A randomized, double-blind comparison between parecoxib sodium and propacetamol for parenteral postoperative analgesia after inguinal hernia repair in adult patients.

The newly injectable cyclooxygenase-2 selective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, parecoxib, has never been compared with propacetamol, a parenteral formulation of acetaminophen. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy study, we randomly assigned 182 patients scheduled for initial inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia to receive a single injection of 40 mg parecoxib or 2 injections of 2 g propacetamol within the first 12 h after surgery. The study variables were morphine consumption, pain at rest and while coughing, and patient satisfaction throughout the first 12 h postoperatively. For statistical analysis, we used the Student's t-test, chi(2), and covariance analysis. Total morphine consumption did not differ between the two groups. Pain was less intense in the parecoxib group at rest (P = 0.035) but did not differ for pain while coughing. The incidence of side effects was similar. Significantly more patients in the parecoxib group rated their pain management as good or excellent (87% versus 70% in the propacetamol group, P = 0.001). Within the first 12 h after inguinal hernia repair in adult patients, a single injection of parecoxib 40 mg compares favorably with 2 injections of propacetamol 2 g.

[Improvement in swallowing difficulties treated by subcutaneous apomorphine infusion after deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease]. / Amélioration des troubles de la déglutition par l'apomorphine en perfusion sous cutanée au décours de la mise en place d'électrodes de stimulation cérébrale profonde, dans la maladie de Parkinson.

In Parkinson's patients, swallowing difficulties may result in inhalation pneumonia, with a potentially serious prognosis. They may be revealed by withdrawal of L-dopa, especially after deep brain stimulation surgery. The following two cases illustrate the usefulness of apomorphine.

Choice of the hypnotic and the opioid for rapid-sequence induction.

The choice of hypnotics and opioids for rapid-sequence induction, and the use of premedication, is influenced by the choice of the muscle relaxant. Anaesthetic agents have a major influence on the quality of intubation when rapid-sequence induction is achieved without a muscle relaxant. Premedication is important, along with a high dose of propofol (2.5 mg kg-1 or more) and a short-acting opioid such as alfentanil (30-40 micrograms kg-1) or remifentanil (up to 4 micrograms kg-1). It has also been demonstrated that i.v. lidocaine can improve intubating conditions. When a muscle relaxant is used, the choice of the anaesthetic agents depends on the onset of action of the relaxant. With a rapid-acting compound such as rocuronium at a dose of 0.6 mg kg-1, the hypnotic agents need to be supplemented with only a small dose of opioids, e.g. alfentanil 10-20 micrograms kg-1. When succinylcholine, rocuronium 1.0 mg kg-1 or rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg-1 are used, excellent intubating conditions may be obtained by relatively smaller doses of hypnotic agents even without opioids; however, haemodynamic and intraocular pressure changes are better controlled when small doses of opioids are administered.