A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the use of conscious sedation in conjunction with paracervical block for reducing pain in termination of first trimester pregnancy by suction evacuation

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the role of conscious sedation in pain relief during termination of first trimester pregnancy by suction evacuation (SE) under local anaesthesia. METHODS: A hundred women undergoing SE before 12 weeks gestation were randomized by computer using the sealed envelope method to receive placebo (saline) or conscious sedation (2 mg midazolam and 25 microg fentanyl) i.v. 5 min before cervical dilatation. Paracervical block was given to all patients, 2 min later. Pain scores during and after SE, post-operative side-effects and satisfaction level were compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in pain scores were found between the two groups. Post-operative side-effects such as dizziness (P = 0.015) and drowsiness (P < 0.001) were significantly more severe in the conscious sedation group. However, patients in the conscious sedation group reported better satisfaction levels than the control group (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The use of conscious sedation significantly improved patient satisfaction during termination of first trimester pregnancy by SE under local anaesthesia, despite a lack of improvement in pain relief and the presence of increased severe dizziness/drowsiness in the post-operative period.     

Long-Term Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life at Minimum 10-Year Follow-Up After Fixed-Bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty and Total Knee Arthroplasty for Isolated Medial Compartment Osteoarthritis

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to compare the long-term functional outcome and quality of life between total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for the treatment of isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis.MethodsBetween 2000 and 2008, a total of 218 patients underwent primary UKA at our tertiary hospital. A TKA group was matched through 1:1 propensity score matching and adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, preoperative knee flexion, and function scores. All patients had medial compartment osteoarthritis. The patients were assessed with the range of motion, Knee Society Knee Score and Knee Society Function Score, Oxford Knee Score, Short Form-36 physical component score (PCS) and mental component score preoperatively, at 6 months, 2 years, and 10 years. Patients’ satisfaction, expectation fulfillment, and minimal clinically important difference were analyzed.ResultsThere were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups after propensity score matching (P > .05). UKA had greater knee flexion at all time points. Although the Knee Society Function Score was superior in UKA by 5.5, 3, and 4.3 points at 6 months, 2 years, and 10 years, respectively (P < .001), these differences did not exceed the minimal clinically important difference (Knee Society Knee Score 6.1). There were no significant differences in the Oxford Knee Score and Short Form-36 physical component score/mental component score. At 10 years, similar proportions of UKA and TKA were satisfied (90.8% vs 89.9%, P = .44) and had expectation fulfillment (89.4% vs 88.5%, P = .46). Between 2 and 10 years, all function scores deteriorated significantly for both groups (P < .01).ConclusionUKA and TKA are excellent treatment modalities for isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis, with similar functional outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction at 10 years.     

Adenosine release and changes in pial arteriolar diameter during transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion

We utilized the closed cranial window technique in the anesthetized rat to determine changes in CSF concentrations of adenosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine and pial arteriolar diameter during transient (20 min) forebrain ischemia and reperfusion. After mock CSF under the cranial window was allowed to equilibrate with cerebral interstitial fluid, endogenous adenosine concentration was found to be 0.16 +/- 0.05 microM, while inosine and hypoxanthine were 0.35 +/- 0.17 and 1.23 +/- 0.47 microM, respectively. The concentration of adenosine in CSF increased 4.2-fold during ischemia and 13.8-fold during the first 5 min of reperfusion. Inosine and hypoxanthine concentrations were also significantly increased during ischemia and reperfusion. After 1 h of reperfusion, CSF adenosine and inosine levels had decreased from peak value but remained significantly above preischemic values. In contrast, hypoxanthine remained at peak concentrations even after 60 min of reperfusion. Preischemic arteriolar diameter was 42.6 +/- 11.3 microns and was not significantly changed after 20 min of ischemia. However, during the first 5 min of reperfusion, arteriolar diameter increased significantly (p less than 0.05), coincident with peak adenosine concentrations. By 60 min of reperfusion, arteriolar diameter had returned to baseline. These results indicate that during the postischemic period, adenine nucleosides and hypoxanthine in CSF are elevated and could affect reperfusion.     

Lack of sympathetic and cholinergic influences on cerebral vasodilation caused by sciatic nerve stimulation in the rat

We studied the influences of sympathetic and cholinergic mechanisms on pial arteriolar responses during cortical activation in the rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with alpha-chloralose and urethane and mechanically ventilated. Pial arterioles on the somatosensory cortex were visualized on a video monitor through a closed cranial window. Changes in arteriolar diameter induced by sciatic nerve stimulation (0.2 V, 5 Hz, 5 ms, for 20 s) were measured before and after (a) ipsilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy (n = 5), (b) intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) administration and topical (10(-5) M) application of atropine (n = 5), and (c) lesion of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (the major source of intracerebral acetylcholine neurons, n = 7). Unilateral nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions were performed stereotactically by injection of ibotenic acid (25 nmol/microliter). Sensory cortex cholinergic denervation was confirmed histologically. These treatments had no significant effect on arteriolar responses to sciatic nerve stimulation. Thus, the present results suggest that neither sympathetic nor cholinergic mechanisms play a significant role in somatosensory evoked cerebral vasodilation.     

Pregnancy: Oral misoprostol versus placebo for cervical dilatation before vacuum aspiration in first trimester pregnancy

Intravaginal misoprostol has been shown to be effective forcervical priming before a surgically induced abortion. The objectivewas to investigate the effectiveness of oral misoprostol incervical dilatation prior to vacuum aspiration between the 6thand 12th weeks of pregnancy. The results showed that in nulliparouspatients, the median cervical dilatation in the treatment group(7.8 mm) was significantly greater than that in the placebogroup (3.7 mm). In multiparous patients, the difference wasalso statistically significant (9.8 versus 6.0 mm). The easeof dilatation, assessed subjectively by the operating surgeons,was significantly improved in the treatment group. There wasalso a significant reduction in the duration of the operationand in the mean blood loss in the treatment group. The side-effectsencountered in the treatment group were mild and well acceptedby the women. Oral misoprostol is an effective and safe methodfor cervical dilatation prior to vacuum aspiration in firsttrimester pregnancy.     

The effect of ventilation on spectral analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability during exercise

Heart rate variability (HRV) and systolic blood pressure variability (BPV) during incremental exercise at 50, 75, and 100% of previously determined ventilatory threshold (VT) were compared to that of resting controlled breathing (CB) in 12 healthy subjects. CB was matched with exercise-associated respiratory rate, tidal volume, and end-tidal CO(2) for all stages of exercise. Power in the low frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF, >0.15-0.4 Hz) for HRV and BPV were calculated, using time-frequency domain analysis, from beat-to-beat ECG and non-invasive radial artery blood pressure, respectively. During CB absolute and normalized power in the LF and HF of HRV and BPV were not significantly changed from baseline to maximal breathing. Conversely, during exercise HRV, LF and HF power significantly decreased from baseline to 100% VT while BPV, LF and HF power significantly increased for the same period. These findings suggest that the increases in ventilation associated with incremental exercise do not significantly affect spectral analysis of cardiovascular autonomic modulation in healthy subjects.