Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0220723 (PCA)
 4,687 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Many systemic techniques, so-called "alternatives" to labor epidural analgesia, have been described: they are all poorly effective and some are associated with significant maternal and neonatal side effects. Nonetheless, these techniques can provide good maternal satisfaction. Accordingly, they are indicated when epidural analgesia is contraindicated or unavailable. Administration of systemic opioids mandates maternal respiratory supervision, oxygen supplementation and/or pulse oxymetry. Systemic opioids may also decrease fetal heart rate variability and produce neonatal respiratory depression; naloxone administration to the neonate is therefore widely indicated. Pethidine should be abandoned because it can produce prolonged neonatal respiratory depression. Nalbuphine produces less nausea/vomiting and less long lasting neonatal respiratory depression. Intravenous PCA fentanyl or sufentanil is presently the method of choice during early labor. Alfentanil seems less effective and may produce more neonatal side effects. Intravenous PCA remifentanil is the most effective technique, but safe administration may be problematic during intermittent supervision usually implemented in labour ward. Nitrous oxide 50% provides little pain relief. Nonetheless, it is associated with few side effects, quite good maternal satisfaction and can be quickly implemented during advanced painful labor. It is not recommended to add it to systemic opioid (except under continuous supervision by the anaesthetic team), because of an increased incidence of maternal desaturation. The use of a subanaesthetic concentration of sevoflurane has been described recently; it is more effective than nitrous oxide. However, guidelines for safe implementation in labor ward remain to be determined.
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PMID:[Alternative techniques to labour epidural analgesia]. 1611 46

Over the last 30 years, three new opioids of the piperidine family have been introduced to anaesthesia clinical practice: sufentanil, alfentanil and remifentanil. Alfentanil is a derivative of fentanyl, with quicker onset than that of fentanyl and with shorter duration and more intense vagomimetic properties than those of fentanyl and sufentanil. It may cause less intense respiratory depression than equianalgesic doses of fentanyl. Clinical trials indicate that alfentanil can be used effectively as an analgesic, as an analgesic supplement to anaesthesia, and as the major component of a general anaesthetic. Its short duration of effect makes it attractive as an analgesic supplement for short ambulatory surgical procedures. Sufentanil is a more potent and more lipophilic analgesic than fentanyl. It would appear to maintain haemodynamic stability during surgery better than other opioids. Epidural sufentanil produces a rapid onset and good quality of analgesia. In addition, low doses administered intravenously via a PCA pump seem to have a potential role for analgesia during labour. Remifentanil is an opioid analgesic that is rapidly metabolized by non-specific blood and tissue esterases. According to its unique pharmacokinetic profile, remifentanil-based anaesthesia combines high-dosage opioid analgesia intraoperatively with a rapid and predictable postoperative awakening, even after long procedures. Its vagomimetic properties are especially pronounced in small children, the elderly and hypovolaemic patients, and in these groups atropine should be always given before remifentanil administration. Remifentanil also minimises the adrenergic response to endotracheal intubation. Three mju agonist-antagonists have been used for pain treatment: nalbuphine, butorphanol and buprenorphine. They can be used in ambulatory settings. Nalbuphine can be used parenterally. It reverses morphine-induced respiratory depression while maintaining adequate analgesic effect. Buprenorphine can be given sublingually, percutanenously, epidurally and parenterally. It is a potent analgesic, recommended for strong postoperative pain. Butorphanol is a potent analgesic that increases heart rate, arterial and pulmonary blood pressures and cardiac output. It should be given carefully in patients with coronary disease.
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PMID:[New opioids for general anaesthesia and in- and out-hospital analgesia]. 1946 98