OBJECTIVE: To find out whether patients did better after operations that entailed a large bowel anastomosis if they were given combined epidural and general anaesthesia with spontaneous ventilation rather than standard general anaesthesia with muscle relaxation and ventilation. DESIGN: Prospective randomised trial. SETTING: Specialist unit, teaching hospital. SUBJECTS:80 patients undergoing large bowel anastomoses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of chest infection, wound infection, anastomotic breakdown, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, median hospital stay and death. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups, but the results were better during the trial period (1985-89) than during the period 1978-83. CONCLUSION: Factors that influence anastomotic healing are complex and improved surgical techniques, postoperative monitoring and patient care may account for the improvement in results compared with the earlier period.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To find out whether patients did better after operations that entailed a large bowel anastomosis if they were given combined epidural and general anaesthesia with spontaneous ventilation rather than standard general anaesthesia with muscle relaxation and ventilation. DESIGN: Prospective randomised trial. SETTING: Specialist unit, teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: 80 patients undergoing large bowel anastomoses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of chest infection, wound infection, anastomotic breakdown, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, median hospital stay and death. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups, but the results were better during the trial period (1985-89) than during the period 1978-83. CONCLUSION: Factors that influence anastomotic healing are complex and improved surgical techniques, postoperative monitoring and patient care may account for the improvement in results compared with the earlier period.
Authors: A Rodgers; N Walker; S Schug; A McKee; H Kehlet; A van Zundert; D Sage; M Futter; G Saville; T Clark; S MacMahon Journal: BMJ Date: 2000-12-16