Comparison of sublingual versus vaginal misoprostol for second-trimester pregnancy termination: a meta-analysis.

Background: The development of safe and effective techniques for second-trimester abortion (associated or not with fetal death) has become a major clinical challenge.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of sublingual versus vaginal misoprostol for mid-trimester pregnancy termination.

Methods:  We conducted a meta-analysis of published randomised controlled trials that compared sublingual and vaginal routes.

Association between nitrous oxide and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Some, but not all studies have suggested intra-operative use of nitrous oxide is correlated with postoperative nausea and vomiting. We performed a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials to compare the incidence of nausea and vomiting in adults following general anaesthesia with or without nitrous oxide. We retrieved 30 studies (incorporating 33 separate trials) that investigated a 'nitrous oxide group' (total 2297 patients) vs a 'no-nitrous oxide group' (2301 patients).

Predictive value of six risk scores for outcome after surgical repair of hip fracture in elderly patients.

Background: Hip fracture surgery is associated with high post-operative mortality and poor functional results: the excess mortality is 20% in the first year; of those patients who survive, only 50% recover their previous ability to walk. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive value of six functional status and/or surgical risk scoring systems with regard to serious complications after hip fracture surgery in the elderly.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of a consecutive series of 232 patients (aged 65 years or older) undergoing hip fracture surgery.

[Epidural obstetric analgesia, maternal fever and neonatal wellness parameters].

Objective: To study the relation between epidural analgesia and the development of maternal fever during labor and childbirth, and to determine the possible relation between that association and neonatal welfare and in the performance of tests to rule out sepsis in newborns.

Patients And Methods: Prospective study of all women who gave birth at Fundación Hospital Alcorcón over a period of 3 years. All the women were offered epidural analgesia based on infusion of 0.

[Obstetric epidural analgesia: relationship between obstetric variables and the course of labor].

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between epidural analgesia and diverse obstetric and fetal variables as well as the impact of epidural analgesia on the rates of instrumental and cesarean delivery.

Patients And Methods: Observational study of women who gave birth at Fundación Hospital Alcorcón over a period of 3 years. All the women were offered obstetric epidural analgesia based on 0.

Anaesthesia-related diplopia after cataract surgery.

Background: We studied the incidence and clinical characteristics of persistent diplopia related to anaesthesia for cataract surgery in a general hospital.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of anaesthesia for 3587 cataract surgeries. Of all the cases of diplopia referred to the ocular motility clinic after cataract surgery, those involving anaesthesia-related diplopia lasting longer than 1 month were studied.

A comparison of 0.5% ropivacaine and 1% mepivacaine for sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare anesthetic efficacy and postoperative analgesia of 0.5% ropivacaine and 1% mepivacaine for sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa (popliteal block).

Methods: A prospective, double-blind study was carried out in 58 adult patients scheduled for outpatient foot or ankle surgery.

A comparison of 0.0625% bupivacaine with fentanyl and 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl for continuous epidural labor analgesia.

Unlabelled: We compared the analgesic efficacy and the degree of motor block achieved with epidural infusion of 0.0625% bupivacaine (Group B) versus 0.1% ropivacaine (Group R), both with 0.

[Combined subarachnoid-epidural technique for obstetric analgesia].

Combined spinal-epidural blockade for labor pain has enjoyed increasing popularity in obstetric anesthesia. The usual procedure is to use a single space and a single needle for dural puncture, inserting a spinal needle through an epidural needle followed by insertion of a catheter. A small dose of one or several substances (usually a lipophilic opioid and a local anesthetic) is first injected in the intrathecal space to provide rapid, effective analgesia with minimal muscle blockade.

[Pseudomembranous colitis complicated with toxic megacolon. Report of a case].

We present a patient who developed pseudomembranous colitis a few days after suffering serious multiple traumas and after receiving a variety of antibiotic treatments. The patient, whose condition was further complicated by toxic megacolon, underwent subtotal colectomy and ileostomy. Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of enterocolitis due to C.

[ 2 cases of tension pneumopericardium after unilateral lung transplantation].

We present 2 patients who developed tension pneumopericardium after undergoing unilateral lung transplantation, describing their clinical evolution after surgery until the diagnosis of tension pneumopericardium. In both cases aspiration of air from the pericardium resulted in improved hemodynamic status. Tension pneumopericardium is rare in adults.

[Anesthesia in a patient with latex allergy].

Anaphylactic reactions triggered by latex-based products are increasingly frequent, particularly in the hospital environment. We describe a patient with a prior history of atopic allergy and documented allergy to latex who was scheduled for abdominal surgery. A great deal of anesthetic and surgical equipment contains latex and substitutes for such material must be used in order to prevent severe hypersensitivity reactions.