Anesthesiology
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Postoperative delirium is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Preexisting cognitive impairment and depression have been frequently cited as important risk factors for this complication. This prospective cohort study was designed to determine whether individuals who perform poorly on preoperative cognitive tests and/or exhibited depressive symptoms would be at high risk for the development of postoperative delirium. ⋯ Low preoperative executive scores and depressive symptoms independently predict postoperative delirium in older individuals. A rapid, simple test combination including tests of executive function and depression could improve physicians' ability to recognize patients who might benefit from a perioperative intervention strategy to prevent postoperative delirium.
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Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at risk for perioperative morbidity. The authors used a screening prediction model for obstructive sleep apnea to generate a sleep apnea clinical score (SACS) that identified patients at high or low risk for obstructive sleep apnea. This was combined with postanesthesia care unit (PACU) monitoring with the aim of identifying patients at high risk of postoperative oxygen desaturation and respiratory complications. ⋯ Combination of an obstructive sleep apnea screening tool preoperatively (SACS) and recurrent PACU respiratory events was associated with a higher oxygen desaturation index and postoperative respiratory complications. A two-phase process to identify patients at higher risk for perioperative respiratory desaturations and complications may be useful to stratify and manage surgical patients postoperatively.
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Postoperative delirium has been associated with greater complications, medical cost, and increased mortality during hospitalization. Recent evidence suggests that preoperative executive dysfunction and depression may predict postoperative delirium; however, the combined effect of these risk factors remains unknown. This study examined the association among preoperative executive function, depressive symptoms, and established clinical predictors of postoperative delirium among 998 consecutive patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. ⋯ Preoperative executive dysfunction and depressive symptoms are predictive of postoperative delirium among noncardiac surgical patients. Executive tasks with greater complexity are more strongly associated with postoperative delirium relative to tests of basic sequencing.
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Comment Letter Comparative Study
Conventional neuromuscular monitoring versus acceleromyography: it's not the monitor but the anesthetist.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
A meta-analysis of clinical screening tests for obstructive sleep apnea.
The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare clinical screening tests for obstructive sleep apnea and establish an evidence base for their preoperative use. Diagnostic odds ratios were used as summary measures of accuracy, and false-negative rates were used as measures of missed diagnosis with each screening test in this review. ⋯ Test accuracy in repeated validation studies of the same screening test is variable, suggesting an underlying heterogeneity in either the clinical presentation of obstructive sleep apnea or the measured clinical elements of these models. Based on the false-negative rates, it is likely that most of the clinical screening tests will miss a significant proportion of patients with obstructive sleep apnea.