Chang Gung medical journal
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Dexamethasone effectively reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in a general surgical adult patient population.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is still a common and major complication for surgical patients, which may delay post-anesthetic care unit discharge, prolong hospital stay and thus increase the cost of hospitalization. It is understood that PONV is a multi-factorial outcome and occurs more often with general anesthesia than with other anesthetic methods. Prophylactic administration of antihistamines, antidopaminergics, anticholinergics, phenothiazines, serotonin antagonist, steroids and even acupuncture has been shown to be effective. However, expenses and side effects of these agents have also been a concern for clinical doctors. The aim for this prospective study was to find an agent that is cost effective and side effect free (or at least with a low incidence of side effects) for the prevention of PONV. ⋯ We conclude that the prophylactic intravenous administration of 10 mg dexamethasone immediately before the induction of anesthesia is effective in preventing PONV in the general surgical adult patient population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The effects of continuous axillary brachial plexus block with ropivacaine infusion on skin temperature and survival of crushed fingers after microsurgical replantation.
Continuous axillary brachial plexus block with local anesthetic has been shown to improve tissue perfusion after replantation surgery of the extremity. The present study aimed to investigate whether continuous axillary brachial plexus block with ropivacaine infusion can improve the survival of the reconstructive fingers secondary to an increase in its skin temperature in patients receiving replantation surgery of the crushed fingers. ⋯ The result of this study demonstrated that axillary brachial plexus block with continuous infusion of 0.75% ropivacaine can increase the skin temperature, an index of tissue perfusion, of the reconstructive digits for 24 h after microvascular surgery of the crushed fingers. However, graft survival was good in both groups.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block: a comparative study with nerve stimulator-guided method.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of axillary brachial plexus block using an ultrasound-guided method with the nerve stimulator-guided method. We also compared the efficacy of ultrasound-guided single-injection with those of double-injection for the quality of the block. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block, using either single- or double-injection technique, provided excellent sensory and motor blockades with fewer adverse events.