The influence of alfentanil on the intubating conditions after priming with vecuronium

The ability of alfentanil 15 micrograms kg-1 or 30 micrograms kg-1 to improve intubating conditions was studied in four groups of 25 ASA class 1 patients. Induction of anaesthesia was with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1. Neuromuscular blockade was induced with vecuronium using the priming principle. The priming dose, priming interval and intubating dose were 0.01 mg kg-1, 4 min, and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively. Intubation was attempted 1 min after the intubating dose. Intubating conditions were judged unacceptable in about 30% of the patients belonging to the control groups. Alfentanil 15 micrograms kg-1, when administered 65 s before intubation, reduced the incidence of coughing and diaphragmatic movement (P less than 0.05) but did not reduce the incidence of overall unacceptable intubating conditions. Alfentanil 30 micrograms kg-1, however, reduced the incidence of vocal cord movement (P less than 0.005) as well as coughing and diaphragmatic movement (P less than 0.002). Alfentanil 30 micrograms kg-1 reduced the incidence of unacceptable intubating conditions from about 30% to 4% (P less than 0.02).     

Bioaccumulating substances and reproductive success in baltic flounder platichthys flesus

Running ripe Baltic flounder Piatichthys flesus were caught with a bottom trawli. Eggs were stripped and artificially inseminated and incubated in Baltic sea water at 6.8 °C and a salinity of 27.5% After hatching, siraight and viable appearing larvae — viable hatch — were determined. Ovary and liver samples of the female parental fish were collected and analyzed for chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Viable hatch was significantly affected at ovary chlorinated hiphenyl (PCB) levels higher than 120 ng/g wet weight. Thus 120 ng/g PCB was designated a threshold level in flounder eggs. above which reduced survival of developing eggs and larvas can be expected. Other chlorinated hydrocaihons. and metals did not show any correlation between ovary and/or liver contamination levels and viable hatch. The melhod employed is deemed to be a promising tool for the assessment of pollution effects on marine biola.