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Biomedical subjects

M G Booth

Publications and source records attributed to M G Booth.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

In-flight medical emergencies: response of anaesthetists who were passengers on commercial flights.

All consultants and trainees in anaesthesia in a large teaching hospital were surveyed. Details of the number of flights per year and details of any medical emergencies in which they had been involved were recorded. The mean number of flights per year was 7.1 domestic and 3.4 international. Of the 45 anaesthetists surveyed, 14 had dealt with emergencies in flight, four had dealt with more than one. The minor emergencies (12) included transient ischaemic attacks, abdominal pain and otitis media. The seven serious events included seizures, angina, hypoglycaemic coma, respiratory arrest and two fatal cardiac arrests. No flights were diverted. On only two occasions were their medical qualifications checked. Requests for documentation were unusual. On several occasions the equipment which was available was inadequate. All doctors that responded were insured in the UK and most stated that they would assist Americans on American airlines. Medical emergencies were more likely on long haul flights.

Abdominal Pain↗

A comparison of the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium and vecuronium during halothane anaesthesia.

Thirty healthy patients were randomised to receive either a single bolus dose of rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg-1 or vecuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1 during halothane anaesthesia. Onset time, duration 25, duration 75 and train-of-four 70 were measured. The onset of neuromuscular blockade following rocuronium was more rapid than vecuronium (p = 0.0001). All other pharmacodynamic parameters were similar. During the first minute following injection of the neuromuscular blocking agent, the heart rate increased by 36% in the rocuronium group but remained stable in those patients who received vecuronium (p = 0.0008). No adverse effects were noted in either group.

Adult↗