Continuous passive motion following total knee replacement: a prospective randomized trial with follow-up to 1 year

We have carried out a prospective randomised, single blind clinical trial to investigate the effect of continuous passive motion on range of knee flexion, lack of extension, pain levels and analgesic use after total knee replacement surgery. 85 subjects were randomly allocated to control or study group. All subjects followed the existing rehabilitation protocol, which permits immediate active range of motion exercises and mobilisation with the study group using continuous passive motion for 1 h, twice a day. Outcome measures employed were range of motion, pain assessed on a visual analogue scale and analgesic use according to the WHO ladder. Blinded evaluation was carried out preoperatively, at time of discharge from hospital, 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months postoperation. No significant difference was observed between groups at all time intervals for each outcome variable using Wilcoxon Rank sum tests. The results substantiate previous findings that short duration continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty does not influence outcome of range of motion or reported pain.     

Spinal epidural hematoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a thoracic epidural hematoma at the T7-T9 level which occurred after placement of spinal epidural catheter for continuous anaesthesia in acute pancreatitis. The male patient felt a sudden back pain after six days of successful analgesia and became paraplegic 24 hours afterwards. An emergency laminectomy and removal of the hematoma were performed; however, the patient recovered only incompletely.We discuss the clinical signs and symptoms of spinal epidural hematoma as well as its diagnostics and therapy. The controversial views from the literature concernings its etiology are critically reviewed.     

Dopaminergic transmission in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to produce acupuncture analgesia in correlation with the pituitary gland

Acupuncture analgesia (AA) caused by low frequency stimulation of the acupuncture point (AP) was abolished by hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy. Termination of the AA producing pathway from the AP to the pituitary gland was in the medial hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (M-HARN). The origin of the descending pain inhibitory system associated with AA was in the posterior HARN (P-HARN). AA in the hypophysectomized rats, and enhanced neuronal activity in the P-HARN that were abolished during acupuncture stimulation, were both restored by intraperitoneal microinjection of 0.5 mg/kg morphine or 0.1 micrograms beta-endorphin into the P-HARN during acupuncture stimulation. Of the analgesia produced by dopamine or beta-endorphin injected into the P-HARN, that caused by beta-endorphin disappeared after denervation of the M-HARN. The P-HARN neurons that responded to acupuncture stimulation also responded to iontophoretic dopamine, but not to iontophoretic morphine nor ultramicroinjected beta-endorphin. The transmission between the M-HARN and P-HARN may be dopaminergic, and beta-endorphin might presynaptically modulate this transmission. Reduction of sodium ions may have been the reason for abolition of AA after adrenalectomy.     

硬膜外麻醉用于老年病人经尿道前列腺汽化术的麻醉

目的　探讨老年病人经尿道前列腺汽化术 (TUVP)的麻醉方法。方法　 1 0 2例老年病人在连续硬膜外麻醉下行尿道前列腺汽化术 ,观察了麻醉手术效果、生命体征的变化、手术操作条件及术中术后的麻醉手术并发症的发生情况。结果　 1 0 2例病人均痊愈出院。麻醉效果优良率 94%。Bromage <2的例数占 84%。术中出现血压下降等麻醉手术并发症较少且都得到及时纠正。结论　低浓度局麻药硬膜外麻醉用于老年病人TUVP手术对病人干扰少、经济、安全实用 ,可以作为首选的麻醉方法     

硬膜外高渗氯化钠溶液术后镇痛的临床双盲研究

为观察高渗盐水硬膜外注射术后镇痛效果,用双盲法对60例病人进行了研究。生理盐水对照级术后镇痛优良率为3.33％,镇痛有效率为10％,均需用镇痛药;高渗盐水组术后镇痛优良率为86.67％,有效率为96.67％,很少使用镇痛药。两组差别显著(P<0.05,P<0.01)。对其他感觉和运动功能无明显影响。高渗盐水组与吗啡组比较镇痛效果相同(P>0.05),副作用少(P<0.01)。说明硬膜外高渗氯化钠溶液是一种安全有效的镇痛方法,有较高推广应用价值。     

使用便携式微量输液泵持续输注氟尿嘧啶的临床观察及护理

目的：探讨使用便携式微量输液泵在肿瘤化疗中持续输注氟尿嘧啶的应用效果。方法：选取我科2006年3月-2008年7月96例癌症化疗病人按入院先后顺序分为对照组和实验组,每组48例。对照组采用传统的化疗方式,采用浅静脉留置针直接从外周静脉输注氟尿嘧啶（5-Fu）连续5天,每天维持6-8小时。实验组采用浅静脉留置针连接便携式微量输液泵持续泵入氟尿嘧啶（5-Fu）120h～135h,两组均以21天为1个周期,观察两组病人化疗毒副反应发生情况。结果：实验组化疗毒副反应发生率明显低于对照组,平均住院时间明显缩短,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论：使用便携式微量输液泵持续泵入氟尿嘧啶能减轻病人的毒副反应,缩短住院时间,提高肿瘤病人生活质量,有效减轻护士的工作负担。     

Coagulation screening before epidural analgesia in pre-eclampsia

A questionnaire survey of current practice at a small cross-section of obstetric units, covering 22% of all United Kingdom deliveries, revealed a marked lack of standard practice regarding requests for coagulation screens on pre-eclamptic patients who require epidural procedures. A retrospective audit was therefore carried out on 434 coagulation screens requested for pre-eclamptic patients in whom epidural analgesia might have been considered. Borderline abnormalities of coagulation were found in only 10 patients (2%). Platelet counts of less than 150 x 10(9)/litre were present in 28% of cases. 'Significant' thrombocytopenia (less than 100 x 10(9)/litre) and all coagulation abnormalities were only encountered in severe pre-eclampsia (diastolic blood pressure of greater than 110 mmHg and proteinuria of + + or greater). Furthermore, coagulation abnormality was always associated with a reduced platelet count (mean, 97 x 10(9)/litre). This study would therefore support anaesthetic practice which restricted any requests for coagulation testing to severe pre-eclamptic patients only. For these patients first line testing could be limited to a platelet count.     

连续性静脉-静脉血液滤过联合机械通气治疗ARDS的临床观察

目的　观察连续性静脉 -静脉血液滤过 (CVVH)联合机械通气治疗ARDS患者的临床疗效。方法　选择入住ICU符合ARDS诊断标准的患者 4 0例 ,随机分为 2组 :A组 2 1例 ,采用常规治疗 +机械通气 ;B组 1 9例 ,采用常规治疗 +机械通气 +CVVH。分别观察 2组患者在使用呼吸机时间、氧合指数、吸入氧浓度、动脉血氧分压、PEEP水平、心率、血压及病死率等方面的差别。结果　A、B两组患者在病因、年龄、性别、APACHEⅡ评分及平均脏器功能障碍数等方面相似 ,B组患者加用CVVH后 ,各项指标经统计学处理显示 :病死率 ,B组与A组比较 ,差异有显著性意义 (P <0 0 5 ) :其他指标与A组比较 ,差异均有高度显著性意义 (P <0 0 1 )。结论　CVVH疗法可有效清除ARDS患者血管外肺水和各种应激激素、致炎介质 ,明显改善了ARDS患者肺部氧合功能及血流动力学指标 ,提高了抢救成功率     

左旋布比卡因复合舒芬太尼或芬太尼在分娩硬膜外自控镇痛的应用

目的探讨左旋布比卡因复合舒芬太尼硬膜外自控镇痛（PCEA）用于分娩镇痛的临床效果及安全性。方法随机选择120例美国标准协会（ASA）I-Ⅱ级初产妇，随机分为舒芬太尼组（A组）、芬太尼组（B组）、无镇痛组（C组），每组40例。A组和B组采用PCEA，C组不给予镇痛药物。观察各组不同时段视觉模拟评分（VAS）和不良反应的发生，同时记录3组产程时间、分娩方式、缩宫使用情况、产后出血量、新生儿Apgar评分。结果A、B2组和C组在PCEA20、60min及宫口开全时VAS差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）；PCEA5min，A、B2组VAS差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05），2组Bromage评分、不良反应差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。3组产程时间、分娩方式、产后出血量、新生儿Apgar评分比较差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论左旋布比卡因复合舒芬太尼或芬太尼用于分娩镇痛安全有效，对母婴无明显不良影响。     

Post-surgical pain relief with zero-order intravenous infusions of meptazinol and morphine: a double-blind placebo-controlled evaluation of their effects on ventilation

Summary A double-blind, placebo-controlled study has been made of the analgesic and respiratory effects of constant rate infusions of meptazinol and morphine in 30 patients after abdominal surgery. Group I received meptazinol, loading dose 50 mg followed by i.v. infusion 0.5 mg · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹, Group II received morphine, loading dose 5 mg and then an infusion of 0.05 mg · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹, and Group III received saline. After recovery from inhalation anaesthesia (without opiates or a local anaesthetic) pain relief and chemoreceptor carbon dioxide tolerance were assessed before and at various times after starting the analgesic infusion. A similar degree of pain relief was found after 10 min in Groups I and II, which lasted until the end of observation period (20 h). Heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lower in Group II than in Groups I and III, and respiratory rate fell in Groups I and II. After 6 h arterial carbon dioxide tensions (P_aCO₂) became significantly higher in Group II than Group III. The maximum percentage fall in mean tidal volume (V_T) and expired minute volume (0V_E) from the preinjection values was significant in Groups I and II. End-tidal carbon-dioxide (P_ETCO₂) and P_aCO₂ were significantly higher after 20 h of infusion in Group II compared to Group I. The slope of 0V_E/P_ETCO₂ (<S>) was increased in Group I and it was significantly reduced in Group II. Analysis of derived variables, such as the CO₂ intercept (CO₂I) and minute ventilation at 7 kPa (0V_E7), indicated a shift to the right of the slopes in Groups I and II, initially more so in Group I. It is concluded that constant rate infusions of meptazinol and morphine were effective in providing postoperative pain relief. However, their effects on the central regulation of respiration were different, as meptazinol did not impair CO₂ sensitivity whereas morphine did.