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Biomedical subjects

N M Gajraj

Publications and source records attributed to N M Gajraj.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia: a comparison of intravascular administration of hetastarch versus lactated Ringer's solution.

This study was designed to compare the efficacy of 6% hetastarch to that of crystalloid administration in reducing the incidence and severity of hypotension during spinal anesthesia. Forty ASA grade I patients scheduled for postpartum tubal ligations under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive either 500 mL of hetastarch solution or 1000 mL of lactated Ringer's solution prior to spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was managed identically in both groups by anesthesiologists who were unaware of the type of fluid administered. The incidence of hypotension was 11 of 21 (52%) in the lactated Ringer's solution group and 3 of 19 (16%) in the hetastarch group. The difference in the incidence of hypotension was significant (P < 0.05). The requirement of 5-mg bolus doses of ephedrine to maintain systolic arterial blood pressure > 75% of baseline was significantly greater in the lactated Ringer's group than in the hetastarch group (15 vs 4, P < 0.05). We conclude that an intravenous infusion of 500 mL of 6% hetastarch solution is more effective than 1000 mL lactated Ringer's solution in attenuating spinal anesthesia induced hypotension in women undergoing postpartum tubal ligation.

Adult

Preventing pain during injection of propofol: the optimal dose of lidocaine.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To define the optimal dose of lidocaine to be added to propofol to reduce the incidence of pain during its injection. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Medical center operating rooms. PATIENTS: 135 ASA I and II female patients undergoing minor outpatient surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated to one of five groups: Group A (control), no lidocaine: Group B, lidocaine 10 mg: Group C, lidocaine 20 mg; Group D, lidocaine 30 mg; Group F, lidocaine 40 mg. For each patient, pain during injection of the propofol solution was graded as none, mild, moderate, or severe. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of pain in the control group was 85%. All treatment groups receiving lidocaine had a significantly lower incidence of pain compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The lidocaine 30 mg and 40 mg groups both had a 7% incidence of pain, which was significantly less than a 33% incidence in the lidocaine 10 mg group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within this dose range and in this patient population, 30 mg of lidocaine is optimal for reducing the pain during injection of propofol.

Adult

Prevention of pain on injection of propofol: a comparison of lidocaine with alfentanil.

We undertook a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to compare the use of alfentanil 1 mg and lidocaine 40 mg for the reduction of pain during injection of propofol. Eighty-nine patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups: Group L, lidocaine 40 mg added to 180 mg propofol; Group A, alfentanil 1 mg 30 s prior to propofol; or Group P, placebo (normal saline). The incidence of pain in the placebo group was 67%. Both treatment groups had a significantly lower incidence of pain than the placebo group (P < 0.002). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pain between the groups receiving lidocaine or alfentanil (13% and 24%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the induction dose of propofol between the groups. Fifty-two percent of patients who experienced pain at induction had recall of that pain in the recovery room. Alfentanil 1 mg and lidocaine 40 mg are both effective in reducing pain during injection of propofol.

Adolescent

Nebulized bupivacaine attenuates the heart rate response following tracheal intubation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether nebulized bupivacaine attenuates the acute hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Operating room at a university medical center. PATIENTS: 40 health ASA physical status I and II patients scheduled for minor surgical procedures. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive 4 ml of a nebulized solution of either saline (n = 20) or 0.75% bupivacaine (n = 20) 15 minutes before induction of anesthesia. On completion of the aerosol treatment, fentanyl 1.5 micrograms/kg was given intravenously (i.v.), and 3 minutes later anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg i.v. and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg i.v.. Laryngoscopy was begun 60 seconds after induction, and the trachea was intubated at 90 seconds. Anesthesia was maintained with 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen following intubation, and 1% isoflurane was administered at 180 seconds. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure were recorded automatically every 30 seconds for 5 minutes. Bupivacaine significantly attenuated HR (p < 0.05) but not the hypertensive response to laryngoscopy and intubation. CONCLUSION: Nebulized 0.75% bupivacaine was only partially effective in blunting the hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation.

Adult

Effect of preincision versus postincision infiltration with bupivacaine on postoperative pain.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of preincision wound infiltration with bupivacaine to wound infiltration at the end of the operation. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: 56 ASA status I and II women scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 (control) received no local anesthetic infiltration. Group 2 received subcutaneous infiltration with 40 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% (pH 6.9) 15 minutes prior to incision. Group 3 received wound infiltration with a similar solution at the end of surgery. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 3.0 mg/kg i.v., droperidol 50 micrograms/kg i.v., and sufentanil 0.5 microgram/kg i.v. and maintained with nitrous oxide 67% in oxygen and sufentanil 0.1 microgram/kg IV boluses as required. Postoperative pain was treated with morphine via a patient-controlled analgesia delivery system for 24 hours, followed by oral hydrocodone for 3 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The opioid consumption was recorded for 4 days postoperatively. Pain scores were measured at 4 to 8-hour intervals using 100 mm visual analog scales. There was no difference in either the opioid analgesic requirements or the pain scores between the three study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Wound infiltration, either preincision or postincision, had no clinically significant effect on the pain scores or analgesic requirements following abdominal hysterectomy.

Adult

A survey of obstetric patients who refuse regional anaesthesia.

One hundred obstetric patients presenting for elective surgery who had refused regional anaesthesia were interviewed just prior to entering the operating room. In each case, the reason for refusing a regional technique was recorded. The most frequent reasons given were fear of backache (33%) and fear of the needle (28%). Anaesthetists should be aware of patients' concerns and be able to discuss the relevant issues.

Adolescent

Use of the laryngeal mask airway after oesophageal intubation.

We have compared insertion of a tracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) both with and without the presence of a tube in the oesophagus in 20 ASA I and II patients undergoing elective laparoscopy. After induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular block, we measured the times for an experienced anaesthetist to correctly position both an LMA and a tracheal tube with and without a tube in the oesophagus. The time to intubation was significantly less with the LMA than with the tracheal tube, both with and without an oesophageal tube in place (P < 0.05). We conclude that if a tracheal tube is placed unintentionally in the oesophagus, an LMA may be used subsequently to provide rapid and effective oxygenation of the patient.

Adolescent

Tracheal intubation in a manikin: comparison of supine and left lateral positions.

Tracheal intubation in the left lateral position may be necessary in some circumstances. Using a manikin we demonstrated that anaesthetic trainees found tracheal intubation in the left lateral position was more difficult and took longer than in the supine position. However, the time to successful tracheal intubation decreased with practice, indicating the presence of a learning curve. We suggest that tracheal intubation in the left lateral position should become part of training in the management of the difficult airway.

Anesthesiology