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Biomedical subjects

M E Crawford

Publications and source records attributed to M E Crawford.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Body mass and weight as indicators for cholesterol screening.

BACKGROUND: Universal screening of serum cholesterol levels in adults has been recommended but not achieved. We were interested in factors that affected screening rates, and whether obese patients were more likely to have elevated cholesterol levels than other patients in our practice. METHODS: A sequential sample of charts was reviewed for height, weight, race, sex, diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes, and evidence of cholesterol screening. RESULTS: Of 604 adult patients, 32% had serum cholesterol measurements. No correlation was found between weight or body mass index and cholesterol levels. Patients with hypertension or diabetes were more frequently screened. Sex and race did not influence screening rates. CONCLUSIONS: In this population neither weight nor body mass index was associated with elevated serum cholesterol levels, suggesting that screening must be offered without regard to level of obesity in order to find those patients who will benefit from intervention.

Adult

Recovery after total intravenous anaesthesia using combined midazolam/alfentanil infusion and reversal with flumazenil.

One of the major problems with total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) is postoperative sedation, possibly with respiratory depression. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the recovery characteristics after TIVA using a continuous infusion of a mixture of midazolam and alfentanil with flumazenil reversal before extubation. This method was compared to balanced anaesthesia using midazolam, alfentanil and nitrous oxide without flumazenil reversal. The degree of sedation was measured by reaction time test, Glasgow Coma Scale, cipher copying test and subtraction test. We found significantly faster reaction times postoperatively in the TIVA group (n = 15) compared to the balanced group (n = 13), despite larger doses of both midazolam (median 21 mg versus 9 mg) and alfentanil (median 5.9 mg versus 4.5 mg). The other tests revealed no difference between the groups. One patient became resedated after flumazenil. We conclude that the TIVA technique described here resulted in slightly better recovery characteristics, offering a usable alternative to balanced anaesthesia.

Acoustic Stimulation

A randomized comparison between midazolam and thiopental for elective cesarean section anesthesia. I. Mothers.

In a randomized blind trial midazolam (0.3 mg kg-1) was compared with thiopental (4 mg kg-1), both combined with meperidine-nitrous oxide, for elective cesarean section anesthesia in 40 women. We found no statistically significant differences between thiopental and midazolam at induction, during operation or recovery with regard to maintenance doses, change in maternal neurologic status based on a modified Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate. Induction time was 120 seconds with midazolam and 111 seconds with thiopental. There were significant differences with regard to diastolic blood pressure. Side effects occurred with approximately equal frequencies, but vomiting was significantly more frequent after thiopental. Perivenous tenderness and erythema occurred in four patients, all after thiopental. Midazolam appears to be a suitable alternative to thiopental for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia for elective cesarean section.

Adolescent

A randomized comparison between midazolam and thiopental for elective cesarean section anesthesia: II. Neonates.

In a randomized blind trial, the general condition of 40 neonates was assessed following midazolam- or thiopental-based general anesthesia for elective cesarean section. Among 19 neonatal neurobehavioral observations and tests, statistically significant differences between the midazolam and the thiopental groups were rare. However, a statistically significant interaction with regard to body temperature, general body tone, and arm recoil was observed where results were inferior for midazolam, although only within the first 2 hours. It was concluded that midazolam is as safe as thiopental for the induction and maintenance of elective cesarean section anesthesia in neonates.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical

A randomized comparison between midazolam and thiopental for elective cesarean section anesthesia: III. Placental transfer and elimination in neonates.

Forty neonates delivered by cesarean section were studied, half being delivered of mothers in whom anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.3 mg/kg intravenously) and half of mothers given thiopental (4 mg/kg). At delivery, blood samples from mother and the umbilical vein were drawn for determination of plasma concentrations of thiopental, midazolam, and alpha-hydroxymidazolam. Over the next 60 hours, three blood samples were drawn using a randomized procedure of two blood samples at 30 different times. Placental transfer, expressed as the umbilical/maternal concentration ratio, was 0.96, 0.66, and 0.28, respectively, for thiopental, midazolam, and alpha-hydroxymidazolam. The transfer of thiopental was significantly more rapid than the transfer of midazolam and alpha-hydroxymidazolam. The population average of elimination half-life in neonates was 6.3 hours for midazolam and 14.7 hours for thiopental. Both values are substantially larger than those found in previous studies in adults.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical

Pain relief after major abdominal surgery: a double-blind controlled comparison of sublingual buprenorphine, intramuscular buprenorphine, and intramuscular meperidine.

In a double-blind randomized study of three groups of 18 patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery the efficacy and side effects of sublingual buprenorphine were tested and compared to intramuscular meperidine and buprenorphine. Single doses of either 75 mg of meperidine, 0.4 mg of sublingual buprenorphine, or 0.3 mg of intramuscular buprenorphine were used. Patients given buprenorphine as sublingual tablets were significantly more conscious in the immediate postoperative period (Glasgow Coma Scale) than when given buprenorphine or meperidine intramuscularly. Median pain intensity differences (PID) showed equal pain relief, whereas the summarized pain intensity differences (SPID) were significantly higher in the intramuscular buprenorphine group compared to the meperidine group. Three cases of respiratory acidosis in the meperidine group required IPPV treatment, and one case in the intramuscular buprenorphine group required treatment. Sedation and nausea were the most common side effects in all three groups. We conclude that sublingual buprenorphine is useful for relief of postoperative pain and exhibited administrative advantages, when the patients were able to cooperate.

Abdomen

Longterm treatment with epidural opioids. A retrospective study comprising 150 patients treated with morphine chloride and buprenorphine.

During a 2-year period, 150 patients were treated with epidural opioids for more than 7 days; 89 received morphine and 61 buprenorphine. In 16 cases, medication was changed from morphine to buprenorphine, and in 6 from buprenorphine to morphine. In 19 patients in each group, the disease process was benign. The median daily dose of morphine was 17 mg given by an average of 2.9 injections; the corresponding figures in the buprenorphine group were 1.3 mg and 2.6 injections. The mean duration of treatment was 49 days (7-397) in the morphine group and 53 days (7-262) in the buprenorphine group. Satisfactory pain relief was achieved in 40 (45%) patients who received morphine and 41 (67%) patients given buprenorphine. Altering medication from morphine to buprenorphine improved analgesia in 32% of patients, while the reverse improved pain relief in a further 46% of the patients. Side effects were reported in 46% of patients given morphine and 20% given buprenorphine. Seventy-one patients were treated on an outpatient basis. In these cases, buprenorphine was administered for 89% of the total duration of treatment and morphine chloride for 52%.

Buprenorphine

Epidural buprenorphine for postoperative analgesia. A controlled comparison with epidural morphine.

In a double-blind controlled study, epidural buprenorphine 0.3 mg was compared with 4 mg of epidural morphine for postoperative pain relief the first 24 hours after major orthopaedic surgery. The degree of analgesia was equal and satisfactory in both groups. Duration of action was 620 minutes with buprenorphine and 580 minutes with morphine, which was not significantly different. The only serious side effects were recorded in the morphine group, with two patients complaining of pruritus and five of urinary retention. In conclusion, epidural buprenorphine did not offer any advantages in preference to morphine for postoperative pain relief following orthopaedic surgery.

Adolescent

Potentiation of epidural opioids with epidural droperidol. A one year retrospective study.

During a period of one year, 119 patients with chronic pain received injections of opioids via a catheter inserted in the lumbar epidural space. Twenty-three patients (19%) showed evidence of tolerance and were given droperidol 1.25-5.0 mg epidurally. In 20 patients in this study, there was a significant reduction in the number of epidural opioid injections. Six patients complained of excessive sedation, which disappeared when the dose of droperidol was reduced, although this did not affect the analgesia. One patient given an accidental overdose of droperidol developed reversible Parkinsonism. It is concluded that epidural administration of the dopamine antagonist droperidol may be beneficial as supplementary medication to epidural opioids when tolerance develops.

Adult