol and a low dose of remifentanil, both administered using TCI, is associated with greater stability in perioperative haemodynamics than anaesthesia predominantly with remifentanil alone. Postoperative pain was identical in both groups of patients who underwent relatively short duration, and relatively painless surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Concentration of rocuronium in cerebrospinal fluid of patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm clipping.
This study assessed the concentration of rocuronium in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm clipping, and investigated whether the mode of administration (single bolus vs continuous infusion) influenced the CSF concentration. ⋯ This study demonstrated that rocuronium, normally not considered to cross the blood-brain barrier, is regularly found in the CSF of patients undergoing cerebral clipping; continuous infusion of the drug led to higher plasma and CSF concentrations than after a single bolus dose.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Development of a difficulty score for spinal anaesthesia.
Multiple attempts at spinal puncture may be hazardous. Accurate preoperative prediction of difficulty adds to the delivery of high quality care. This clinical trial was designed to: (i). determine the predictive performance of difficulty variables; (ii). compare senior and junior anaesthetists; (iii). develop a score to predict difficulty during the performance of spinal anaesthesia. ⋯ Spinal bony landmarks and radiological characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae are independent predictors of difficulty during spinal anaesthesia. There is no difference between senior and junior anaesthetists. Grade 4 is the difficulty score at or above which difficulty is expected.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Remifentanil by bolus injection: a safety, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and age effect investigation in human volunteers.
Although remifentanil's short-acting pharmacokinetic profile makes it well suited for procedures during which a brief period of intense analgesia is required, setting up an infusion pump for brief procedures is inconvenient. The clinical pharmacology of remifentanil administered by bolus injection, a more convenient alternative, has not been explored in detail. The primary aim of this study was to examine the safety of single bolus doses of remifentanil in conscious, healthy, adult volunteers breathing room air. Secondary aims included the evaluation of remifentanil pharmacokinetics and analgesic effects after bolus injection and a comparison of these issues in younger vs older adults. ⋯ Bolus injection could potentially be a safe and effective means of administering remifentanil in clinical situations requiring a brief period of intense analgesia. Because some subjects, both old and young, experienced significant respiratory depression even at low doses, careful monitoring of respiratory function is essential.