Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D G Stott.
A patient presenting with carcinoma of the breast was treated with local hyperthermia by short wave diathermy. During the procedure she suffered severe burns at the site of the ECG electrodes as a result of concentration of the induced current.
The relationship between analgesic activity, measured as the hot plate reaction time, and respiratory depression, measured as ventilatory frequency, was investigated in mice for a variety of mu opioid receptor agonists with differing selectivities for mu receptors compared with delta receptors. There was a weak correlation between analgesia and respiratory depression for opioids with the greatest selectivity for mu opioid receptors compared with delta receptors, such as alfentanil. The strength of the correlation increased for opioids which had greater delta receptor activity, such as morphine and fentanyl. Etorphine, which has almost equal affinity for mu, delta and, incidentally, kappa receptors, showed a strong correlation between analgesia and respiratory depression. We conclude that the predictability of the degree of respiratory depression produced by a given analgesic dose of an opioid appears to decrease with its selectivity for mu opioid receptors, at least in the mouse.
Traction on, or stretching of, any structure innervated by the trigeminal nerve can cause reflex slowing of the pulse, inappropriately known as the "oculocardiac reflex" because it is well-known to result from traction on the extra-ocular muscles. This phenomenon can cause problems in surgery of the face and cranium as well as the orbit. An awareness of its management can obviate morbidity and mortality. An account of the phenomenon, its treatment and illustrative case histories are presented.