SummaryThis study was designed to find the minimum effective doses of doxapram and pethidine to stop post-anaesthetic shivering. Two hundred and twenty healthy patients who shivered following routine surgery were allocated randomly to receive one of 10 doses of doxapram (0.18, 0.23, 0.29, 0.35, 0.41, 0.47, 0.7, 0.93

SummaryA questionnaire study was undertaken to assess the influence of recently published, simple and conclusive research on the practice of anaesthetists in four centres. The research had clearly demonstrated the benefit of subcutaneous infiltration of local anaesthetic in reducing the pain of intravenous cannulation. Of the 81 % who responded, 71 % were aware of the research; 43% of these anaesthetists had altered their clinical practice as a result of the research and 73% used local anaesthesia for cannulae of llgauge or less, compared with only 46% of those who were unaware of the research. Practice comparisons were made between centres andgrades of anaesthetist. Senior house ojicers were sign$cantly less likely to be aware of the research than othergrades. Anomalies were identijied between the apparent awareness of the research and routine practice agreeing with the study findings. The value of research and the incorporation of clinical findings into everyday practice is discussed.

Aim Anorectal physiology tests provide a functional assessment of the anal canal. The aim of this study was to compare the results generated by standard high‐resolution water‐perfused manometry (WPM) with the newer THD ® Anopress manometry system. Method This was a prospective observational study. Conventional manometry was carried out using a water‐perfused catheter with high‐resolution manometry and compared with the Anopress system with air‐filled catheters. All patients underwent the two procedures successively in a randomized order. Time to arrive at the resting pressure plateau, resting, squeeze, straining pressure and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain were recorded. A qualitative analysis of the two devices was performed. Results Between 2016 and 2017, 60 patients were recruited. The time from insertion of the catheter to arriving at the resting pressure plateau was significantly lower with the Anopress compared with WPM: 12 s [interquartile range (IQR) 10–17 s] versus 100 s (IQR 67–121 s) ( P < 0.001). A strong correlation between the manometric values of WPM and the Anopress was observed. Both procedures were well tolerated, although the VAS score for insertion of the WPM catheter was significantly higher. The Anopress was easier to use and more time‐efficient than the WPM. Conclusion The pressure values obtained with Anopress correlated well with those of conventional manometry. The Anopress has the advantage of being less time‐consuming, user‐friendly and better tolerated by patients.

Summary We performed a double‐blind controlled trial to compare the analgesic effect of two nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. We compared rectal diclofenac 100 mg given 1 h before induction of anaesthesia with intravenous ketorolac 10 mg given immediately before anaesthesia in 40 patients undergoing arthroscopy of the knee as day cases. A visual analogue scale was used to assess pain prior to discharge. Pain, analgesic consumption, sleep disturbance and restriction of activities were recorded by telephone enquiry 24 h after surgery. There was no difference in the pain parameters, sleep disturbance, or restriction of activity between groups. We suggest that ketorolac 10 mg intravenously and diclofenac 100 mg rectally provide comparable postoperative analgesia in the first 24 h after arthroscopy of the knee.

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