Periorbital emphysema after dive barotrauma without radiological evidence of paranasal sinus injury.

BACKGROUND: Scuba diving has increased in popularity since its invention in 1943, with over 21 million PADI registered members worldwide. Injuries to the paranasal sinuses caused by barotrauma are the second most common after injury to the middle ear. CASE REPORT: In this paper we present a case of unilateral periorbital surgical emphysema in a 23-yr-old male commercial scuba diver with minimal symptoms following an uneventful 13-ft (4-m) dive. The only symptoms experienced were pain and pressure over the right maxillary sinus and retrorbitally. Imaging with computed tomography showed no fracture of his paranasal sinuses. DISCUSSION: The authors recommend that a high index of suspicion for paranasal sinus barotrauma should be maintained in all patients reporting minor symptoms after diving (even to shallow depths) to facilitate rapid clinical diagnosis and prompt medical management.

Tramadol for pain relief in children undergoing tonsillectomy: a comparison with morphine.

BACKGROUND: Pain control for paediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy remains problematic. Tramadol is reported to be an effective analgesic and to have a side-effect profile similar to morphine, but is currently not licensed for paediatric use in the UK. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial in children who were scheduled for elective tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy at the Royal Aberdeen Children Hospital. Following local ethics committee approval and after obtaining a drug exemption certificate from the Medicines Licensing Agency for an unlicensed drug, we recruited 20 patients each into morphine (0.1 mg.kg(-1)), tramadol (1 mg.kg(-1)) and tramadol (2 mg.kg(-1)) groups. These drugs were given as a single injection following induction of anaesthesia. In addition, all patients received diclofenac (1 mg.kg(-1)) rectally. The postoperative pain scores, analgesic requirements, sedation scores, signs of respiratory depression and nausea and vomiting, as well as antiemetic requirements, were noted at 4-h intervals until discharge. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in age, weight, type of operation or induction of anaesthesia, 4-h sedation and pain scores and further analgesic requirements. There were no episodes of respiratory depression. Morphine was associated with a significantly higher incidence of vomiting following discharge to the wards (75% versus 40%, P=0.03) compared with both tramadol groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tramadol has similar analgesic properties, when compared with morphine. The various pharmaceutical presentations and the availability as a noncontrolled substance may make it a useful addition to paediatric anaesthesia if it becomes licensed for paediatric anaesthesia in the UK.