Patient-controlled analgesia combined with either ondansetron or ondansetron plus prochlorperazine for control of pain and nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Study Objective: To compare ondansetron with ondansetron plus prochlorperazine, added to a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) solution for control of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

Setting: University hospital.

Perioperative and long-term operative outcomes after surgery for trigeminal neuralgia: microvascular decompression vs percutaneous balloon ablation.

Objectives: Numerous medical and surgical therapies have been utilized to treat the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). This retrospective study compares patients undergoing either microvascular decompression or balloon ablation of the trigeminal ganglion and determines which produces the best long-term outcomes.

Methods: A 10-year retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) or percutaneous balloon ablation (BA) surgery for TN.

Use of postanesthesia discharge criteria to reduce discharge delays for inpatients in the postanesthesia care unit.

Study Objective: To determine whether a set of predetermined discharge criteria, used by nurses, shortens the length of patient stay in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) without compromising safety.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Postoperative recovery area of a large, tertiary-care, academic hospital.

Standard anesthetic technique for middle ear surgical procedures: a comparison of desflurane and sevoflurane.

Objective: This study was designed to compare desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia for middle ear microsurgery.

Study Design: One hundred healthy adults undergoing middle ear surgery were assigned to receive either desflurane or sevoflurane as their anesthetic. Intraoperative hemodynamics and BIS numbers were recorded.

Effect of metoclopramide on gastric fluid volumes in diabetic patients who have fasted before elective surgery.

Background: Diabetes-induced gastroparesis is believed to increase fasting gastric fluid volume before elective surgery. Metoclopramide is routinely administered preoperatively to reduce gastric fluid volume in these patients. This study compared nondiabetic controls to non-insulin-dependent and insulin-dependent diabetics to determine the effect of metoclopramide, administered before surgery, on gastric volumes in patients who fasted before surgery.

Effect of perioperative administration of ropivacaine with epinephrine on postoperative pediatric adenotonsillectomy recovery.

Objectives: To determine whether perioperative administration of ropivacaine hydrochloride with epinephrine decreases postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy and to determine the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine following injection.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Setting: University pediatric ambulatory center.

Postoperative analgesia in children undergoing myringotomy and placement equalization tubes in ambulatory surgery.

Unlabelled: We enrolled 120 children undergoing bilateral myringotomy and tube placement in this prospective, randomized, observer-blinded study. Patients were randomized into one of four groups: Group 1 (control) was plain acetaminophen 10 mg/kg orally, Group 2 was acetaminophen 10 mg/kg with 1 mg/kg of codeine orally, Group 3 was transnasal butorphanol 25 micro g/kg given immediately after the induction of anesthesia, and Group 4 was ketorolac 1 mg/kg given IM immediately after the induction of anesthesia. All children received oral midazolam (0.

The effect of spinal bupivacaine in combination with either epidural clonidine and/or 0.5% bupivacaine administered at the incision site on postoperative outcome in patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy.

Unlabelled: Spinal anesthesia has numerous advantages over general anesthesia for patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy and microdisk surgery. In this study, we evaluated the addition of epidural clonidine and/or bupivacaine, injected at the incision site, on postoperative outcome variables in patients undergoing lower spine procedures using spinal anesthesia. One hundred twenty patients having lumbar spine surgery received bupivacaine spinal anesthesia supplemented by 150 microg of epidural clonidine with or without incisional bupivacaine, epidural placebo plus incisional bupivacaine, or placebo with incisional saline.

Ondansetron and dolasetron provide equivalent postoperative vomiting control after ambulatory tonsillectomy in dexamethasone-pretreated children.

Unlabelled: In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, we compared the incidence of emesis and 48-h recovery profiles after a single dose of preoperative ondansetron versus dolasetron in dexamethasone-pretreated children undergoing ambulatory tonsillectomy. One-hundred-forty-nine children, 2-12 yr old, ASA physical status I and II, completed the study. All children received standardized perioperative care, including premedication, surgical and anesthetic techniques, IV fluids, analgesics, and rescue antiemetic medications.