An evaluation of priming with vecuronium.

Priming with vecuronium was evaluated in three groups of patients. Group 1 (n = 10) received tubocurarine 0.05 mg kg-1, group 2 (n = 19) received physiological saline and group 3 (n = 21) received vecuronium 0.012 mg kg-1. After 4 min maximum inspiratory pressure was measured. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 6-8 mg kg-1 and controlled ventilation with nitrous oxide and oxygen via a face mask instituted. The ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist. At 5 min group 1 patients received suxamethonium 1.5 mg kg-1, group 2 received vecuronium 0.072 mg kg-1, and group 3 received vecuronium 0.060 mg kg-1. Intubation was accomplished at 6.5 min in all patients in group 1, 89% in group 2 and 90% in group 3. Patients in group 1 had no twitch response to stimulation at the time of intubation. Mean T4:T1 ratios at 6.5 min were 0.82 in group 2 and 0.61 in group 3 (P less than 0.05). Intubating conditions were excellent in all group 1 patients, and in 53% and 67% of groups 2 and 3, respectively. Two patients in group 3 did not tolerate the priming dose and many had subjective complaints. Four group 3 patients could not sustain head lift and five showed decreased inspiratory pressure. Priming did not improve intubating conditions when compared with a single bolus technique and was not well tolerated.

Relationship between patients' in-process evaluations of therapy and psychotherapy outcome.

Investigated relationship between patients' session-by-session evaluations of brief psychotherapy and outcome. Twenty-eight patients were seen by six therapists for a mean of 10 sessions in a university health service setting. In addition to the session evaluations, which were administered at the conclusion of the second session and each session thereafter, a variety of dependent measures were administered pre and post. Factor analysis of these dependent measures yielded three factors, which were correlated with session evaluation scores. Results indicated that patients' in-process evaluations were correlated significantly and positively with some positive treatment outcome measures, especially achievement of patients' specified treatment goals, but only during initial and final phases of therapy. Results were interpreted as supportive of Mann's model of brief psychotherapy.