Diclofenac and oxycodone in treatment of postoperative pain: a double-blind trial

The effects of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor (diclofenac, Voltaren) and an opiate (oxycodone, Oxanest) on postoperative pain were compared. Included in the study were 85 candidates for various operations. Patients requesting an analgesic were given either 75 mg of diclofenac or 10 mg of oxycodone as an intramuscular injection. The onset of analgesic effect occurred within 13 +/- 4 min with oxycodone and within 16 +/- 8 min with diclofenac. The analgesic effect of diclofenac was slightly weaker than that of oxycodone (on a pain scale of 1-4, 1.6/2.1 after 0.5 h and 1.5/1.8 after 1 h). The patients again asked for an analgesic after an average of 4.6 h in the oxycodone group and after an average of 6.1 h in the diclofenac group. The average number of injections required until the first postoperative morning was 2.5 in the oxycodone group and 1.8 in the diclofenac group. Side-effects: 21 patients in the oxycodone group reported a total of 39 side-effects and eight patients in the diclofenac group a total of 10 side-effects. Diclofenac is an alternative to opiates in the management of postoperative pain. It is especially useful in patients in whom opiates cause side-effects.     

The CT criteria for conservative treatment — but under close clinical observation — of posterior fossa epidural haematomas

Summary In order to assess whether the indications for conservative treatment of supratentorial epidural haematomas are applicable also to posterior fossa epidural haematomas (PFEDH), the author reviewed the records of 25 patients. With a PFEDH volume of no more than 10 ml, a thickness of no more than 15 mm, a midline shift of no more than 5 mm, and in the absence of a significant intracranial haematoma elsewhere on computed tomography (CT) scans, the patients undergoing conservative treatment achieved the same excellent outcome as those undergoing early surgery. These CT criteria for conservative treatment of PFEDHs are similar to those of supratentorial epidural haematomas except the volume factor, namely, 10 ml in the former against 30 ml in the latter. That means a PFEDH of 10 ml or larger in the small posterior fossa may produce the same degree of midline shift and compression, and be as dangerous as an epidural haematoma of 30 ml or larger in the more capacious supratentorial compartment. But also for epidural haematomas of the posterior fossa, which initially are smaller than 10 ml, the general rule remains valid that they should be under close clinical supervision     

Experimental study of spinal cord compression by epidural tumors using electron probe X-ray microanalysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy

Changes in the nerve fibers of the spinal cord were studied in rat experimental epidural tumor models. Light microscopy showed demyelinization in all with rats paraparesis and paraplegia. Cross-sectional views of nerve fibers stained with 3,3dipentyloxacarbo-cyanine iodide, obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy, showed distorted, shrunken fibers with a low fluorescence intensity. Changes in the electrolyte contents of nerve fibers were studied by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The K concentration in axons and the myelin sheath was increased in the paraparesis group, but was decreased in the paraplegia group. These findings suggest that, in the paraparesis group, compression of the spinal cord damaged cell membrane channels, which subsequently caused an increase in intracellular K, a decline in the action potential, and low-intensity fluorescence of nerve fibers. On the other hand, in the paraplegia group, destruction of cell membranes caused a decrease in intracellular K until it approached the extracellular level. This reduced both the action potential and the fluorescence intensity. As Ca and Mg concentrations in both axons and the myelin sheath increased in relation to the severity of neurologic damage, it appears that these electrolytes may also play an important role in damage to nerve fibers.     

Electronic and disposable patient-controlled analgesia systems

We have compared the performance of the Baxter disposable with the Graseby electronic patient-controlled analgesia system in 30 patients following major gynaecological surgery. Patients were allocated randomly to receive analgesia via the Baxter or Graseby device for postoperative pain relief. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to postoperative pain relief or sedation as measured by visual analogue scale. Requirements for antiemetic drugs and patient acceptability were similar. Mean (SEM) morphine demanded over 30 h was 35.7 (6.6) in the Graseby group and 35.1 (8.5) in the Baxter group.     

Epidural abscess following epidural steroid and local anaesthetic injection

Epidural abscess is a well-recognised but rare complication of epidural catheter placement. We have found only five previous reports of epidural abscess from noncatheter-related administration of steroids and/or local anaesthetic. We describe a further case which led to critical illness and emphasise the association between diabetes mellitus and epidural infection.     

前不均倾位51例临床分析

目的:探讨前不均倾位的诊断及处理方法,以期提高临床医师对前不均倾位的认识。方法:对我院1995年1月~2006年11月收治的51例前不均倾产妇的发病年龄、胎产次、发病原因、临床表现、母儿产时产后并发症及诊治方法进行分析。结果:50例前不均倾均以剖宫产结束分娩、母婴安全。1例自然分娩。结论:前不均倾位产时并发症多,不易做出早期诊断,对母婴危害大,难以经过阴道分娩,诊断一旦明确,应及时行剖宫产终止妊娠。     

老年病人上腹部手术后应用PCEA的临床效果观察

目的　观察老年人上腹部术后病人自控硬膜外镇痛 (PCEA)的疗效及对内分泌功能的影响。方法　6 3例择期行胃癌根治术的老年患者 ,ASAⅠ -Ⅱ级 ,随机分为 3组 (每组 2 1例 ) :A组术后行硬膜外镇痛 (PCEA) ;B组术后行静脉镇痛 (PCIA) ;C组术后按需肌肉注射哌替啶镇痛 ;对比术后镇痛效果并分别于麻醉前 ,切皮后 90分钟 ,术后 6 0及 1、2、3天分别抽取外周静脉血测定血糖、胰岛素、皮质醇、肾上腺素浓度。结果　A、B组镇痛效果均满意 ,C组镇痛效果欠佳 ,综合镇痛质量A组优于B组优于C组 ;3组于切皮后 90分钟血皮质醇、血糖浓度均升高 ,但A组低于C、B两组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,术后 6 0分钟均达高峰 (P <0 0 1) ,术后 2 4至 4 8小时虽有下降 ,但仍明显高于麻醉前水平 (P <0 0 5 ) ;血胰岛素水平 ,A、B组术后 3天无明显变化 ,C组术后第 1、2天升高显著 (P <0 .0 1及P <0 .0 5 ) ;肾上腺素A、B组术后无明显升高 ,C组术后 6 0分钟明显升高 ,于术后 3天仍未恢复至术前水平。结论　老年病人上腹部术后PCIA及PCEA均能达到优良的镇痛效果 ,PCEA能有效地抑制术后机体的应激反应 ,有利于术后病人的恢复。     

Thoracic epidural analgesia in aortocoronary bypass surgery II: effects on the endocrine metabolic response

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) may offer haemodynamic benefits for patients with coronary heart disease going through major surgery. This may – in part – be secondary to an effect on the endocrine and metabolic response to surgery. We therefore investigated the effect of TEA on the endocrine metabolic response to aortocoronary bypass surgery (ACBS).
Thirty male patients (age < 65 years, ejection fraction > 0.5) were randomized into 3 groups; the HF group receiving a high dose fentanyl (55 μg–kg^-1) anaesthesia, the HF + TEA group with the same fentanyl dose + TEA with 10 ml bupivacain 5 mg ml^-1, followed by 4 ml every hour, and the LF + TEA group receiving fentanyl 15 μg kg^-1 + TEA. Adrenalin, noradrenalin, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), glucose, Cortisol, lactate and free fatty acids were followed during the operation and for 20 h postoperatively.
A significant increase in adrenalin, noradrenalin and SVR was found in the HF group whereas this increase was blocked in both epidural groups. An increase in glucose and Cortisol was noticed in all groups, but the increase was delayed in the epidural groups.
Our results suggest that a more effective blockade of the stress response during ACBS is obtained when TEA is added to general anaesthesia than with high dose fentanyl anaesthesia alone.