Low flow desflurane and sevoflurane anaesthesia in children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Low flow desflurane and sevoflurane anaesthesia were administered to children and compared for haemodynamic response, renal and hepatic function, recovery time and postoperative nausea and vomiting. METHODS: Eighty ASA I-II patients aged 5-15 yr were included in the study. Midazolam was given for premedication. Anaesthesia induction was performed with fentanyl, propofol and atracurium. After intubation, the first group received desflurane, oxygen and nitrous oxide at 6 L min(-1) and the second sevoflurane, oxygen and nitrous oxide at 6L min(-1). Ten minutes after induction the flow was decreased to 1 L min(-1) in both groups. Haemodynamic parameters, preoperative and postoperative renal and hepatic function, the times of operation and anaesthesia, and early recovery data were recorded. Modified Aldrete scores were noted at the 10th and 30th minutes postoperatively and postoperative nausea, and vomiting were assessed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in haemodynamic parameters, renal and hepatic functions, postoperative recovery and postoperative nausea and vomiting between groups. The recovery time was shorter in the desflurane group compared to the sevoflurane group. CONCLUSION: Low flow desflurane and sevoflurane anaesthesia do not adversely affect haemodynamic parameters, hepatic and renal function in children. Desflurane may be preferred when early recovery from anaesthesia is warranted.     

The antiemetic effect of lorazepam after outpatient strabismus surgery in children.

The high incidence of postoperative emesis after strabismus surgery in pediatric outpatients can be reduced by the prophylactic administration of droperidol 75 micrograms/kg intravenously. However, this may be associated with profound sedation, delayed discharge, dysphoria, agitation, and extrapyramidal symptoms in this population. Because lorazepam used as an antiemetic in children during chemotherapy decreased the incidence of nausea and vomiting, we compared the antiemetic effects of lorazepam and droperidol in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 129 healthy children undergoing surgical correction of strabismus. The children, aged 1-13 yr, were randomly allocated into three groups. The children in group 1 received droperidol 75 micrograms/kg intravenously; those in group 2 received lorazepam 10 micrograms/kg intravenously; and those in group 3 received placebo. Anesthesia consisted of halothane, nitrous oxide in oxygen, and atracurium. Study drugs were administered intravenously after induction of anesthesia but before surgery. In children 3-13 yr old, administration of either lorazepam or droperidol was associated with a lower (P < 0.024) incidence of postoperative vomiting. There was no difference between the antiemetic effect of lorazepam and that of droperidol. The incidence of postoperative agitation was greater in the droperidol group (P < 0.001) than in the lorazepam and placebo groups. Postdischarge vomiting was less (P < 0.009) in children younger than 3 yr of age. Lorazepam, similar to droperidol, has an antiemetic effect in outpatient children 3-13 yr old undergoing strabismus correction, but it is associated with less postoperative agitation than is droperidol.     

Effect of timing of ondansetron administration on incidence of postoperative vomiting in paediatric strabismus surgery

This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study evaluated the effect of the timing of ondansetron administration on its antiemetic efficacy in children undergoing elective strabismus surgery. One hundred and twenty children aged one to 15 years, ASA physical status 1 or 2, were randomly allocated to receive intravenous ondansetron 100 micrograms/kg either at induction (Group 1) or at the end of the surgery (Group 2). All patients had general anaesthesia induced and maintained with nitrous oxide and halothane, muscle relaxation with vecuronium, endotracheal intubation, reversal with neostigmine and glycopyrrolate, and pethidine 0.5 mg/kg analgesia. Episodes of nausea and vomiting were evaluated at 0 to 2, 2 to 6 and 6 to 24 hour intervals by a blinded observer. Demographic data, duration of anaesthesia, type of surgery, incidence of previous postoperative nausea or vomiting and motion sickness and number of patients who developed oculocardiac reflex requiring atropine treatment were similar in both groups. The incidence of emesis in the first 24 hours following surgery was similar in both groups (35% Group 1, 33.3% Group 2, P = 1.00). Severity of emesis (median number of emetic episodes, rescue antiemetic requirement and mean time to the onset of first episode of emesis) and mean time to discharge from the post anaesthesia care unit were also similar in the two groups. We conclude that the timing of ondansetron administration either before or after the surgical manipulation of extraocular muscles had similar antiemetic efficacy following strabismus surgery in children.     

Nitrous oxide does not increase nausea and vomiting following gynaecological laparoscopy

The effect of three different anaesthetic techniques on the incidence and severity of postoperative emesis (nausea, retching and vomiting) was studied in 150 patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopy. Patients were anaesthetized with isoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen (Group A), enflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen (Group B) or with isoflurane in air and oxygen (Group C). Groups had been predetermined by date of birth. During the first 24 hours after the operation no difference was found at any time in the incidence or severity of emesis among the groups. The overall incidence of emesis during the first 24 hours postoperatively was 54, 48 and 52 per cent, in groups A, B and C, respectively. It is concluded that nitrous oxide does not increase the incidence of emesis after isoflurane anaesthesia and that isoflurane and enflurane anaesthesia are associated with similar incidences of nausea and vomiting after gynaecological laparoscopy.     

A prospective randomised double blind study to evaluate the effect of peribulbar block or topical application of local anaesthesia combined with general anaesthesia on intra-operative and postoperative complications during paediatric strabismus surgery

We studied 45 ASA I/II children aged between 2 and 13 years scheduled for elective strabismus surgery, randomly allocated to receive either a peribulbar block or topical lidocaine 2% combined with general anaesthesia, or general anaesthesia alone. The incidence and severity of the occulocardiac reflex, the requirement for atropine, the occurrence of arrhythmias and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting following surgery at 1, 2 and 4 h were studied. We found the incidence and severity of occulocardiac reflex intra-operatively was significantly reduced in children who received a peribulbar block. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was significantly reduced in patients receiving either peribulbar block or topical local anaesthesia combined with general anaesthesia, compared to general anaesthesia alone (p = 0.008).     

Anaesthetic agents in paediatric day case surgery: do they affect outcome?

Both the numbers of children undergoing day case surgery and the type of procedures performed in this way are increasing. This expansion will only be beneficial if anaesthesia and surgery are provided with minimal post-operative morbidity e.g. postoperative delirium or nausea and vomiting. The choice of anaesthetic technique is considered critical to optimizing the service provided to patients and for this reason much research has addressed this question. This review considers the effect of anaesthetic technique on postoperative outcome in paediatric day case surgery. The outcome measures reviewed by this article are induction of anaesthesia, effects on the cardiovascular system, recovery from anaesthesia and postoperative nausea and vomiting. In each section both quantitative and qualitative outcome measures are discussed. Comparisons are made between sevoflurane and halothane, sevoflurane and propofol, propofol and halothane, desflurane and halothane and the presence or absence of nitrous oxide.     

A comparison of total intravenous anaesthesia using propofol with sevoflurane or desflurane in ambulatory surgery: systematic review and meta‐analysis

With the popularity of ambulatory surgery ever increasing, we carried out a systematic review and meta‐analysis to determine whether the type of anaesthesia used had any bearing on patient outcomes. Total intravenous propofol anaesthesia was compared with two of the newer inhalational agents, sevoflurane and desflurane. In total, 18 trials were identified; only trials where nitrous oxide was administered to, or omitted from, both groups were included. A total of 1621 patients were randomly assigned to either propofol (685 patients) or inhalational anaesthesia (936 patients). If surgical causes of unplanned admissions were excluded, there was no difference in unplanned admission to hospital between propofol and inhalational anaesthesia (1.0% vs 2.9%, respectively; p = 0.13). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lower with propofol than with inhalational agents (13.8% vs 29.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). However, no difference was noted in post‐discharge nausea and vomiting (23.9% vs 20.8%, respectively; p = 0.26). Length of hospital stay was shorter with propofol, but the difference was only 14 min on average. The use of propofol was also more expensive, with a mean (95% CI) difference of £6.72 (£5.13–£8.31 (€8.16 (€6.23?€10.09); $11.29 ($8.62–$13.96))) per patient‐anaesthetic episode (p < 0.001). Therefore, based on the published evidence to date, maintenance of anaesthesia using propofol appeared to have no bearing on the incidence of unplanned admission to hospital and was more expensive, but was associated with a decreased incidence of early postoperative nausea and vomiting compared with sevoflurane or desflurane in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.     

Role of nitrous oxide and other factors in postoperative nausea and vomiting: a randomized and blinded prospective study

Postoperative nausea and vomiting have been reported to be associated with the use of nitrous oxide. To further investigate this possibility, 780 patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery were randomly divided into four groups: group I: enflurane/nitrous oxide/oxygen; group II: enflurane/air/oxygen; group III: isoflurane/nitrous oxide/oxygen; and group IV: isoflurane/air/oxygen. The frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting was ascertained in the recovery room and at 24-h follow-up by blinded observers. Other data collected included gender, age, body mass index, previous history of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative narcotic use. The authors found no association between the use of nitrous oxide and subsequent development of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Use of the 95% confidence interval allowed the authors to project a maximum potential increase in the frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting associated with nitrous oxide to be 5.4% with enflurane and 9.7% with isoflurane in the immediate postoperative period. Female gender, younger age, and a previous history of postoperative nausea and vomiting, but not body mass index, were found to be associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting (P less than 0.05). It is concluded that there is no association between the use of nitrous oxide and the development of postoperative nausea and vomiting.     

Remifentanil-Propofol- Anästhesie bei Bandscheibenoperationen: ein Vergleich mit einer Desfluran-N2O- Inhalationsanästhesie Effekte auf Hämodynamik und Aufwachverhalten

Zusammenfassung Fragestellung: Unterscheidet sich eine totale intraven?se An?sthesie mit Propofol (P) und Remifentanil (R) von einer Inhalationsan?sthesie mit Desfluran (D) und Lachgas (L) bei lumbalen Bandscheibenoperationen hinsichtlich der Steuerbarkeit der Narkose, der Beeinflussung h?modynamischer Parameter, des Aufwachverhaltens und des postoperativen Analgetikabedarfs der Patienten? Methodik: 50 Patienten (ASA I–II, 18–65 Jahre) wurden randomisiert entweder einer P/R- oder D/L-Gruppe zugeteilt. Nach standardisierter Narkoseeinleitung (1 μg/kg Remifentanil, 1,5 mg/kg Propofol, 0,1 mg/kg Cisatracurium) wurde die An?sthesie in der D/L-Gruppe bedarfsadaptiert mit Desfluran in 50% N₂O und in der P/R-Gruppe mit 2 mg/kg/h Propofol und 0,5 μg/kg/min Remifentanil aufrechterhalten, wobei die Remifentanildosis nach 15 min halbiert wurde. Am Operationsende unmittelbar vor der Umlagerung in die horizontale Rückenlage wurde die Zufuhr der An?sthetika abrupt unterbrochen und folgende Aufwachzeiten erfa?t: Eintritt Spontanatmung (V_T>4 ml/kg), Extubation, Augen?ffnen, richtiges Benennen von Namen und Geburtsdatum und der Analgetikabedarf der ersten 2 postoperativen Stunden im Aufwachraum. Ergebnisse: Die Patienten der D/L-Gruppe reagierten auf den Intubationsreiz und die Hautinzision mit signifikanten Blutdruckanstiegen und zeigten signifikant h?here Herzfrequenzwerte, w?hrend ansonsten die h?modynamischen Parameter w?hrend des Narkoseverlaufs vergleichbar waren. Die Patienten der P/R-Gruppe erreichten signifikant früher eine stabile Spontanatmung (3,2 vs. 6,4 min), konnten früher extubiert werden (3,8 vs. 9,5 min), ?ffneten früher die Augen (3,0 vs. 11,5 min) und waren eher in der Lage, ihren Namen und Geburtsdatum zu benennen (4,8 vs. 14,3 min), wiesen aber auch signifikant h?ufiger Muskelzittern auf. Keine signifikanten Unterschiede fanden sich im Analgetikabedarf sowie in der Inzidenz von übelkeit und Erbrechen. Schlu?folgerung: Die Patienten erwachen aus der TIVA mit Propofol/Remifentanil schneller als aus der Desfluran/N₂O-Narkose und erreichen schneller ein h?heres Vigilanzniveau, wobei die geringe Intensit?t postoperativer Wundschmerzen nach Bandscheibenoperationen kein aufwendiges Konzept zur postoperativen Analgesie erfordert.      

Esomeprazole for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting still represents a major problem after surgery. Although risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting and procedures to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting have been described, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting remains high. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of the proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective surgery. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind trial, ASA I-III patients at high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting received esomeprazole tablets 3 x 40 mg or matching placebo the evening before surgery, 2 h preoperatively and 24 h postoperatively. Total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil without nitrous oxide (FiO2 0.5) was used. Patients were interviewed using a standardized postoperative nausea and vomiting questionnaire at discharge from the post-anaesthesia care unit, 6 h and 24 h later. The severity of nausea was estimated on a 0-100 point numerical scale (0 = no nausea, 100 = maximum nausea). RESULTS: The incidence of vomiting was similar in the esomeprazole (n = 45) and the placebo (n = 48) groups (64.4% vs. 60.5%, P > 0.05). The average nausea score was 17.8 with esomeprazole and was 18.7 with placebo (P > 0.05). Only 24.7% of all patients (esomeprazole 24.4%, placebo 25.0%) did not experience any nausea or vomiting. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence that prophylactic esomeprazole reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting or the degree of postoperative nausea.     

Efficacy of low-dose dexamethasone for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting following strabismus repair in children

We studied the efficacy of a range of doses of dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting following strabismus repair in children in a hospital-based, prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Two hundred and ten children were randomized to receive either dexamethasone in one of four dosages: 50 microg/kg (Group 1), 100 microg/kg (Group 2), 200 microg/kg (Group 3) and 250 microg/kg (Group 4) or normal saline (Group 5) prior to corrective surgery for strabismus. Anaesthesia was standardized and included nitrous oxide, pethidine, intubation and the use of muscle relaxant and reversal with neostigmine. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were evaluated in epochs of 0-2 hours, 2-6 hours and 6-24 hours after surgery. Parent satisfaction was assessed 24 hours after surgery and the operated eye was examined for wound infection and delayed healing one week later Dexamethasone was effective in preventing nausea and vomiting after strabismus repair: 57.1% children in Group 1, 42.9% in Group 2, 52.4% in Group 3, and 59.5% in Group 4 were free from postoperative nausea and vomiting compared with 7.1% in placebo group. The lowest dose of 50 microg/kg was as efficacious as the higher dosages of dexamethasone during the 24 hours studied. Of the children who developed postoperative nausea and vomiting those who received dexamethasone had significantly fewer episodes than those in the placebo group. We conclude that dexamethasone 50 microg/kg is effective for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting following strabismus repair in children.     

Effect of nitrous oxide on post-operative nausea and vomiting during propofol anaesthesia for short surgical operations

One hundred patients of ASA status I or II, undergoing gynaecological or urological surgery were studied. Opioids were omitted from premedication and anaesthesia. Patients were allocated randomly to one of two equal groups and were anaesthetized using a computer controlled infusion system, programmed to achieve theoretically any target blood propofol concentration. One group received 60% nitrous oxide in oxygen while the other group received 100% oxygen. Six patients in the nitrous oxide group had nausea and three of these patients vomited. Two patients in the oxygen group had nausea but no patient vomited. The frequency of nausea and vomiting in the two groups was not statistically different (P > 0.05). Theoretical blood propofol concentration shown to produce surgical anaesthesia was maintained in all patients. However 12% of the patients that received nitrous oxide and 40% of the patients that did not, responded to the surgical stimulus by limb movement. Patients in the oxygen group required higher rates of propofol infusion to maintain surgical anaesthesia.     

Antiemetic prophylaxis with promethazine or droperidol in paediatric outpatient strabismus surgery

This randomized, double-blind study evaluated the antiemetic efficacy and the side-effects of promethazine pretreatment (0.5 mg.kg-1 IV + 0.5 mg.kg-1 IM) versus droperidol + placebo pretreatment (droperidol, 0.075 mg.kg-1 IV + physiological saline, 0.02 ml.kg-1 IM). One hundred unpremedicated ASA physical status I children ranging from two to ten years, and undergoing outpatient strabismus surgery were studied. All children received inhalational anaesthesia with halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. Neither opioids nor muscle relaxants were used. The incidence of vomiting and/or retching and the incidence of side-effects were determined in the post-anaesthesia recovery room (PARR), in the short-stay surgical unit (SSSU), and after discharge from the hospital (including the journey and the stay at home during the first postoperative day). Promethazine and droperidol were equally effective in reducing the incidence of vomiting before discharge to two and eight per cent respectively. On the contrary, the incidence of vomiting after discharge and overall were significantly less with promethazine (ten and ten per cent) than with droperidol pretreatment (54 and 56 per cent) (P less than 0.0001). Promethazine permitted the time to discharge from the hospital to be reduced to an average of three hours, without increasing the incidence of vomiting postdischarge. Promethazine pretreatment is much less expensive than droperidol pretreatment. The incidence of restlessness was significantly less with droperidol (eight per cent) than with promethazine (36 per cent) (P less than 0.001). Promethazine pretreatment demands the use of an analgesic like acetaminophen in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative pain and restlessness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Postoperative complaints after spinal and thiopentone-isoflurane anaesthesia in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery Spinal versus general anaesthesia

Background. The present prospective study investigates the impact of a standardized technique of spinal and general anaesthesia on the incidence and consequences of postanaesthetic complaints dependent on age and sex of patients.
Methods. 433 orthopaedic patients underwent lower limb surgery in spinal (group 1) or general (group 2) anaesthesia. Spinal anaesthesia was performed with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine using a 26-gauge Quincke needle. General anaesthesia was induced with i.v. injection of thiopentone, fentanyl and atracurium and maintained with 65% nitrous oxide and 1-1.5 Vol% isoflurane in oxygen. On postoperative day 4, patients were interviewed for onset and duration of postoperative complaints.
Results. The overall incidence of nausea/vomiting ( P =0.025) and sore throat ( P =0.001) was higher in group 2. In addition, nausea/vomiting was higher in patients between 20 and 60 years in group 2 compared with group 1. While the incidence of urinary dysfunction was higher in men after spinal ( P =0.04), nausea/vomiting was more frequent in women after general anaesthesia ( P =0.008). Analgetic requirements ( P =0.013), time of postoperative surveillance ( P =0.042) and frequency of treatment of postoperative complaints ( P =0.0001) was higher in group 2.
Conclusion. Spinal anaesthesia was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative complaints and treatments and a shorter surveillance compared to general anaesthesia. Specific complications related to spinal anaesthesia did not depend on age or sex and may allow for recommendation of this technique even in younger and female patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.     

Association between nitrous oxide and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Some, but not all studies have suggested intra‐operative use of nitrous oxide is correlated with postoperative nausea and vomiting. We performed a meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials to compare the incidence of nausea and vomiting in adults following general anaesthesia with or without nitrous oxide. We retrieved 30 studies (incorporating 33 separate trials) that investigated a ‘nitrous oxide group’ (total 2297 patients) vs a ‘no‐nitrous oxide group’ (2301 patients). Omitting nitrous oxide significantly reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting (pooled relative risk 0.80, 95% CI 0.71–0.90, p = 0.0003). However, the absolute incidence of nausea and vomiting was high in both the nitrous oxide and no‐nitrous oxide groups (33% vs 27%, respectively). In subgroup analysis, the maximal risk reduction was obtained in female patients (pooled relative risk 0.76, 95% CI 0.60–0.96). When nitrous oxide was used in combination with propofol, the antiemetic effect of the latter appeared to compensate the emetogenic effect of nitrous oxide (pooled relative risk 0.94, 95% CI 0.77–1.15). We conclude that avoiding nitrous oxide does reduce the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting, especially in women, but the overall impact is modest.     

Propofol and halothane versus sevoflurane in paediatric day-case surgery: induction and recovery characteristics

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the inductionand recovery characteristics associated with propofol inductionand halothane maintenance with sevoflurane anaesthesia in paediatricday surgery. Methods. In total, 322 children were assigned randomly to i.v.propofol induction and halothane/nitrous oxide maintenance orsevoflurane/nitrous oxide alone. The patients’ age, sex,and type of surgery were recorded, as were the times requiredfor anaesthetic induction, maintenance, recovery and time todischarge home. Postoperative nausea and vomiting, and the incidenceof adverse events during induction and recovery were also noted. Results. No significant differences were detected in age, sex,type of surgery performed or intraoperative opioid administration.Excitatory movement was more common during induction with sevoflurane.The mean time required for induction with propofol was 3.1 mincompared with 5 min in the sevoflurane group (P<0.001). Therecovery time was shorter in the sevoflurane group comparedwith propofol/halothane (23.2 vs 26.4 min, P<0.002). Theincidence of delirium in recovery was greater in the sevofluranegroup (P<0.001). There was no difference between groups inthe time spent on the postoperative ward before discharge home.On the postoperative ward the incidence of both nausea and vomitingwas significantly higher in the sevoflurane group (P=0.034).Five children were admitted to hospital overnight, none foranaesthetic reasons. Conclusions. The increased incidence of adverse events duringinduction, postoperative nausea and vomiting and postoperativedelirium in the sevoflurane group suggests that sevofluraneis not ideal as a sole agent for paediatric day case anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 2003; 90: 461–6     

L'ondansétron oral réduit-il l'incidence des nausées et vomissements après chirurgie du strabisme chez l'enfant ?

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of oral ondansetron with oral metoclopramide for the prevention of postoperative vomiting and nausea in children undergoing strabismus surgery.Study designProspective, randomized, double-blind trial.PatientsThirty children of physical class 1, age 9 ± 4 years, scheduled for strabismus surgery, were randomized into two groups (ondansetron and metoclopramide).MethodsIn the ondansetron group, the children received the first oral dose of ondansetron (4 mg) 1 hour before induction of anaesthesia and the other doses 8 and 16 hours later. In the metoclopramide group, children received metoclopramide (5 mg) in the same conditions. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone, vecuronium and fentanyl and maintained with halothane and N₂O/O₂. Patients were evaluated by an independent observer for nausea and emesis in recovery room (0–2 h) and on the ward. The adverse effects of oral ondansetron and metoclopramide were assessed.ResultsThere were non-significant differences between the two groups for incidence of nausea and vomiting (40% and 53% in ondansetron group versus 33 and 60% in metoclopramide group, respectively).ConclusionUnlike intravenous ondansetron, oral ondansetron is not superior to metoclopramide for the prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by strabismus surgery in children.     

Peroperative nitrous oxide does not influence recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

We have evaluated the effects of nitrous oxide on recovery following laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a prospective, randomised, double–blind study with 42 otherwise healthy patients. All patients received meperidine 1 mg/kg and atropine 6 μg/kg im for premedication, and anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2 μg/ kg and thiopental 4—-6 mg/kg. Succinylcholine was used for the intubation and muscle relaxation was achieved using vecuronium. Isoflurane with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen and fentanyl was used for maintenance of anaesthesia in group I (n=19), and isoflurane in air/oxygen and fentanyl in group II (n = 23). The postoperative ward staff and the surgeon evaluating the postoperative recovery were blinded to the anaesthetic technique. No differences were found in duration of operation and anaesthesia, need for postoperative analgesia or postoperative nausea treated medically. Recovery, judged by the Steward Coma Score, comprehension and collaboration, degree of sedation and orientation in time and space, was similar in the two groups. Postoperative hospital stay was 1 (1–4) day in the nitrous oxide group (median (10–90th percentiles) versus 2 (1–4) days in the air group. The time until patients were recovered, as judged by return to work and normal daily activities, was the same in the two groups: 8 (4–11) days in the nitrous oxide group and 8 (4—-11) days in the air group. We conclude that nitrous oxide has no influence on recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Opioid supplementation to propofol anaesthesia for outpatient abortion: a comparison between alfentanil, fentanyl and placebo

One hundred and sixty-four patients scheduled for elective termination of pregnancy under general anaesthesia were randomly assigned to receive one of three different supplements to propofol and oxygen in nitrous oxide anaesthesia: 0.1 mg fentanyl, 0.5 mg alfentanil or placebo. Postoperative pain and nausea, as well as complications during anaesthesia were studied. There were no differences in complications or complaints by surgeons during anaesthesia, and no patient in any group reacted unsatisfactorily to surgery. The patients in the placebo group consumed significantly more propofol during the procedure (P less than 0.001). No differences were seen in time until hospital discharge between the three groups. Complaints about postoperative pain were significantly less frequent among patients receiving fentanyl (P less than 0.01). The number of patients requesting postoperative analgetics, however, did not differ. There was no difference in the frequency of nausea or vomiting, but postoperative pain was found significantly to increase complaints of nausea (P less than 0.01) and also time until hospital discharge (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, opioid supplementation lowered the amount of propofol needed for anaesthesia. Alfentanil 0.5 mg did not improve the postoperative course. Fentanyl 0.1 mg decreased the frequency of postoperative pain without increasing the time to hospital discharge.     

Intravenous fluid and postoperative nausea and vomiting after day-case termination of pregnancy

Background : Deprivation of oral fluid before minor surgery has been alleged to cause postoperative nausea. We examined the effect of intraoperative fluid load on postoperative nausea and vomiting over 3 d after day-case termination of pregnancy.
Methods : In a randomized study, 100 patients were allocated into one of two groups; receiving 1000 ml of compound sodium lactate solution during surgery or no intraoperative fluid. Propofol and alfentanil was used to induce and maintain anaesthesia with nitrous oxide (67%) and oxygen (33%). Visual analogue scores for nausea and pain, the time and frequency of emetic episodes, analgesic and antiemetic consumption were recorded for 3 d postoperatively.
Results : The scores of nausea were significantly lower in the fluid group ( P <0.05) compared with the control group at 1, 2, 4 h and during 24–48 h following surgery. The incidence of emesis was lower ( P <0.01) after discharge, and the time to first oral fluid was shorter ( P <0.05) in the fluid group. There was no difference in pain score or analgesic consumption between the groups. Five patients (10%) in the control group requested antiemetic medication compared with none in the fluid group.
Conclusion : Intraoperative fluid administration may offer some benefit in decreasing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting following day-case surgery.