Evaluation of fentanyl and sufentanil on the diameter of the common bile duct by ultrasonography in man: a double blind, placebo controlled study.

Narcotic mu-agonists have been shown to increase the common bile duct pressure. With a recently introduced non-invasive ultrasonographic technique, we have demonstrated that morphine caused constriction of the common bile duct. We have now investigated the effect of highly potent, widely used mu-agonists, fentanyl and sufentanil on the diameter of the common bile duct using this technique in a double-blind, randomized study in 17 patients undergoing cholecystectomy. After premedication with midazolam and glycopyrrolate, anesthesia was induced by midazolam, 50 micrograms.kg-1 and thiopental, 3.0-5.0 mg.kg-1. Tracheal intubation was facilitated by succinyl-choline, 1.0 mg.kg-1 and muscle relaxation maintained with vecuronium. Anesthesia was maintained with enflurane or isoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. The diameter of the common bile duct was determined before and at 4 and 8 minutes after the administration of the study drugs. One way analysis of variance and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. No significant change in common bile duct diameter was observed after i.v. placebo, nor were there any significant changes after fentanyl or sufentanil administration. Since the baseline common bile duct diameters were not significantly different among the three groups, fentanyl or sufentanil in the doses used had no more effect than a placebo on common bile duct diameter. It is concluded that fentanyl and sufentanil caused no effect on the common bile duct, therefore, these mu-agonists seem to be safe in patients in whom spasm of the common bile ducts should be avoided.

Double-blind comparison of butorphanol and nalbuphine on the common bile duct by ultrasonography in man.

Butorphanol and nalbuphine, narcotic agonist-antagonists were shown to cause no increase in biliary pressure in contrast to morphine in dogs or men. A non-invasive, ultrasonographic technique confirmed that morphine caused constriction of the common bile duct while placebo caused no effect. To prove the lack of constrictive effect of butorphanol and nalbuphine on the common bile duct, the changes in its diameter were measured following placebo or the two agonist-antagonists by ultrasonography. In a double-blind, randomized study, 17 patients undergoing open cholecystectomy were evaluated. No morphine or opioids were allowed for 12 hours prior to the study. After premedication with midazolam and glycopyrrolate, anesthesia was induced by midazolam, 50 micrograms.kg-1 and thiopental, 3.0-5.0 mg.kg-1. Tracheal intubation was facilitated by succinylcholine 1.0 mg.kg-1 and muscle relaxation was maintained with vecuronium. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane or enflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. After imaging the common bile duct by ultrasonography, placebo, nalbuphine 0.3 mg.kg-1 or butorphanol 40 micrograms.kg-1 were injected intravenously. The diameter of the common bile duct was measured before and at 4 and 8 minutes after drug administration. One-way analysis of variance and paired t-test were utilized for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. No significant changes in the common bile duct diameter was observed after placebo administration, nor was any change observed after either nalbuphine or butorphanol as compared to the baseline. The comparison of three groups of patients showed no statistically significant difference.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Double-blind placebo-controlled ultrasonographic confirmation of constriction of the common bile duct by morphine.

Although the increase in the common bile duct pressure in response to morphine has been repeatedly reported in experimental animals and humans, this is the first double-blind non-invasive, ultrasonographic study designed to demonstrate constriction of the common bile duct caused by i.v. administration of morphine in surgical patients. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, 12 patients undergoing open cholecystectomy were enrolled. No opioids were allowed for 12 hours prior to the study. After premedication with midazolam and glycopyrrolate, anesthesia was induced by midazolam, 50 micrograms/kg-1 and thiopental, 3.0-5.0 mg/kg-1. Tracheal intubation was facilitated by succinylcholine, 1.0 mg/kg-1 and muscle relaxation was maintained with vecuronium. Anesthesia was maintained with enflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. After imaging the common bile duct by ultrasonography, placebo or morphine, 0.2 mg/kg-1 was injected intravenously. The diameter of the common bile duct was measured before and 4 and 8 minutes after the drug. Student t-test was utilized for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. No significant change in common bile duct diameter was observed after placebo administration. Morphine caused a significant reduction in the diameter of the common bile duct. Before morphine, the mean +/- SD diameter was 9.5 +/- 3.3 mm; after morphine at 4 and 8 minutes, 7.2 +/- 2.1 and 5.8 +/- 2.1 mm, respectively. It is concluded that ultrasonography in a double-blind placebo-controlled design has proven to be a valid method for the evaluation of the effect of drugs on the common bile duct.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modern methodologies of differentiating thyroid masses.

The rational treatment of thyroid diseases requires an understanding of the thyroid function and an accurate evaluation of its functional (endocrine), as well as it morphological alteration. There are several different imaging techniques which are available and are in use in the evaluation of thyroid diseases. In this article we present a protocol for the use of diagnostic imaging to evaluate a focal thyroid mass, a diffusely enlarged gland, regional, and distant metastatic disease. The current diagnostic applications of radionuclide scanning, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be discussed.

High-field MRI of primary gallbladder carcinoma.

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features are described in a case of gallbladder carcinoma presenting as a fungating mass associated with gallstones as well as biliary obstruction due to pancreaticoduodenal lymph node metastasis. The MR findings complemented diagnostic observations made on preoperative sonography and computed tomography of the abdomen.

B-mode sonography of blood clots.

Systematic evaluation of blood clot echogenicity was performed with five different transducer frequencies in two experiments. In the first experiment, blood clots were insonified at five different time periods; from immediately after clotting up to 96 hours after clotting. In the second experiment, blood clots of four different hematocrits (48 to 20%) and clots of hemolysed blood were insonified. The clots, with normal hematocrits, were highly echogenic when imaged with 5, 7.5 and 10-MHz transducers immediately and 24 hours after clotting. The echo intensity decreased over the following days until it almost disappeared at 96 hours after clotting. Clot echogenicity was not observed with 2.25 and 3.5-MHz transducers, except at the interface between retracted clot and serum. Clot echogenicity decreased in proportion with the hematocrit. Hemolysed blood clots were not echogenic. It is concluded from this study that fresh blood clots are echogenic soon after thrombosis with high resolution imaging and this echogenicity diminishes with time. Ultimately with organization and lamination, echogenicity will recur.

Real-time ultrasonography during biliary surgery.

High resolution real-time B-mode ultrasound scanning using a sterile 7.5 MHz transducer was performed during operations on the biliary tract. Ultrasound is useful for locating the common bile duct in the presence of acute inflammation and other abnormal anatomy, detecting small calculi in the gallbladder with a thickened wall, measuring the caliber of the common bile duct, and identifying calculi in the common bile duct. Intraoperative ultrasonography can permit earlier and more precise appraisal of operative findings and, thereby, decrease operative time.

Ultrasonography of the abdominal wall in the diagnosis of spigelian hernia.

Gray scale ultrasonography of the abdominal wall was used in the evaluation of patients suspected to have spigelian hernia. This diagnostic technique was found to be accurate in displaying defects in the spigelian fascia. Application of this technique to patients with mild abdominal tenderness may result in the detection of more cases of spigelian hernia and also prevent unnecessary exploration in patients in whom the sonogram is normal.