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P D Berry

Publications and source records attributed to P D Berry.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Autonomic effects of epidural and intravenous fentanyl.

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that there is greater suppression of autonomic reflexes during general anaesthesia when fentanyl is administered epidurally than when it is given intravenously. METHODS: Ten volunteers were anaesthetized with desflurane. Noxious stimuli of variable intensity were then delivered by tetanic electrical stimuli. Heart rate, arterial pressure, and pupillary dilation in response to these stimuli defined nociception. Seven of these volunteers participated twice using a crossover design: they received i.v. fentanyl on one study day and epidurally on the other. Autonomic responses to alternative tetanic stimuli at L4 and C5 dermatomes were measured every 5 min for 3 h after fentanyl administration. RESULTS: After a brief redistribution period, plasma fentanyl concentrations were virtually identical on both days. After stimulation of the L4 dermatome only, block of pupillary reflex dilation was greater by 47 (22)% after epidural fentanyl compared with i.v. fentanyl. Time to maximal depression of reflex dilation after L4 stimulation was 41 (13) min. Arterial pressure and heart rate decreased after fentanyl by either route but there were no differences observed between L4 and C5 stimulations. CONCLUSION: We conclude that during general anaesthesia, epidural fentanyl enhances antinociception by a spinal mechanism which can be detected by pupillary dilation but not by changes in arterial pressure or heart rate.

Adult↗

Does discontinuation of desflurane at the time of neostigmine administration speed recovery from cisatracurium block compared to that with a propofol-based technique?

BACKGROUND: Volatile anaesthetics are known to influence the effect of neostigmine as an antagonist of neuromuscular block. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether discontinuation of desflurane at the time of neostigmine administration shortens reversal time from cisatracurium block, compared to that with a propofol-based anaesthesia. METHODS: Ten volunteers were studied twice. For one study, anaesthesia was induced with alfentanil and propofol and maintained with nitrous oxide 70% and propofol 150 microg. kg-1. min-1. For the other study, experimental conditions were replicated except that desflurane 6% was administered and the dose of propofol was only 50 microg. kg-1. min-1. The evoked mechanical response of the adductor pollicis to train-of-four (TOF) stimulation was recorded. Neuromuscular block was induced with cisatracurium 0.2 mg. kg-1. When the magnitude of the first TOF response (T1) had recovered to 10%, the block was antagonized with neostigmine 70 microg. kg-1. At this time, propofol was decreased to 50 microg. kg-1. min-1, or the desflurane was discontinued. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two techniques of anaesthesia in the rate of neostigmine-induced recovery of the TOF ratio. The times (mean+/-SD) to achieve TOF ratios of 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 were (propofol first, desflurane second) 6.1+/-2.2 and 6.5+/-1.6 min; 10.4+/-4.2 and 9.6+/-2.7 min; 17.1+/-6.9 and 21.0+/-13.0 min, respectively. CONCLUSION: Discontinuing desflurane does not speed neostigmine-induced recovery from cisatracurium neuromuscular block, when compared to that during propofol-based anaesthesia.

Adult↗

Thoracic epidural infusions for post-thoracotomy pain: a comparison of fentanyl-bupivacaine mixtures vs. fentanyl alone.

A randomised double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 106 patients scheduled for pulmonary resection. Patients received an epidural infusion containing 0.1%, 0.2% bupivacaine or saline in combination with fentanyl 10 microgram.ml -1. Adequacy of analgesia was assessed at rest and during movement over 24 h. Analgesic efficacy was assessed using visual analogue scores and an observer/verbal ranking scale. Pain scores were higher in the fentanyl-only group at the 2 h assessment (p < 0.05). Otherwise, there were no between-group differences in pain scores or in the total amounts of epidural solution used. All patients received continuous haemodynamic monitoring. There were no between-group differences in the number of episodes of hypotension or in the number of interventions for hypotension. However, the use of intra-operative vasopressor and the incidence of temporary neurological complications was higher in the 0.2% bupivacaine group (p < 0.05). We conclude that, in the early postoperative period, the addition of bupivacaine 0.1% improves fentanyl epidural analgesia in patients undergoing lung resection and is not associated with the disadvantages seen with the addition of bupivacaine 0.2%.

Adult↗

Rapid tracheal intubation with rocuronium: a probability approach to determining dose.

BACKGROUND: Rapid tracheal intubation with rocuronium has not been studied using a probability-based approach. The authors aimed to predict doses of rocuronium giving 90% and 95% probability of in intubation within 60 s and to estimate their durations of action. METHODS: After premedication with midazolam, 2 mg, anesthesia was induced in 80 subjects with fentanyl, 2 microg/kg, followed 3 min later by propofol, 2 mg/kg. Patients received randomly rocuronium, 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, or 1.2 mg/kg (n = 20/ dose). Laryngoscopy began 40 s later, aiming for intubation at 60 s, and conditions were graded perfect, acceptable, or unacceptable, with the first two conditions being successful intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane 0.5-1.0% (end-tidal) and fentanyL Duration of action was time until reappearance of the first tactile train-of-four response. The dose versus fraction of patients with successful intubation was analyzed by logistic regression. Doses giving 90% and 95% (D90 and D95) probability of successful intubation were calculated. RESULTS: intubation was successful in 7, 11, 18, and 19 patients in the 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 mg/kg groups, respectively. The D90 and D95 doses (95% confidence limits in parentheses) were 0.83 (0.59-1.03) and 1.04 (0.76-1.36) mg/kg, respectively. Estimated time until first tactile train-of-four response after D90 and D95 doses was 32 and 46 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: After induction with fentanyl and propofol, rocuronium, 1.04 mg/kg gives 95% probability of successful intubation at 60 s.

Adult↗

Myocardial ischaemia after coronary artery bypass grafting: early vs late extubation.

The technique of early extubation after coronary artery bypass grafting is increasing in popularity, but its safety and effect on myocardial ischaemia remain to be established. In a randomized, prospective study, patients undergoing routine elective coronary artery bypass grafting were managed with either early or late tracheal extubation. The incidence and severity of electrocardiographic myocardial ischaemia were compared. Data were analysed from 85 patients (43 early extubation; 42 late extubation). Median time to extubation was 110 min in the early extubation patients and 757 min in the late extubation patients. After correction for randomization bias, there were no significant differences between groups in ischaemic burden, maximal ST-segment deviation, incidence of ischaemia and area under the ST deviation-time curve (integral of ST deviation and time). Similarly, there were no differences between groups in postoperative creatine kinase MB-isoenzyme concentrations and duration of stay in the ICU or hospital. Therefore, this study provides evidence for the safety of early extubation after routine coronary artery bypass grafting.

Adult↗

Gastroesophageal reflux and tracheobronchial contamination after cardiac surgery: should a nasogastric tube be routine?

Nasogastric (NG) tubes are routinely used in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This randomized study was designed to assess gastroesophageal reflux (GER) without a NG tube (control) compared with a NG tube managed either by gravity drainage (gravity) or continuous low-grade suction (suction). Antimony pH probes were placed in the lower esophagus and trachea after induction of anesthesia in 51 patients, and pH was recorded every 5 s until the time of tracheal extubation. GER was defined as reversible decrease in esophageal pH to less than 4.0. No significant difference was found between groups in age, weight, gender, duration of postoperative ventilation, morphine use, or antiemetic use. All indicators of GER were seen more frequently in the gravity group compared with the two other groups (P < 0.001). One episode of sudden decrease in tracheal pH was observed in a patient in the gravity group, indicating tracheal aspiration, which was associated with delayed extubation and postoperative pneumonia. The absence of a NG tube is not associated with reflux, probably since the gastroesophageal sphincter remains competent. NG tubes are not routinely necessary for cardiac surgery in patients without risk factors for GER, and increase reflux risk if managed without low-grade suction.

Aged↗

Is this patient fit for thoracotomy and resection of lung tissue?

Central to risk assessment for lung resection is the fact that surgery offers the only chance of long-term survival and cure in non-small carcinoma of the lung. The challenge is, therefore, to offer surgery to as many patients as possible, whilst avoiding the risk of death from postoperative respiratory failure. Risk assessment is based on careful evaluation of the patient's existing cardiac and respiratory disease. The use of a cardiac risk index, such as that described by Detsky, will ensure that cardiac risk factors are recognised and, where possible, ameliorated prior to surgery. Pre-existing respiratory disease may be assessed by arterial blood gas analysis, exercise testing, whole and regional lung function tests. Criteria based on these tests have been proposed to aid patient selection prior to lung resection. However, these criteria take no account of the beneficial influence on outcome of modern anaesthesia and postoperative care. The elimination of postoperative pain, along with techniques such as minitracheostomy and incentive spirometry have allowed surgery to be offered to many patients who would have been deemed unsuitable by standard criteria. Patients with potentially resectable lung cancer must never be arbitrarily excluded from surgery on the basis of any single criteria or test. Referral for assessment by an experienced team consisting of a thoracic physician, surgeon and anaesthetist will maximise the number of patients offered surgery for this otherwise incurable disease.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

Supraspinal pupillary effects of intravenous and epidural fentanyl during isoflurane anesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidural fentanyl has been shown to gain rapid access to the circulation resulting in supraspinal effects. We compared the supraspinal effects of fentanyl via epidural versus intravenous (IV) routes, during isoflurane anesthesia. Supraspinal fentanyl effect was evaluated as a reduction of pupillary reflex dilation (PRD) measured with infrared pupillometry. METHODS: Eighteen patients undergoing abdominal procedures were studied during combined epidural and general anesthesia. General anesthesia was provided by 0.55 to 0.70% end-tidal isofurane in air:oxygen (50:50). Sensory block of the surgical field was established with bupivacaine 0.375% and confirmed by absence of PRD to cutaneous stimulation. A high cervical dermatome was then stimulated (60 to 70 mA) at 5-minute intervals via cutaneous needle electrodes, and PRD was measured with each stimulation, using infrared pupillometry. Baseline PRD was determined and then a randomized injection of cpidueral saline (n = 6), epidural fentanyl 3 microg/kg (n = 6), or IV fentanyl 3 microg/kg (n = 6) was given. Subsequently, PRD was measured at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 minutes. Maximum change in PRD and time to maximum change were calculated for each group. RESULTS: Following epidural injection, suppression of PRD was highly variable among subjects. The maximum suppression was 70+/-15% at 23.3+/-10.3 minutes for the epidural group and 96+/-3% at 10.8+/-7.4 min for the IV group (P<.0001). Epidural saline produced no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Supraspinal effects of epidural fentanyl can be assessed during general anesthesia using infrared pupillometry. Epidural fentanyl 3 microg/kg produces significant but variable supraspinal effects during 0.5 minimum alveolar concentration isoflurane anesthesia.

Adult↗