[The beginning of anesthesia].

On October 16, 1846, the first public demonstration of etherization, at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, illustrated the rise of Inhalational Anaesthesia. Pioneers were: Hickman, Wells, Morton, Davy and Long. Anaesthesia was considered an American invention.

[Perioperative analgesia in the surgery of peripheral veins].

The analgesic efficiency of Propacetamol and Acid Niflumique for post-operative pain in the recovery room, was studied in two groups of 27 patients who had undergone stripping. Pain scores recorded were obtained with the pain ruler during two hours after intravenous injection of Propacetamol (30 mg/kg-1). The analgesic efficiency of Propacetamol is always good.

[Hemodynamic effects of intranasal nifedipine during clamping of the abdominal aorta].

The haemodynamic changes due to cross-clamping of the abdominal aorta below the renal arteries were studied in ten patients. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with fentanyl and vecuronium and inhalation of 60% nitrous oxide in oxygen. At the fifth minute, clamping increased mean arterial pressure (Pa) by 11%, systemic vascular resistance (Rsa) by 26% and decreased cardiac output (CO) by 20%.

[Determination of thresholds of external cardiac pacing during anesthesia].

The efficacy of transcutaneous pacing was studied in 33 patients during general anaesthesia. The temporary pacing was effective in all cases. Stimulation thresholds ranged from 85 to 150 mA (mean : 110 +/- 17).