Efficacy of ondansetron and metoclopramide for preventing postoperative emesis following strabismus surgery in children

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of metoclopramide with the 5-HT₃ antagonist, ondansetron, for the prevention of postoperative emesis in children undergoing elective strabismus surgery. None of the children received any premedication and a similar anaesthetic technique was used for all. Ondansetron 0.15 mg.kg⁻¹, metoclopramide 0.25 mg.kg⁻¹ or saline placebo were administered following intravenous catheter placement. Episodes of emesis were recorded for the first 24 h for the intervals of 0–2, 2–6 and 6–24 h. The incidence of emesis in the first 24 h was observed to be 71.7% in the placebo group, 34.4% in the ondansetron group (p < 0.001) and 61.4% in the metoclopramide group (p = NS). The severity of vomiting was less in the ondansetron group as compared with metoclopramide (p < 0.01) and placebo (p < 0.001). Recovery room scores were comparable in all the groups. No serious side-effects were observed in the ondansetron group. We conclude that prophylactic ondansetron is effective and superior to metoclopramide in the prevention of postoperative emesis in children following elective strabismus surgery.     

Single visit root canal treatment: incidence of postoperative pain using three different instrumentation techniques

A clinical study was carried out on nonvital maxillary central incisors to evaluate the incidence of postoperative pain following single-visit root canal treatment using three different instrumentation techniques. Ninety teeth from 78 patients whose ages ranged from 14 to 63 years were selected and divided into three groups. Each group (30 teeth) was prepared by a different coronal-to-apical technique using different instrument movement depending upon the technique employed: modified double-flared, crown-downpressureless and balanced force techniques. No difference was observed in the incidence of postoperative pain among the groups.     

Effects of epidural bupivacaine and epidural morphine on bowel function and pain after hysterectomy

A comparison was made of the effects of continuous epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and intermittent epidural morphine on bowel function after abdominal hysterectomy. The duration of postoperative ileus was assessed as the time from the end of operation to the first postoperative passage of flatus and feces. Twenty-two patients were randomly allocated to two equal groups. An "epidural morphine" group received general anesthesia and epidural morphine for postoperative pain relief, and an "epidural bupivacaine" group was given combined general anesthesia and epidural anesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine intraoperatively and epidural analgesia with 0.25% bupivacaine postoperatively. Epidural morphine or bupivacaine was given for 42 h postoperatively. Pain intensity (visual analog scale) was low in both groups, but lower (P less than 0.05) in the epidural bupivacaine group. The time to first passage of flatus was 22 +/- 16 h in the epidural bupivacaine group and 56 +/- 22 h in the epidural morphine group (P less than 0.001). The time to first postoperative passage of feces was shorter (P less than 0.05) in the former than in the latter 57 +/- 44 h vs 92 +/- 22 h). The patients of the epidural bupivacaine group started intake of oral fluids earlier (P less than 0.01) and to a greater extent (P less than 0.05) than those in the epidural morphine group. It is concluded that the duration of postoperative ileus after hysterectomy is shorter when epidural bupivacaine is given for postoperative pain relief than when this is achieved by epidural morphine.     

Structure and Concentration Capacity of the Kidneys in Brattleboro Rats under Conditions of Long-Term Vasopressin Treatment

Endoprostheses made from knitted fabric of 3 loop types were used for hernioplasty in rats. Biocompatibility of implanted textile constructions was evaluated after 6 months. The intensity of inflammatory reaction and types of complications in animals depended on the loop type and method of finishing of the mesh endoprosthesis tissue. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 145, No. 5, pp. 582–587, May, 2008     

Postoperative water and electrolyte changes in skeletal muscle: a clinical study with three different intravenous infusions

Twenty-seven patients admitted for cholecystectomy were matched for age and sex in three groups for different perioperative fluid therapies over a period of 3 days. Group I was given an acetated half-isotone "balanced" saline solution with the addition of 2.5% glucose, Group II an acetated Ringer solution and Group III an isotonic glucose solution. Percutaneous muscle biopsies were performed before and on the third day after surgery for the determination of water content and the concentration of sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride in skeletal muscle. The cumulative balance of sodium and potassium was measured daily during the study. In all three groups a significant increase in the total muscle water content was demonstrated. The concentration of sodium and chloride in skeletal muscle increased significantly in Groups II and III, whereas the concentration of potassium decreased in all groups. The cumulative sodium balance was positive in Groups I and II; the potassium balance was negative in all groups. In conclusion, the patients given the balanced saline solution showed the least change in water content and electrolyte concentrations in skeletal muscle.     

病人自控硬膜外镇痛改善病人术后转归的研究

目的 研究PCEA对病人术后转归的影响。方法 100例均行硬膜外穿刺的手术,随机等分为两组即PCEA（A）组和未实施PCEA（B）组。定时监测两组MAP,HR,SPO2,RR;选择其中30例食管,胃肠道手术,除监测以上项目外,并于入手术室后硬膜外穿刺前（T0）,术始60分钟（T1）,术毕24小时（T2）时分别测定病人皮质醇,血糖,胃粘膜pH的变化情况。结果 A组镇痛期间MAP,HR,SPO2,RR,血糖,胃粘膜pH均变化不大,术后皮质醇浓度下降,镇痛确切,病人平干静合作,满意度高;B组镇痛期间除皮质醇浓度变化不大外,其余指标均波动明显,镇痛效果差,病人呈焦虑状态,满意度差。结论 PCEA利于病人术后转归。     

机械吻合与手工吻合在食管外科中并发症的对比分析

目的　评价机械吻合在食管外科中的应用价值。方法　选择我院 1984～ 1994年间行食管癌、贲门癌切除术病例 ,比较机械吻合和手工吻合组术后与吻合技术相关的并发症的发生率。结果　机械吻合组平均手术时间、术后平均住院日均较手工组缩短 ;吻合口瘘、吻合口出血及死亡率 ,机械吻合组分别为 3.3%、0 .7%和 3% ;手工吻合组分别为 7.2 %、1.3%和 4.6 % ;轻、中、重度吻合口狭窄 ,机械吻合组分别为 2 .3%、2 .6 %和 0 .9% ,手工吻合组分别为 3%、4.5 %和 1.5 %。结论　机械吻合能有效降低术后并发症发生率 ,临床效果优于手工吻合。     

A comparison of postoperative respiratory complications associated with the use of desflurane and sevoflurane: a single-centre cohort study

Sevoflurane and desflurane are the most commonly used volatile anaesthetics for maintenance of anaesthesia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between choice of volatile anaesthetic and early postoperative respiratory complications, and to address a critical knowledge gap in safety outcomes between these two commonly used agents. We performed a retrospective analysis of adult (non-cardiac surgery) patients who received sevoflurane or desflurane for the maintenance of general anaesthesia at our institution between 2005 and 2018. We evaluated the association between desflurane exposure (when compared with sevoflurane) and the primary outcome of postoperative respiratory complications, defined by early post-extubation desaturation (S_pO₂ < 90%) or re-intubation within 7 days postoperatively. Multivariable regression analyses were performed and adjusted for confounding factors, including patient, anaesthetic and surgical factors. Propensity matched, interaction and sub-group analyses were performed to assess outcomes in high-risk groups: morbidly obese (BMI > 35 kg.m⁻²); elderly (age > 65 years); and high risk of respiratory complications as well as the primary outcome at 24 h. Desflurane was used for 23,830 patients and sevoflurane for 84,608 patients. Patients exposed to desflurane did not demonstrate a reduced risk of postoperative respiratory complications when compared with sevoflurane (adjusted odds ratio 0.99, 95%CI 0.94–1.04, p = 0.598). These findings were consistent across all sub-groups of high-risk patients and in the propensity score matched cohort. In summary, desflurane use was not associated with reduced postoperative respiratory complications when compared with sevoflurane. In the context of environmental and cost concerns with volatile anaesthetic agents, our study provides important data to support organisational decisions regarding the use of desflurane.