Articles: intubation.
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Asymptomatic bacteraemia following balloon dilatation was assessed in 20 adults with oesophageal stricture. Asymptomatic bacteraemia occurred in 12 of 19 patients. The source of the bacteraemia appeared to be the patients' oropharyngeal flora. The bacteraemia was not of clinical importance in our patients, but might lead to endocarditis in predisposed individuals.
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The respiratory flow velocity of 74 infants under halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen anesthesia was measured, and the statistical relationship between the age in months and the flow velocity was obtained with least square method. The flow resistance of endotracheal tubes (size of 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 mmI. ⋯ The mean flow resistance and respiratory work with each size of endotracheal tube were calculated by simulation technique using these data. These data coincided well with the data obtained by calculation based on in vitro experiments.
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The haemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation after induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone alone or in combination with 1.5 mg.kg-1 lidocaine and/or 1.5 or 3.0 microgram.kg-1 fentanyl were measured in 150 patients over 64 years of age to determine whether lidocaine, fentanyl or both lidocaine and fentanyl attenuated the pressor response. Fentanyl reduced the rises in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, heart rate, and rate pressure product and lidocaine decreased the rises in arterial blood pressure and rate pressure product (P less than 0.05). Fentanyl decreased the incidence of marked fluctuations in haemodynamic variables, often seen in geriatric patients (P less than 0.05). ⋯ Fentanyl-treated patients had a higher incidence of hypotension (P less than 0.05). Respiratory depression developed in only one per cent of the fentanyl-treated patients. Both lidocaine and fentanyl are recommended adjuncts to induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone in geriatric patients.