Epidural clonidine combined with bupivacaine for analgesia in labor. Effects on mother and neonate.

Background And Objectives: A double-blind study was conducted to assess the efficacy and the safety of epidural clonidine combined with bupivacaine for analgesia during labor.

Methods: Two groups of pregnant healthy women were allocated randomly to receive either 10 mL 0.125% bupivacaine plain solution (group B, n = 10) or with 75 micrograms clonidine (group B + C, n = 12).

Dependence of shunt on cardiac output in unilobar oleic acid edema. Distribution of ventilation and perfusion.

Objective: In acute respiratory failure, increased cardiac output (Qt) increases shunt (Qs/Qt). We have tested if this is caused by: 1) a redistribution of blood flow towards edematous regions, or 2) a decrease of regional ventilation in the edematous region.

Design: Oleic acid edema was induced in the left lower lobe (LLL) of 11 pigs.

Metabolic and respiratory changes after cholecystectomy performed via laparotomy or laparoscopy.

We have compared metabolic and respiratory changes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 15) with those after open cholecystectomy (n = 15). The durations of postoperative i.v.

Effects of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide on the pulmonary circulation.

To assess the in vivo effects of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) on the pulmonary vascular bed, the hemodynamic responses to both CGRP and SP were examined in the in situ-perfused lung lobe of open-chest anesthetized pigs. Peptides were infused into the lobar artery under conditions of elevated pulmonary vascular tone by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha, 20 micrograms/min). Pulmonary airway lobar dynamic compliance (Cdyn) and airway resistance (Re) were computed from simultaneously measured airway pressure and airflow entering the lobe through a Carlens endobronchial divider.

Comparison of the effects of fentanyl on respiratory mechanics under propofol or thiopental anaesthesia.

Twenty patients were randomly anaesthetized with either thiopental 5 mg/kg followed by a 15 mg/kg/h continuous infusion, or propofol 2.5 mg/kg followed by a 9 mg/kg/h continuous infusion, paralysed with vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, intubated and ventilated with nitrous oxide 50% in oxygen.

Pulmonary vasodilator responses to atrial natriuretic factor and sodium nitroprusside.

The objective of this study was to determine the direct actions of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on the pulmonary vascular bed and to compare these actions with those of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The responses to incremental infusion rates of 1, 5, 10, and 50 ng.kg-1.

[Automated monitoring of respiratory parameters in the anesthetized patient in mechanical respiration].

The constant monitoring of respiratory elastance and resistance can be of interest in patients who present a high risk of peroperative bronchospasm. The constant inspiratory flow method, proposed by Bates et al. (J Appl Physiol, 58: 1840, 1985) was chosen and automated.