Objective To evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with tramadol for labor analgesia as compared with combined spinal-epidural analgesia (CSEA) + patient controlled analgesia (PCEA) with ropivacaine and fentanyl. Methods Eighty ASA Ⅰ - Ⅱ full term primigravidae in active labor (at 2 ～ cm cervical dilation) who had a single fetus with vertex presentation and were expected to have a vaginal delivery were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1 control group received no analgesia ( n = 30), Ⅱ group A received CSEA + PCEA with ropivacaine and fentanyl ( n = 30) and Ⅲ group B received PCIA with tramadol (n = 20) . In group A CSEA was performed at L2-3. Ropivacaine 2.5 mg and fentanyl 5 mg were injected intrathecally. A catheter was then advanced 4 cm into epidural space cephalad for PCEA with a mixture of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 5?g?ml-1 (background infusion 4 ml?h-1 , demand bolus 4 ml with a 15 min lockout interval). In group B the loading dose of tramadol was 1 mg?kg-1 followed by background infusion of 0.75% tramadol at a rate of 2 ml?h-1 (demand bolus 2 ml with a 10 min lockout interval and a total dose limit of 500 mg) . The intensity of pain was evaluated by patients using VAS and motor function was assessed using modified Bromage score. The vital signs (BP, HR, SpO2), fetal heart rate, labor process, mode of delivery, Apgar score of neonates and side effects of analgesia were recorded. Results Good analgesia was achieved with high patient satisfaction in group A (96.7%) and B (95%) as compared with control group, but there was no significant difference in VAS score between group A and B. The onset time of analgesia was significantly shorter in group A (2.4 ? 1.2) min than that in group B (5.3 ? 2.7) min ( P

Objective To investigate the effects of different concentrations of isoflurane on cerebral cortex content of acetylcholine and the underlying mechanism.Methods Six adult male SD rats weighing 300-350 g were used in this study. The guide needle was inserted and micro-electrodes were implanted 2 days before experiment. At the beginning of the experiment the micro-analysis needles were inserted into cerebral cortex and the micro-electrodes were connected to HXD-1 multi-function monitor. Micro-dialysis liquid was collected and BIS and 95% SEF were recorded before and during isoflurane anesthesia at 0.6% , 1% and 1.4% (each concentration was maintained for 30 min) and at 1 h after isoflurane inhalation was discontinued. Acetylcholine and choline concentrations in micro-dialysis liquid were determined. Results Isoflurane reduced acetylcholine and choline concentrations in cerebral cortex and decreased BIS and 95% SEF values in a dose-dependent manner. At 1 h after isoflurane inhalation was discontinued the concentrations of acetylcholine and choline didn' t return to the baseline values but the BIS and SEF returned to the baseline values. The BIS and SEF value at the disappearance of corneal reflex was 44.2 ? 2.2 and 11.6 ? 1.7 respectively.Conclusion Our study shows that the central cholinergic system is involved in the mechanism of isoflurane anesthesia.

Objective The study was designed to compare the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium administered by continuous infusion and intermittent bolus injection Methods Fifty ASAⅠ Ⅱ patients without any neuromuscular disease undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups of 25 patients each In groupⅠ patients received rocuronium by intermittent bolus injection and in group Ⅱ by continuous infusion The responses of adductor pollicis to train of four (TOF) stimulation of ulnar nerve were monitored The onset time, the time of maximal neuromuscular blockade, the spontaneous recovery from paralysis and the total dose of rocuronium were recorded Intravenous anesthesia was used for both induction and maintenance of anesthesia, no patient received reversal of block Neuromuscular blockade monitoring ended when TOF ratio(T 4/T 1)≥70% The patients were extubated when ventilation was satisfactory Results The two groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, weight and duration of operation The mean onset time after rocuronium bolus(0 6mg/kg) was (78 18?15 44) s In group Ⅱ the mean infusion rate was (6 31?1 93)?g?kg -1 ?min -1 which was not significantly different from the amount of rocuronium administered per minute (5 43?1 46)?g?kg -1 ?min -1 in groupⅠ The mean interval between two bolus injection in group Ⅰwas (29 24?6 26) min, and no significant difference was seen between intervals The spontaneous recovery from neuromuscular block was significantly faster in group Ⅱ than that in group Ⅰ Conclusions Rocuronium has no cumulative effect There was no significant difference in the amount of rocuronium administered per unit time between the two groups The spontaneous recovery from neuromuscular block is faster by continuous infusion than that by intermittent bolus injection

ve Cardiac output is traditional measured by thermodilution technique. Recent advance in catheter technique has allowed continuous monitoring of cardiac output, but it is invasive and expensive. The new transesophageal Doppler echocardiography (HemosonicTM 100) can measure aortic blood flow (ABF) and ABF is closely related to cardiac output (CO) (CO= ABF/70%). The purpose of this study was to compare cardiac output continuously measured with transesophageal Doppler echocardiography and modified Swan-Ganz catheter. Methods Forty ASA II - III patients aged 40-65 yr undergoing elective coronary artery bypass (CAB) were included in this study. Premedication consisted of intramuscular diazepam 10 mg, morphine 10 mg and scopolamine 0.3 mg. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.08 mg?kg-1, fentanyl 10?g?kg-1 and pipecuronium 0.1 mg?kg-1 and maintained with isoflurane inhalation, continuous infusion of propofol and intermittent boluses of fentanyl, midazolam and pipecuronium. The sensor of transesophageal Doppler echocardiograph (TDEE) was placed in the esophagus at the level of T5-6 vertebra after induction and tracheal intubation. The sensor faced backward toward descending aorta. Swan-Ganz catheter (CCO/Sv()2) was placed via right internal jugular vein. In addition intra-arterial BP, ECG, SpO2, PET CO2 and nasal temperature were monitored.Results Continuous cardiac output measured with TDEE and Swan-Ganz catheter (CCO/SvO2) were highly correlated (R = 0.801, P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and analgesic efficacy of patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with tramadol, and to compare its benefits and risks with combined spinal-epidural analgesia (CSEA)+ patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA).

METHODSEighty American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) I-II at term parturients in active labor were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group (n = 30) received no analgesia; group A (n = 30) received spinal administration with ropivacaine 2.5 mg and fentanyl 5 microg, then with PCEA; group B (n = 20) received 1 mg/kg tramadol loading dose i.v. PCIA with 0.75% tramadol and it included: PCA dose 2 ml, lockout time 10 minutes, background infusion 2 ml/h, total dose no more than 400 mg. The intensity of pain was evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

RESULTSBoth group A and B showed good pain relief. VAS pain scores were significantly decreased in group A and B compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01). In comparison with group B, the VAS pain scores decreased in group A (P < 0.05). The onset times of analgesia in group A were shorter than those in group B (P < 0.05). Apgar scores in group B were lower than those in group A (P < 0.05). The periods of second stage of labor in group A were longer than those in the control group and group B (P < 0.05). The cesarean delivery rate was significantly higher in the control group (16.7%) than in group A (3.3%) and group B (5.0%), but it did not differ between group A and B. There were no significant differences in vital signs, fetal heart rate, degree of motor block, and uterine contractions among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONSPCIA with tramadol is now a useful alternative when patients are not candidates for CSEA for labor, or do not want to have a neuraxial block anesthesia. However, sometimes it may not provide satisfactory analgesic effect.

Adult ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; methods ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics, Opioid ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Pain Measurement ; Pregnancy ; Safety ; Tramadol ; administration & dosage