Effects of calcium chloride coadministered with neostigmine on neuromuscular blockade recovery: A double-blind randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Ionised calcium plays an important role in neuromuscular transmission, but its effects on the reversal of nondepolarising neuromuscular blockade have not been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether calcium chloride coadministered with neostigmine could enhance the rate of neuromuscular recovery. DESIGN: Prospective randomised double-blind trial. SETTING: A tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: In total, 53 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with neuromuscular monitoring by acceleromyography using a TOF-Watch SX monitor. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 5 mg kg-1 of calcium chloride (calcium group, n = 26) or the same volume of normal saline (control group, n = 27) coadministered with 25 [mu]g kg-1 of neostigmine and 15 [mu]g kg-1 of atropine at the end of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was the neuromuscular recovery time [time from neostigmine administration to recovery of the TOF ratio (TOFr) to 0.9]. Secondary end points included the TOFr at 5, 10 and 20 min after neostigmine administration and the incidence of postoperative residual curarisation (PORC), defined as a TOFr less than 0.9 at each time point. RESULTS: The neuromuscular recovery time was significantly faster in the calcium group than in the control group (median [Q1 to Q3]; 5.0 [3.0 to 7.0] vs. 6.7 [5.7 to 10.0] min, respectively; P = 0.007). At 5 min after neostigmine administration, the TOFr was higher [87 (74 to 100) vs. 68 (51 to 81)%, respectively; P = 0.002] and the incidence of PORC was lower (50.0 vs. 81.5%, respectively; P = 0.016) in the calcium group than in the control group. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to the TOFr or incidence of PORC at 10 and 20 min after neostigmine administration. CONCLUSION: Calcium chloride coadministered with neostigmine enhanced neuromuscular recovery in the early period of nondepolarising neuromuscular blockade reversal. (C) 2017 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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Intraoperative magnesium sulphate decreases agitation and pain in patients undergoing functional endoscopic surgery: A randomised double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative agitation is harmful for the patient as it may be associated with removal of catheters, nasal packs, oxygen masks and self-injury, and pose a danger to operating theatre staff. OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated the potential role of magnesium sulphate in treatment of postoperative agitation following functional endoscopic sinus surgery. DESIGN: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: ENT operating room, Menofia University Hospitals, Egypt. PATIENTS: A total of 312 adult patients (171 men and 141 women) were enrolled in the study. Eighteen patients (10 men and eight women) were excluded; data from 294 patients were analysed. Inclusion criteria were age between 20 and 60 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status 1 or 2 scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Exclusion criteria were hypertension, cardiac ischaemia, cerebrovascular insufficiency, neuromuscular diseases, pregnancy, prolonged treatment with calcium-channel blockers, diabetic neuropathy or a known allergy to magnesium compounds. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated randomly to either the magnesium group (a magnesium infusion of 30 mg kg-1 in the first hour followed by 9 mg kg-1 h-1 until the end of the surgical procedure) or the control group (0.9% saline at the same volume and rate). Hypotensive anaesthesia was induced by nitroglycerine 5 to 20 [mu]g kg-1 min-1. In the postanaesthetic care unit (PACU), patients were assessed for agitation and pain using the Richmond agitation-sedation scale and numerical rating scale, respectively. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The incidence and severity of agitation measured 5 min after admission to the PACU. RESULTS: Magnesium reduced postoperative agitation at time 0 (P = 0.009) and 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after PACU admission (P

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Comparison of laryngeal mask airway insertion methods, including the external larynx lift with pre-inflated cuff, on postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications: A randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications are commonly reported following laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion. After induction of anaesthesia, the airway structures fall backwards under the influence of gravity, and this may contribute to difficulty in placement of a LMA. External airway alignment by lifting the larynx during insertion of an airway may avoid collision of the airway with laryngeal structures. OBJECTIVE(S): To compare pharyngolaryngeal complications after either conventional airway insertion with or without cuff semi-inflation and a method, including an external larynx lift. DESIGN: Randomised controlled double blind clinical trial. SETTING: Ambulatory surgical operating rooms of a university hospital. PATIENTS: American Society of Anaesthesiologists class 1 to 3 patients undergoing ambulatory surgery scheduled to receive general anaesthesia for which a LMA was not contraindicated. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomised into three groups for LMA placement: G1, deflated airway; G2, pre-inflated cuff; G3, pre-inflated cuff with external lifting of the larynx. Assessment of pharyngolaryngeal complications (blinded assessor) was made at the time of LMA removal and again at 1, 2 and 24 h. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A pharyngolaryngeal complication, defined as a composite of one or more of sore throat, dysphonia or dysphagia at any time point, or blood on the airway at removal. RESULTS: Of the 450 consecutive patients, 441 were studied. There were no differences in insertion times or number of insertion attempts among the groups. There was no difference in pharyngolaryngeal complications among the groups: G1, 57%; G2, 55%; G3, 52%, (P = 0.77). Blood on the airway was observed less frequently in G3 (9%) compared with G1 and G2 combined (17%): difference -8% (95% confidence interval of the difference -0.8 to -16%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The external larynx lift technique was associated with a lower incidence of blood on the airway at removal, suggesting that the method may decrease trauma to the tissues of the upper airway during insertion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01749033. (C) 2017 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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Perioperative factors related to the severity of vocal cord paralysis after thoracic cardiovascular surgery: A retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a rare complication of thoracic cardiovascular surgery. In severe cases, life-threatening airway obstruction may occur. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and severity of VCP among patients who underwent thoracic cardiovascular surgery and to identify possible risk factors. DESIGN: Single-centre retrospective review of adult patients. SETTING: Osaka University Hospital, Suita, Japan, from January 2013 to August 2015. PATIENTS: We included 688 patients in the final analysis. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were collected from medical records. Patients with preoperative VCP or tracheostomy prior to extubation were excluded. The VCP severity in relation to functional recovery was graded using the following categories: absent; mild, remission at 6 months; moderate, partial or persistent VCP at 6 months; or severe, airway obstruction after extubation requiring reintubation. An otolaryngologist diagnosed all VCP cases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence and severity of VCP after extubation. RESULTS: The incidence (number) of VCP was 4.7% (32), with those of mild, moderate and severe VCP being 1.7% (12), 1.5% (10) and 1.5% (10), respectively. The ICU stay was significantly longer in patients with severe VCP than in patients without VCP [12.5 days (interquartile range 5.5 to 25.5) vs. 3 days (interquartile range 2 to 5), P = 0.0002]. In our multivariable analysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus [odds ratio (OR) 1.853, P = 0.009], intubation period (OR per 24 h 1.136, P = 0.014), ascending aortic arch surgery with brachiocephalic artery reconstruction (OR 8.708, P

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Effects of dexamethasone on early cognitive decline after cardiac surgery: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD), a very common complication after cardiac surgery, is characterised by impairment of both memory function and intellectual ability as well as being associated with increased use of healthcare resources. The investigators focused on the role of the inflammatory response to a surgical procedure as a potential factor involved in the pathogenesis of POCD. OBJECTIVE: The use of prophylactic dexamethasone to attenuate the inflammatory response was hypothesised to reduce the risk of POCD. DESIGN: Randomised controlled study. SETTING: Single university teaching hospital, from March 2015 to January 2016. PATIENTS: A total of 169 patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were enrolled, and 161 patients were included in the analyses. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomised to receive a single intravenous bolus of 0.1 mg kg-1 dexamethasone (n = 85) or placebo (n = 84) 10 h before the surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure in both groups was the incidence of POCD on the 6th day after surgery. The investigators also evaluated the effect of dexamethasone on the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, postoperative C-reactive protein levels and postoperative serum S100[beta] protein levels. RESULTS: Compared to the placebo group, the dexamethasone group showed statistically significant reductions in the incidence of POCD (relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 0.89; P = 0.02), the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (30.0 versus 58.0%, P

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Anaesthesiology research in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association: An overview from 2001 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Publication performance in anaesthesiology hints at research activity and attractiveness for a particular centre or country for anaesthetists. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective bibliographic study is to compare the publication performance of anaesthesiology departments within the countries of the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) combined. Outcome measures were the number of publications, the number of original articles, the average impact factor and the number of publications and average impact factor per million inhabitants. METHODS: Articles from anaesthesiology departments within the EU and EFTA countries published between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2015 were included. Articles were electronically imported from Medline into a database and linked to anaesthesiology departments according to the authors' affiliations. Publication performance was assessed for 2001 to 2005, 2006 to 2010, 2011 to 2015 and 2001 to 2015. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2015, the absolute number of articles increased from 10 513 to 19 037 (+81%), whereas the number of original research articles decreased from 3786 to 1563 (-58%). Germany had the most publications (8948) with 1967 of these being original articles. Denmark achieved not only the highest average impact factor per million inhabitants (319.9) but also the most articles per anaesthesiologist (1.46), and per million habitants (105.7). Countries which moved up the income scale to a higher income class also increased the number of publications. DISCUSSION: In the EU and EFTA countries, the total number of publications increased from 2001 to 2015, but the number of original research articles fell by more than 50%. CONCLUSION: Between 2001 and 2015, in the EU and EFTA countries, the number of publications increased, whereas the number of original articles decreased. Germany published most, but Denmark had most publications per anaesthesiologist and per capita, and also achieved the highest impact factor per article. (C) 2017 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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Zika Virus: Obstetric and Pediatric Anesthesia Considerations

As of November 2016, the Florida Department of Health (FDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed more than 4000 travel-related Zika virus (ZIKV) infections in the United States with >700 of those in Florida. There have been 139 cases of locally acquired infection, all occurring in Miami, Florida. Within the US territories (eg, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands), >30,000 cases of ZIKV infection have been reported. The projected number of individuals at risk for ZIKV infection in the Caribbean and Latin America approximates 5 million. Similar to Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, ZIKV is spread to humans by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, through travel-associated local transmission, via sexual contact, and through blood transfusions. South Florida is an epicenter for ZIKV infection in the United States and the year-round warm climate along with an abundance of mosquito vectors that can harbor the flavivirus raise health care concerns. ZIKV infection is generally mild with clinical manifestations of fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and arthralgia. Of greatest concern, however, is growing evidence for the relationship between ZIKV infection of pregnant women and increased incidence of abnormal pregnancies and congenital abnormalities in the newborn, now medically termed ZIKA Congenital Syndrome. Federal health officials are observing 899 confirmed Zika-positive pregnancies and the FDH is currently monitoring 110 pregnant women with evidence of Zika infection. The University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital is uniquely positioned just north of downtown Miami and within the vicinity of Liberty City, Little Haiti, and Miami Beach, which are currently "hot spots" for Zika virus exposure and transmissions. As the FDH works fervently to prevent a Zika epidemic in the region, health care providers at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital prepare for the clinical spectrum of ZIKV effects as well as the safe perioperative care of the parturients and their affected newborns. In an effort to meet anesthetic preparedness for the care of potential Zika-positive patients and perinatal management of babies born with ZIKA Congenital Syndrome, this review highlights the interim guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and also suggest anesthetic implications and recommendations. In addition, this article reviews guidance for the evaluation and anesthetic management of infants with congenital ZIKV infection. To better manage the perioperative care of affected newborns, this article also reviews the comparative anesthetic implications of babies born with related congenital malformations.

http://ift.tt/2rnWDsm