The influence of anaesthetic technique upon the immune response to hysterectomy. A comparison of propofol infusion and isoflurane.

Earlier studies on propofol have shown increased percentages of T helper cells after minor surgery. In this study, the effects of propofol infusion anaesthesia on the immune response were compared with those of combined isoflurane anaesthesia in 30 patients (median age 47 years, ASA 1-2) undergoing major surgery. The total dose of propofol in the propofol infusion group of 15 women was 860 mg (range 540-1520 mg) and the median end-expiratory isoflurane concentration in the combined isoflurane group of 15 women was 0.

[Mechanisms of the effect of general anesthesia with barbiturates on immunity].

The effect of short-acting barbiturates on the number of theophylline-resistant and theophylline-sensitive T-lymphocytes in donors and patients with lung cancer on the function of spontaneous and induced donor regulators as well as the concentration of cyclic nucleotides and T-lymphocytes in donors has been studied in vitro. The effect of general anesthesia with barbiturates on the number of lymphocyte populations and subpopulations in the peripheral blood of somatically healthy patients with minimum surgical trauma has also been assessed. These studies as well as previous investigations serve the basis for elucidating the impact of general anesthesia with barbiturates on the immunity.

Use of atropine in connection with oral midazolam premedication.

The clinical significance of intramuscular premedication with 0.01 mg/kg of atropine in a procedure involving oral benzodiazepine premedication (15 mg midazolam the evening before surgery and on the morning of surgery) was investigated in a double-blind study. As far as sedation, apprehension, excitement, dizziness, emesis, and headache were concerned, there were no significant differences between group 1 (atropine) and group 2 (placebo) patients; however, both during and after anesthesia patients in group 1 had less excessive salivary secretion (especially during extubation).

Segmental epidural analgesia - a modern method for safe and effective management of labor pains.

The effect and safety of segmental epidural analgesia (SEA) were investigated in three groups of parturients totaling 250. Three comparative groups were also created. In 50 primigravidae, the analgesic effect was good in 90%, moderate in 8%, and poor in only 2%.

Tofizopam: a benzodiazepine derivative without sedative effect.

In a single-blind randomized study 47 patients received 100 mg tofizopam orally as a premedication before minor surgery, 50 patients received placebo, an 50 patients no premedication. Both tofizopam and placebo significantly increased the subjective sedative effect of the patients, but there was no significant difference in any of the measured parameters between tofizopam and placebo. In another double-blind randomized study, 49 patients received 100 mg tofizopam three times orally before gynecologic operations and 49 patients received placebo.