title: IV fluids and minor gynaecological surgery: effect on recovery from anaesthesia.
abstract: This study has examined the effect of hydration on immediate recovery from anaesthesia in two groups of 15 patients undergoing therapeutic abortion. A standard anaesthetic technique was administered. Patients in group I received no preoperative fluid; those in group II received, before anaesthesia, 20 ml kg-1 of 4% glucose and 0.18% saline. Recovery was assessed using two tests of psychomotor function: a reaction time test and a letter cancellation task. Subjective symptoms were assessed with a questionnaire. There was a significant decrease in reaction time after operation (both motor and reaction times) in group I (no fluids), but not in group II (fluids). There were no significant between-group differences in objective tests or subjective measures. Thus we could not demonstrate any obvious benefit of i.v. fluid administration. Approximately 500 patients would be required to have an 80% chance of establishing a statistically significant between group difference.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthetics Unit, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Goldhill
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology