The effect on lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure of IV atropine and neostigmine, a drug combination routinely given to antagonize nondepolarizing neuromusclar blockade at the end of a general anesthetic, was studied in 22 patients undergoing cesarean section. Atropine 1.2 mg and neostigmine 2.5 mg IV decreased LES pressure insignificantly by a mean of 0.7 kPa (p less than 0.1). In contrast, atropine 1.2 mg and neostigmine 5 mg increased LES pressure by a mean of 1.4 kPa (p less than 0.001). The latter dosage of this drug combination, therefore, appears preferable in patients presenting for emergency surgery if the integrity of the lower esophageal sphincter is to be maintained during extubation and recovery from general anesthesia.
Gastric (GP) and lower oesophageal sphincter pressures (LOSP) were measured in non-pregnant female volunteers (group I) and pregnant women with (group III) or without (group II) heartburn. Patients in early pregnancy had greater gastric pressures than group I. Mean barrier pressure (LOSP-GP) was significantly decreased in pregnant patients complaining of heartburn (group III) compared with groups I and II.
Pruitt, I969; Lasser, Haft, and Friedberg, I968). Kulbertus, Coyne, and Hallidie-Smith (I969) documented the occurrence of left axis deviation with right bundle-branch block before and after surgical closure of ventricular septal defect. They suggested that the prognosis of these conduction abnormalities might be unfavourable. The present report concerns our experience with this combination of conduction disturbances after closure of ventricular septal defects and after total correction of cyanotic tetralogy of Fallot.
Material and methodsOne hundred and nine patients with isolated ventricular septal defects who underwent surgical closure and I31 patients who had total correction of tetralogy of Fallot were studied for the occurrence of combined left axis deviation and right bundle-branch block postoperatively. Their ages ranged from 2 to i8 years. Cases with preoperative evidence of left axis deviation or right bundlebranch block were excluded. Thus, patients who had partial or complete atrioventricular canals or
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.