Naltrexone Blocks Acquisition of Voluntary Ethanol Intake in Rats

The effects of naltrexone (NTX) on the acquisition of ethanol drinking was assessed in rats. NTX (0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg) was administered to rats presented with an ascending series of ethanol concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% v/v) and water. The 2.5 and 10 mg/kg doses of NTX attenuated the acquisition of voluntary drinking of 8% ethanol, but the 5.0 mg/kg dose of NTX had no effect on ethanol intake. The acquisition paradigm was repeated in experiment 2 with naïve animals that received 0, 5.0, or 7.5 mg/kg of NTX. Neither dose of NTX affected ethanol intake, preference for alcohol, or water intake. Total fluid intake was suppressed in the NTX groups, but only on the second presentations of the 2% and 6% concentrations of ethanol. We suggest that the 2.5 and 10 mg/kg doses of NTX may have attenuated the acquisition of ethanol drinking by at least two different behavioral mechanisms.     

Postoperative Intravenous Drip Infusion is not Required after Minilaparotomy Cholecystectomy

Objective: To determine if drip infusion should be discontinued after full recovery of the patient from anaesthesia after minilaparotomy cholecystectomy in uncomplicated cases.Design: A randomised controlled clinical trial on 60 patients, from the waiting list, of cholelithiasis/cholecystitis operated by minilaparotomy cholecystectomy between November 1995 to March 1996. 30 patients did not receive postoperative IV drip infusion and in 30 patients 12–24 hours of standard drip transfusion was continued according to the current practice.Setting: Single Surgical Unit, SS Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.Main outcome measure: Recognition of clinical indication for continuation of. IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia.Results: In the cohorts of 30 patients each who were or were not given IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia following minilaparotomy cholecystectomy the observations on pulse rate, blood pressure, time to first voiding of urine and time to start first oral intake of fluids were identical. However postoperative urinary retention occured in 6 (20%) patients in whom the IV drip infusion was given.Conclusion: There is no clinical indication to continue IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia in patients operated for minilaparotomy cholecystectomy.