ABSTRACT
Two groups of 25 patients were sedated during neuroradiological investigation. The first group was sedated with fentanyl and midazolam while the other was given fentanyl and a two-stage infusion of propofol in a subanaesthetic dose. Both techniques resulted in satisfactory sedation and recovery, although those who received propofol were more likely to recall their journey from the X-ray department back to the ward. Sedation in both groups resulted in unacceptable PaO2 values in some patients which could subsequently be corrected by administration of supplementary oxygen.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Angiography , Hypnotics and Sedatives/administration & dosage , Adult , Aged , Fentanyl/administration & dosage , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Injections, Intravenous , Midazolam/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Propofol/administration & dosage , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
The dynamic performance of arterial manometers depends upon the values of the natural frequency fo and the damping factor beta. Satisfactory reproduction of all arterial waveforms requires that fo should be greater than about 13 Hz; for an fo of 13 Hz, beta should have a value of 0.5, but, as fo increases, an increasing range of beta values is permissible. We measured fo and beta for two pressure transducers (Gould P23 Statham and Gould Disposable) in combination with Portex or Gould catheter tubing of lengths varying from 100 cm to 300 cm. All combinations were considerably underdamped, with the best having an fo of 30 Hz and a beta of 0.1. We also investigated the performance of a commercial device, the Accudynamic, designed to allow beta to be increased without affecting fo. We found that the Accudynamic worked well, allowing acceptable performance to be obtained from the Gould Disposable transducer with catheters up to 200 cm in length.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure Determination/instrumentation , Catheterization , Transducers, Pressure , Transducers , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , ManometryABSTRACT
A double-blind randomised study of 48 patients in whom continuous subcutaneous infusion and regular intramuscular injection of morphine were compared as analgesic regimens after upper abdominal surgery, is described. Over a 48-hour period, no difference in pain intensity between the two groups was found by comparing linear analogue scores, assessments on a four-point rank scale, peak expiratory flow rates or requirement for additional analgesia. Nausea and sedation were assessed using a four-point rank scale. These side effects were less frequent with subcutaneous infusion (p less than 0.05). Two patients from each group were judged to have received an overdose. The infusion apparatus was simple and convenient to use. Continuous subcutaneous infusion of morphine is a practical and effective means of achieving post-operative analgesia but, as with other mandatory dosing regimens, relative overdosage may occur.
