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M Morrell

Publications and source records attributed to M Morrell.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of epidural and intravenous sufentanil infusions.

BACKGROUND: The site of action (spinal vs. central) of epidurally administered lipid-soluble opioids has been the subject of controversy. We compared the efficacy, plasma concentration and side effects of epidural and intravenously administered sufentanil for postoperative pain relief. METHODS: Using a double-blind, prospective design, 50 patients scheduled for intraabdominal operations during combined epidural-general anesthesia were randomized into one of two groups. Patients in group 1 (n = 24) received a 1-microgram/ml sufentanil infusion epidurally at 0.2 microgram.kg-1.h-1 and a saline infusion intravenously at the same rate. Patients in group 2 (n = 26) received a 1-microgram/ml sufentanil infusion intravenously at 0.2 microgram.kg-1.h-1 and a saline infusion epidurally at the same rate. Intravenous morphine sulfate was available in 2-mg increments to all patients in the postanesthesia care unit until visual analogue scale (0-100 mm) pain score was < or = 30. Then, a patient-controlled intravenous pump providing morphine on demand (1 mg with a 10-min lockout) was begun. Blood samples were drawn for sufentanil plasma levels and patients were assessed for pain, sedation and nausea for the 48 h after commencement of the infusions. RESULTS: Similar visual analogue pain, sedation, and nausea scores were found between the patients in the two groups. No differences were found in supplemental morphine requirements and plasma sufentanil concentrations between the patients in the two groups. A higher incidence of excessive sedation requiring infusion decrease was infusion decrease was found in the intravenous group (six vs. one, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Many clinical similarities were found when epidural and intravenous sufentanil infusions were compared. The higher incidence of excessive sedation in the patients receiving intravenous sufentanil could not be explained on the basis of plasma sufentanil concentrations alone. This study indicates that little clinical difference exists between epidural and intravenous administration of sufentanil.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Two kinds of timing in circadian incubation rhythm of ring doves.

Ring dove males share incubation with females by sitting on the nest for a block of time in the middle of the day. The timing of nest exchanges was studied by experimentally delaying the onset, in the morning, of the male's sitting bout. Such delays induced a concomitant but smaller delay in the offset of the male's sitting bout in the afternoon. The female, however, approached the nest to start her bout of sitting at the usual time in the afternoon even though her previous sitting bout had ended later than usual. These findings, together with data on interactions between the pair at the afternoon exchange, suggest that the behavior of the sitting male reflects an interval timing mechanism initiated with the onset of his sitting bout. In contrast the attempts to regain the nest by the nonsitting female probably reflect a circadian oscillation.

Animals↗