Reversal of neuromuscular blockade with neostigmine has no effect on the incidence or severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Unlabelled: We performed this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine whether reversal of neuromuscular block with neostigmine increases the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We studied 162 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy and randomly allocated them into two groups. In Group A, neuromuscular block produced with mivacurium was antagonized with neostigmine 2.

Comparison of two fentanyl doses to improve epidural anaesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine for caesarean section.

Ninety women undergoing elective caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia were double blindly randomised into three groups to receive either 2 ml of saline or 50 or 100 micrograms of fentanyl in 2 ml volume added to 0.5% bupivacaine. Both doses of fentanyl intensified the epidural anaesthesia and reduced patient discomfort during the operation.

Crucial questions for physiotherapy in Finland.

When planning for health services, questions of production and distribution as well as cost and quality are key issues for health planners and decision makers. The lack of available objective data often makes this work difficult. This paper presents recent efforts in Finland to improve the collection of information needed for planning in the field of physiotherapy.

Vaginal and abdominal delivery increases maternal urinary 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha excretion.

To study the role of the antiaggregatory and vasodilatory prostacyclin (PGI2) during human delivery, serial urine samples collected from 13 women delivered vaginally and from eight delivered abdominally were assayed for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a breakdown product of PGI2) by high-performance-liquid-chromatography and radioimmunoassay. In women delivered vaginally the mean urinary 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration was 41.9 (SE 8.

Beta-endorphin in maternal and umbilical cord plasma at elective cesarean section and in spontaneous labor.

Concentration of beta-endorphin in relation to the mode of delivery and anesthesia was studied in maternal and umbilical cord plasma in 30 healthy women at term pregnancy. At elective cesarean section under epidural anesthesia, the mean maternal beta-endorphin level rose from 9.8 +/- 2.

Pain and plasma beta-endorphin level during labor.

Plasma concentration of beta-endorphin was observed during labor in 16 women and correlated with pain assessed subjectively using pain scores. Ten women did not receive any medication during the follow-up. A concomitant increase in pain score and plasma beta-endorphin level was found with advancing labor.

The effects of oxytocin on fetal rate variability during labor.

THe effect of oxytocin infusion on fetal heart rate (FHR) variability was studied during 22 normal labors. FHR variability was measured by a microprocessor-based on-line system, which used direct fetal electrocardiogram as a triggering signal for interval analysis. Interval index describing the long term component of FHR variability did not change significantly during the experiment.