One hundred and eighty-four patients were studied to elucidate the contribution of intracuff pressure and cuff type to the occurrence of sore throat and hoarseness after operation. The patients were allocated to one of the following groups: A = mask only; B = reusable Rüsch tube with intermittent cuff volume adjustment; C = reusable Rüsch tube without cuff volume adjustment; D = disposable Portex Blue Line tube with intermittent cuff volume adjustment; E = disposable Shiley Low Pressure tube with intermittent cuff volume adjustment. Nitrous oxide was a component of anaesthesia in all patients. Moderate or severe symptoms were recorded in 30-33% of the patients in groups C, D and E, contrasting with group B, in which these sequelae were seen in only 10% of patients (P less than 0.025). All sequelae occurred less frequently in group A than in any of the other groups (P less than 0.025). Women were more likely to develop sore throat after intubation than were men (P less than 0.01). A possible relationship between differences in cuff-trachea contact area is postulated.

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We studied 150 patients undergoing elective colonic surgery; they were allocated randomly to undergo artificial ventilation with either air-oxygen or nitrous oxide-oxygen during surgery. Eleven patients were excluded. Preoperative management, surgery and postoperative analgesia were similar in both groups. Anaesthesia included propofol by infusion, pancuronium and fentanyl 3 micrograms kg-1 h-1. The air-oxygen group required a continuous infusion of propofol of 4-6 mg kg-1 h-1 whereas the nitrous oxide-oxygen group required only 1-2 mg kg-1 h-1. There were no differences between the groups in duration of anaesthesia, distension of the bowel and postoperative bowel function. The postoperative hospital stay was similar for both groups.

Thermodilution determined right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured in 48 critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation and inotropic and/or vasoactive drugs. The coefficient of variation on CO and RVEF were calculated from triple determinations. The average coefficient of variation based on 551 triple determinations was 12.6% for RVEF (range 2-51%) and 4.9% for CO (range 0-24%). If a 10% coefficient of variation was chosen as acceptable, 95% of the CO measurements were acceptable. The coefficient of variation on RVEF only fulfilled the 10% criteria in 46% of the measurements, but if the accepted level was raised to a 20% coefficient of variation, 90% of the measurements were acceptable. The measurement of RVEF and CO are used for calculation of e.g. right ventricular end diastolic volume (RVEDV). By applying the average coefficient of variation of RVEF and CO, the accumulated error on calculation of RVEDV was found to be divided by 15%- +20% at worst. Before derived parameters such as RVEDV are interpreted or compared with previously obtained values, the accumulated error should be calculated. To ensure the quality of the measurements, our recommendation is always to calculate the coefficient of variation for each triple determination of RVEF and CO.

Twelve patients with a mild to moderate essential hypertension were included in a double-blind, balanced, randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study to assess the efficacy and duration of action of a new slow-release formulation of diltiazem (300 mg) given once daily for 3 weeks. All office blood pressure measurements were done 24 hours after drug intake. In order to improve the accuracy of the trial, 24-hours non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Spacelabs 90207 system) were performed as well. Diltiazem significantly lowered supine and standing systolic and diastolic office blood pressure (by 16.9/12.7 mmHg and by 17.3/13.8 mmHg, respectively), without changing office heart rate. Diltiazem also significantly lowered ambulatory blood pressure measured over 24 hours, as well as ambulatory heart rate. The blood pressure lowering effect was most pronounced during the daytime period and did not reach statistical significance during the sleeping hours. The treatment was well tolerated, and there were no significant side effects. The results confirm the antihypertensive efficacy of diltiazem LP 300 mg once daily during the daytime and during the early morning blood pressure rise, without inducing nocturnal hypotension.