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Biomedical subjects

I D Levack

Publications and source records attributed to I D Levack.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of the effect of two dose schedules of oral omeprazole with oral ranitidine on gastric aspirate pH and volume in patients undergoing elective surgery.

We have compared gastric aspirate pH and volume at induction of anaesthesia in 222 patients who had received either omeprazole or ranitidine before elective operations. Omeprazole was given orally either as 40 mg on the evening before and 40 mg on the morning of surgery or as 80 mg on the morning of surgery. Ranitidine 150 mg was given orally on the evening before surgery and 2 h before anaesthesia. Treatment success was defined as aspirate pH > or = 2.5 and volume < 25 ml at induction of anaesthesia. Treatment was successful in 84% (95% confidence interval (CI) 73-91%) of patients in the omeprazole 40 + 40 mg group, 84% (95% CI 73-91%) in the ranitidine group and 73% (95% CI 61-83%) in the omeprazole 80 mg group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Twelve patients in the omeprazole 80 mg group had gastric pH < 2.5 and four had volume > 25 ml. Only three patients had a gastric pH < 2.5 in the omeprazole 40 + 40 mg group and none had volume > 25 ml, which compared well with the ranitidine group. Omeprazole, given as 40 mg in the evening and 40 mg on the morning of operation, has a potential role for use in patients at risk for aspiration during general anaesthesia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Does injection of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers before thiopentone affect their speed of onset? A study of tubocurarine and vecuronium.

In an open sequential pharmacodynamic study in 40 patients, the rate of onset of neuromuscular blockade using tubocurarine or vecuronium was measured. Comparison was made between groups of 10 patients who received thiopentone followed by either blocker and a "reverse" sequence where the blocker was injected before thiopentone. There was a small difference between groups, amounting to a few seconds in rate of onset of block, but this was not suggestive of a systematic effect of the drug sequence.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Single-shot i.v. anaesthesia for outpatient dental surgery. Comparison of 2,6 di-isopropyl phenol and methohexitone.

A single i.v. bolus dose of propofol 3 mg kg-1 was compared with methohexitone 2 mg kg-1 as the sole anaesthetic agent for simple dental extraction in outpatients. Induction of anaesthesia was smoother with propofol, with a lower incidence of excitatory phenomena. Pain on injection was a common complication of both drugs and related to the site of injection. The Leeds Psychomotor Tester was used to assess psychomotor performance during the recovery. Rate of recovery from anaesthesia was similar with both agents, and there was little residual impairment of psychomotor function 40 min after induction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Monitoring neuromuscular blockade. The table knife transducer.

A simple and inexpensive force transducer made from a stainless steel table knife is described. Construction is straightforward and utilises strain gauges that are readily available. Amongst its attributes are lightness, ease of application, low sensitivity to postural changes and linearity over extended periods of time.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1986

Abdominal wound perfusion for the relief of postoperative pain.

In a double-blind trial, 50 patients with subcostal incisions performed for cholecystectomy or splenectomy, received 10 ml of either 0.5% bupivacaine plain or physiological saline twice daily by wound perfusion through an indwelling drainage tube for 3 days after operation. Analgesia, assessed by visual analogue score (VAS) and forced vital capacity (FVC), was significantly improved after perfusion with bupivacaine. Perfusion with physiological saline produced an analgesic effect comparable to that of bupivacaine as indicated by improvement in VAS. There was, however, no improvement in FVC, and opioid requirements were greater, in the patients whose wounds had been perfused with saline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Systems modification in obstetric analgesia.

The need is identified of certain women in labour for a more potent analgesic than entonox. We describe a modification of the Entonox demand system incorporating an Oxford Miniature Vaporizer and there is a discussion directed towards its supervision.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗