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The accuracy of timed maximum local anaesthetic dose calculations with an electronic calculator, nomogram, and pen and paper
Author(s) -
Walker J. D.,
Williams N.,
Williams D. J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/anae.13810
Subject(s) - nomogram , calculator , medicine , local anaesthetic , bayes' theorem , nuclear medicine , anesthesia , statistics , mathematics , computer science , bayesian probability , operating system
Summary Forty anaesthetists calculated maximum permissible doses of eight local anaesthetic formulations for simulated patients three times with three methods: an electronic calculator; nomogram; and pen and paper. Correct dose calculations with the nomogram (85/120) were more frequent than with the calculator (71/120) or pen and paper (57/120), Bayes Factor 4 and 287, p = 0.01 and p = 0.0003, respectively. The rates of calculations at least 120% the recommended dose with each method were different, Bayes Factor 7.9, p = 0.0007: 14/120 with the calculator; 5/120 with the nomogram; 13/120 with pen and paper. The median ( IQR [range]) speed of calculation with pen and paper, 38.0 (25.0–56.3 [5–142]) s, was slower than with the calculator, 24.5 (17.8–37.5 [6–204]) s, p = 0.0001, or nomogram, 23.0 (18.0–29.0 [4–100]) s, p = 1 × 10 −7 . Local anaesthetic dose calculations with the nomogram were more accurate than with an electronic calculator or pen and paper and were faster than with pen and paper.