Comparison of antacid and natural honey in the prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients who are critically III

In a r and omized open trial, a regimen consisting of honey administered every 8 hours was shown to be effective more than a regimen consisting of an antacid given hourly in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in 155 patients, who were critically ill. Two of 75 patients receiving antacid showed evidence of bleeding. The cost, effectiveness, ease of administration, reduced nursing hours, greater compliance and other advantages make honey the drug of choice in preventing upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients, who are critically ill

Effectiveness of priming magnesium sulphate on muscle relaxants during anaesthesia

The present study was a trial to evaluate the effect of magnesium pretreatment on neuromuscular block produced by most commonly used muscle relaxants [succinylcholine, atracurium and pancuronium] as regard the onset, intubation conditions, clinical duration and recovery time. Sixty patients [ASA I or II] aged 18-50 years scheduled for elective surgery requiring tracheal intubation were divided into three equal groups: Succinylcholine [GI], atracurium [GII] and pancuronium [GIII]. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.5% halothane in NO2/O2. The results showed a significant decrease of onset time for GI and very highly significant decrease for GII and GIII. No change in the intubating time for GI and a very highly significant decrease for GII and GIII. In clinical duration, there were a significant prolongation and no change in recovery time [GI and GIII]. In GIII, there were a very highly significant prolongation of clinical duration and no changes in recovery time. Succinylcholine induced muscle fasciculation had prevented by MgSO4 pretreatment. Intubation conditions were graded excellent or good for both atracurium and pancuronium by MgSO4 pretreatment

Hypertonic saline versus isotonic prehydration with spinal anaesthesia for elective cesarean section

Sixty healthy women [ASA I and II] at term undergoing elective cesarean section were allocated randomly to receive either lactated Ringer's 20 ml/kg body weight group I [30 partiurients] or 3% hypertonic saline 6 ml/kg body weight group II [30 parturients] over 15 minutes immediately before spinal anaesthesia as a preload. After spinal anaesthesia the incidence of hypotension was greater [43% "13/30"] in group I than in group II [17% "5/30]. Also, the main dose of ephedrine required to correct arterial blood pressure was significantly greater in group I than in group II. The outcome of the newborns was uneventful in both groups and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes exceeded 8 in every case. Also, the mean pH of umbilical artery did not differ between the two groups. Prehydration with hypertonic saline 3% resulted in less hypotension after spinal anaesthesia than prehydration with isotonic saline [Lactated ringer]