Epidural catheter placement using electrical stimulation guidance is an alternative approach for positioning the catheter into the thoracic region via the caudal space. This easily performed clinical assessment provides optimization of catheter tip positioning for achieving effective pain control.

A phase III, open label, randomized study was conducted in 50 patients comparing halothane and sevoflurane for paediatric day case surgery. A graded inhalational induction resulted in only slightly more rapid induction with sevoflurane (3.34±0.92 versus 3.85±1.02 minutes; P>0.05). In children receiving sevoflurane, systolic blood pressure decreased to a lesser extent during induction (14.3±19.2 versus 26.9±10.9 percent decrease from resting values; P<0.01) and heart rate was maintained. Respiratory events (coughing, breath-holding, bronchospasm, laryngospasm) were more common during induction with halothane, and excitement more common in children receiving sevoflurane. Emergence times were significantly more rapid in children who had received sevoflurane (21.4±10.9 versus 33.1 ±13.7 minutes; P<0.01). Objective pain/discomfort scores were higher in patients receiving sevoflurane at 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes after arrival in the recovery room, and the incidence of excitement during emergence was higher in this group. It is concluded that sevoflurane is well tolerated for inhalational induction and has an improved cardiovascular profile compared to halothane. Emergence was significantly more rapid following sevoflurane.

The risks associated with cardiac catheterization in children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are increased compared with adults. We reviewed retrospectively all clinical data in children with PH [mean pulmonary artery pressure (mean PAp) ≥25 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) ≥3 Wood units m(2)] undergoing cardiac catheterization between 2009 and 2014. Our strategy included a team approach, minimal catheter manipulation and sildenafil administration prior to extubation. Adverse events occurring within 48 h were noted. Seventy-five patients (36 males), median age 4 years (0.3-17) and median weight 14.6 kg (2.6-77 kg), underwent 97 cardiac catheterizations. Diagnoses included idiopathic or heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (29 %), PAH associated with congenital heart disease (52 %), left heart disease (5 %) and lung disease (14 %). Mean PAp was 43 ± 19 mmHg; mean PVRI was 9.7 ± 6 Wood units m(2). There were no deaths or serious arrhythmias. No patient required cardiac massage. Three patients who suffered adverse events had suprasystemic PAp (3/3), heritable PAH (2/3), decreased right ventricular function (3/3), and pulmonary artery capacitance index <1 ml/mmHg/m(2) (3/3) and were treatment naïve (3/3). No patient undergoing follow-up cardiac catheterization suffered a complication. In 45 % of cases, the data acquired from the follow-up cardiac catheterization resulted in an alteration of therapy. Three percent of children with PH undergoing cardiac catheterization suffered adverse events. However, there were no intra or post procedural deaths and no one required cardiac massage or cardioversion. Follow-up cardiac catheterization in patients receiving pulmonary hypertensive targeted therapy is safe and provides useful information.

This study investigated propofol injection pain in patients undergoing ambulatory anaesthesia. In a randomized, double-blind trial, 90 women were allocated to receive one of three treatments prior to induction of anaesthesia with propofol. Patients in Group C received 2 ml normal saline, Group L, 2 ml, lidocaine 2% (40 mg) and Group T, 2 ml thiopentone 2.5% (50 mg). Venous discomfort was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS) 5-15 sec after commencing propofol administration using an infusion pump (rate 1000 micrograms.kg-1.min-1). Loss of consciousness occurred in 60-90 sec. Visual analogue scores (mean +/- SD) during induction were lower in Groups L (3.3 +/- 2.5) and T (4.1 +/- 2.7) than in Group C (5.6 +/- 2.3); P = 0.0031. The incidence of venous discomfort was lower in Group L (76.6%; P < 0.05) than in Group C (100%) but not different from Group T (90%). The VAS scores for recall of pain in the recovery room were correlated with the VAS scores during induction (r = 0.7045; P < 0.0001). Recovery room discharge times were similar: C (75.9 +/- 19.4 min); L 73.6 +/- 21.6 min); T (77.1 +/- 18.9 min). Assessing their overall satisfaction, 89.7% would choose propofol anaesthesia again. We conclude that lidocaine reduces the incidence and severity of propofol injection pain in ambulatory patients whereas thiopentone only reduces its severity.

A strategy is described for stereocontrolled synthesis of hypocholesterolemic compounds, (+)-compactin and (+)-mevinolin, by an approach (Scheme 11) based on 6, 7, 4-pentenal (9a), and (R)-3-methyl-4-pentenal (9b). The Evans asymmetric Diels-Alder technique was used (Scheme 111) to prepare 13, which was converted into the cis ester 17. Chain extension, iodolactonization, and elimination of HI then gave optically pure 6. The homochiral epoxide 24, made (Scheme IV) from (.!$)-malic acid, was converted into 25 and then, by iodocarbonation, hydrolysis, and ketalization, into the iodo ketal 7. Evans asymmetric alkylation was used (Scheme V) to prepare 9b. Ozonolysis, ketalization, and reduction (LiAIH,) of 28 gave 31, which was transformed by Swern oxidation, Wittig methylenation, and acid hydrolysis into 9b. An optically pure intermediate (8), common to both syntheses, was assembled (Scheme VI) by alkylation of 6 with 7, reduction to a mixture of lactols, allylic oxidation, and decarbonylation. Aldol condensation (Scheme VII) of 8 with 4-pentena1, triethylsilylation, and ozonolysis gave the enone aldehydes 39, epimeric at C-1 . A modified McMurry reaction requiring an excess of a reagent prepared from C8K and Tic& (2:l molar ratio) in DME, produced the ethers 40, which were converted into (+)-compactin by appropriate modification of the oxygen functionality. The strategy is general and was applied with minor modifications (Scheme VIII) to the synthesis of (+)-mevinolin. Introduction3

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The synthesis of (+)‐compactin (IX) and (+)‐mevinolin (XII) starts with the reaction between the bicyclic lactone (I) and the iodide (II).