SummaryThere are few data regarding postoperative hyperglycaemia in non-diabetic compared with diabetic patients following postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis with dexamethasone. Eighty-five non-diabetic patients and patients with type-2 diabetes were randomly allocated to receive intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) or ondansetron (4 mg). Blood glucose levels were measured at baseline and then 2, 4 and 24 h following induction of anaesthesia. In nondiabetic patients, the mean (SD) maximum blood glucose was higher in those who received dexamethasone compared with ondansetron (9.1 (2.2) mmol.l À1 vs. 7.8 (1.4) mmol.l À1

The concomitant use of sildenafil and L-arginine for the management of pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy, combined with multidisciplinary care, permitted a good outcome for the mother and her infant.

We estimated the motor-blocking potency ratio of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine in labor and demonstrated that the S-enantiomer of bupivacaine is less potent at motor block than the racemate.

Dexamethasone, 8 mg, intravenously administered at the beginning of laparoscopic bariatric surgery in patients with impaired glucose tolerance is associated with significantly increased postoperative blood glucose concentrations.

The results of this study demonstrate that epidural ropivacaine is less potent than epidural bupivacaine in producing motor blockade during labor. The motor block potency relation is similar to the sensory potency ratio for these two drugs.