ABSTRACT
Interest in the speed with which patients recover post operatively, the type of deficits that anesthesia may induce in them and the overall profile of their physiologic and psychological states, has grown rapidly over the last two decades. Recovery from general anesthesia is dependent on factors governing drug sensitivity and drug disposition. In our study of 60 males and 60 females we have tried to find out if there is any significant difference in males and females, in their emergence from the effects of general anesthesia. This was a double blind study carried out in hundred and twenty patients, aged 18-70 years scheduled to undergo elective general surgical procedures. Patient recovery was observed continuously after the termination of anesthesia. Timings of initial wake up events were recorded by the anesthesiologist who was blinded to this study. The time from discontinuation of anesthesia to eye opening was 6.87 +/- 2.54 min [P < 0.001; t test] for women versus 8.78 +/- 2.66 min in men; time to respond to verbal comm and was 7.53 +/- 2.05 and 9.61 +/- 2.14 min in women and men, respectively [P < 0.001; t test]. Considering the multitude of factors that may influence recovery, the gender effect appears to be a strong one. The difference could probably be explained by differences in physiology, enzyme activity etc. Investigators have noted that normal differences account for changes in function of the GABA receptor known to be important in the action of many anesthetics
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Anesthesia Recovery Period , Postoperative Complications , Double-Blind MethodABSTRACT
A prospective and randomized study was conducted on 50 full term parturients undergoing labour analgesia at Panna Dai Hospital, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur. The parturients were allocated in two groups: group BF [n=25] received an epidural injection of bupivacaine [0.15%; 15 mg] + Fentanyl [0.0002%]; 2 micro g/ml]; group BEF [n=25] bupivacaine [0.15%; 15 mg] +Fentanyl [0.0002%; 2 micro g/ml] +Epinephrine [1.7 micro g/ml; 1:600,000]. Subsequent top up [same as bolus] was administered at VAS >/= 3. Comparison between the two groups showed no significant difference in onset of analgesia, number of top up doses, degree of motor block and parturients acceptance. The difference in duration of analgesia with addition of epinephrine [93.00 +/- 29.00 min: BEF group; V/S 86.00 +/- 27.00 Min : BF group] did not show any statistical significance between the two groups. Ambulation was achieved in 100% of parturients from both study groups. The incidence of spontaneous delivery was 92% in each group. Parturients in group BEF demonstrated a higher incidence of side effects like nausea and vomiting [4% v/s 0%]; hypotension [4% v/s 0%]; paresis [8% v/s 0%] and retention of urine [12% v/s 8%] as compared to BF group. To conclude, the addition of epidural epinephrine [1:600,000] to bupivacaine and fentanyl does not affect the duration or quantity of labour analgesia
ABSTRACT
Kinking of an epidural catheter with resultant failure to inject drug is a complication of lumbar epidural analgesia. Here, we report a case of kinking of epidural catheter 1 cm proximal to its tip after 20 days of insertion. It was inserted to a female for pain relief, suffering from carcinoma of the cervix