Transderm scopolamine for the control of perioperative nausea.

A randomized prospective study of 201 patients in two institutions was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a transderm scopolamine patch in the control of postoperative nausea. Of 201 patients, 180 successfully completed the protocol. Demographically, the groups were similar in age, sex, and surgical procedures. Adverse effects were noted in both treatment and control groups. Forty-seven per cent of the placebo and 49 per cent of the transderm scopolamine group did not experience postoperative side effects. The most common adverse reactions were urinary retention, dry mouth, agitation, nausea, and vomiting. There was a reduction in the number of vomiting episodes in the transderm scopolamine treatment group from the control group (21% transderm scopolamine vs. 36% placebo). These differences became more significant among the subgroups in surgery, especially after orthopedic procedures. Thirty-five per cent of the transderm scopolamine group experienced nausea compared with 65 per cent from the placebo, 11 per cent of the transderm scopolamine experienced vomiting compared to 26 per cent. Transderm scopolamine was effective in reducing but not eliminating postoperative nausea.

Hemodynamic effects of leukotriene (LT) D4 and a LTD4 receptor antagonist in the pig.

Vascular bed reactivity to exogenous LTD4 and blockade of these responses by a selective LTD4 receptor antagonist, SK&F 104353, were studied. Yorkshire pigs (N = 13; 25.8 +/- 1.4 kg) were anesthetized with isoflurane, and monitored for cardiac output (CO), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), right ventricular stroke work (RVSW), mean arterial pressure (MAP), renal artery blood flow (RABF), pulmonary vasculature resistance (PVR), renal vascular resistance (RVR), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). LTD4 (0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 and 10.0 micrograms/kg) was given intravenously. The MPAP, MAP, and RABF were recorded at baseline and for 20 min after the injection of LTD4. SK&F 104353 was infused (3 mg/kg/h, i.v.) and the dose-response to LTD4 was repeated. LTD4 induced changes in the MPAP, PCWP, MAP, and RABF. SK&F 104353 attenuated LTD4 induced changes in the MPAP, PVR, RABF and RVSW. MPAP was increased 123 +/- 24% and 115 +/- 10%, respectively, in pigs given 3.0 and 10 micrograms/kg doses, and increased to only 36 +/- 9% at a 10 micrograms/kg dose of LTD4 in animals pretreated with SK&F 104353 (P less than 0.05). MPAP was not increased at the 3.0 micrograms/kg dose, and increased to only 36 +/- 9% at a 10 micrograms/kg dose of LTD4 in animals pretreated with SK&F 104353 (P less than 0.05). These changes were paralleled by a reduction in PVR. RABF was decreased 76 +/- 5% and 83 +/- 7%, respectively, at the 3.0 and 10 micrograms/kg dose of LTD4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagnosis of adult respiratory distress syndrome with Tc-99m human serum albumin and portable probe.

A gamma-camera and computer were used to measure pulmonary accumulation of technetium-99m human serum albumin in 15 patients who met the criteria for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and in ten asymptomatic patients. The ratio of lung to blood-pool activity increased in ARDS patients, but did not change in nonARDS patients. Lung to heart measurements by a portable probe with scaler correlated well with those obtained simultaneously with the gamma-camera and computer: probe measurements over 60 min increased significantly (p less than .0001) more in ten ARDS patients than in the nonARDS patients or in five postARDS patients, three with pneumonia and two with congestive heart failure. We conclude that the probe with scaler is sensitive enough to detect abnormal pulmonary accumulation of albumin in ARDS patients.