British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of intubating conditions following propofol and succinylcholine with propofol and remifentanil 2 micrograms kg-1 or 4 micrograms kg-1.
We evaluated the intubating conditions, haemodynamic responses and duration of apnoea in 60 healthy adult patients after propofol 2 mg kg-1 combined with either a bolus of remifentanil 2 micrograms kg-1 or 4 micrograms kg-1, or succinylcholine 1 mg kg-1. Patients intubated following remifentanil showed dose-dependent intubating conditions, similar at 4 micrograms kg-1 to the conditions produced with succinylcholine. Post-induction mean arterial pressure decreased from baseline values by 21% (P < 0.0001), 28% (P < 0.0001) and 8% (P > 0.05) in the remifentanil 2 micrograms kg-1, remifentanil 4 micrograms kg-1 and succinylcholine 1 mg kg-1 groups, respectively. The mean (SD) duration of apnoea following induction was 9.3 (2.6) min and 12.8 (2.9) min in the remifentanil 2 micrograms kg-1 and 4 micrograms kg-1 groups, and 6.0 (0.9) min in the succinylcholine group (P < 0.001 between groups).
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Ropivacaine pharmacokinetics after caudal block in 1-8 year old children.
We studied the pharmacokinetics after caudal block of ropivacaine (2 mg ml-1, 1 ml kg-1) performed in 20 children aged 1-8 yr undergoing subumbilical surgery, in this open, non-comparative, multicentre study. Venous blood samples were collected up to 12-36 h. The mean (SD) peak plasma concentration, 0.47 (0.16) mg litre-1, was achieved after 12-249 min. ⋯ Clearance was 7.4 (1.9) ml min-1 kg-1 and the terminal half-life 3.2 (0.8) h. Thus, the free plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were well below those associated with toxic symptoms in adults and the capacity to eliminate ropivacaine seems to be well developed in this age group. In this open study of 20 patients, ropivacaine was well tolerated and provided satisfactory postoperative pain relief without observable motor block.
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The lower inflection point (LIP) of the inspiratory limb of a static pressure-volume (PV) loop is assumed to indicate the pressure at which most lung units are recruited. The LIP is determined by a static manoeuvre with a PV-history that is different from the PV-history of the actual ventilation. ⋯ Volume-dependent dynamic compliance suggested a PEEP reduction (to 15 (13-18) cm H2O). Pulmonary gas exchange remained satisfactory and this change resulted in reduced mechanical stress on the respiratory system, indirectly indicated by volume-dependent compliance being consistently great during the entire inspiration.
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Surgical correction of craniosynostosis in infants is a very haemorrhagic procedure. The aim of this study was to determine whether the perioperative use of the continuous autotransfusion system (CATS) would reduce homologous transfusion during repair of craniosynostosis. ⋯ Use of CATS was associated with a significant decrease in the median (95% confidence interval) volume of homologous blood transfused [413 (250-540) ml in the control group versus 317 (150-410) ml in the CATS group, P = 0.02] and in the median (95% confidence interval) number of packed red cell units transfused [2 (1-2) in the control group versus 1 (1-2) in the CATS group, P = 0.04] in the perioperative period. Use of CATS is associated with a reduction in homologous transfusion during the surgical correction of craniosynostosis in infants.
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A 46-yr-old man with dysaesthesia (burning sensation) following herpes zoster in the left upper chest region was treated with a single thoracic (T2/T3) epidural injection (1.0% lidocaine 3 ml + 0.125% bupivacaine 3 ml) as an outpatient. Twenty minutes after the injection, a nurse noticed the patient to be unconscious with dilated pupils, apnoea and cardiac arrest. Following immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient was treated with an i.v. infusion of thiamylal sodium 2-4 mg kg-1 h-1 and his lungs were mechanically ventilated. ⋯ Weaning from the ventilator was successful on the 18th day. About 4 months after the incident, the patient was discharged with no apparent mental or motor disturbances. We suggest that mild hypothermia with barbiturate therapy may have contributed to the successful outcome in this case.