Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2002
Clinical TrialMyocardial ischemia and cytokine response are associated with subsequent onset of infections after noncardiac surgery.
Postoperative myocardial ischemia (POMI) is prevalent among patients after major noncardiac surgery. Surgery, as well as POMI, may modulate the immune system, potentially worsening patient outcome. We sought to investigate the modulation of soluble interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 by POMI and its association with increased postoperative infection rates. Two-hundred-three patients undergoing elective major abdominal, vascular, and orthopedic surgery participated in this prospective observational study. Perioperative management was standardized. Hemodynamic variables were kept within 20% of baseline. POMI was assessed by Holter electrocardiography starting at least 8 h before the induction of anesthesia and continued until 96 h after surgery. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms, cardiac enzymes, and immune variables were obtained at the time of admission to the hospital, before surgery, before the induction of anesthesia, after surgery, at the time of admission to the intensive care unit, and 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h after surgery. Infections were diagnosed according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria. The incidence of POMI was 27%, and the majority of cases (76%) occurred within the first 24 h after surgery. IL-6 and IL-10 levels significantly increased during surgery but did not differ between the POMI and Non-POMI groups. However, in the subset of patients who developed severe infections or sepsis (n = 47) a median of 3 days (range, 1-8 days) after surgery, the intraoperative increases of IL-6 and IL-10 in the POMI group were, respectively, 3 and 10 times higher compared with the increase in the Non-POMI group. By using a multifactorial analysis in these patients with severe infections, the type of surgical trauma was associated with an increased IL-6 response, whereas the increase in IL-10 was attributed to POMI. These findings suggest that immediate cytokine responses due to POMI and type of surgery might be relevant for the later onset of severe infections and sepsis. ⋯ Postoperative myocardial ischemia (POMI) occurred in 27% of patients after major noncardiac surgery. This was associated with an immediate augmented cytokine response in the first 12 h after surgery in patients who developed severe infections or sepsis 3 days later. POMI was associated with an increased interleukin (IL)-10 response, whereas IL-6 was associated with the type of surgery.
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We studied the incidence of awareness and explicit recall during general anesthesia in outpatients versus inpatients undergoing surgery. During a 14.5-mo period, we structurally interviewed 1500 outpatients and 2343 inpatients. Among outpatients, there were five cases of awareness and recall (one with clear intraoperative recollections and four with doubtful intraoperative recollections). Of the inpatients, six reported awareness and recall (three with clear and three with doubtful intraoperative recollections). The incidence of clear intraoperative recollections was 0.07% in outpatients and 0.13% in inpatients. The difference in the incidence was not significant. Among outpatients, those with awareness and recall were given smaller doses of sevoflurane than those without awareness and recall (P < 0.05). In conclusion, awareness and recall are rare complications of general anesthesia, and outpatients are not at increased risk for this event compared with inpatients undergoing general anesthesia. ⋯ Rapid recovery from general anesthesia is a crucial element of outpatient surgery. However, this practice may predispose a patient to receive less anesthetic, with increased risk for awareness and recall. We have shown that outpatients undergoing an operation using general anesthesia are not at increased risk for awareness compared with inpatients.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2002
Serum creatinine patterns in coronary bypass surgery patients with and without postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
Renal dysfunction is common after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We have previously shown that CABG procedures complicated by stroke have a threefold greater peak serum creatinine level relative to uncomplicated surgery. However, postoperative creatinine patterns for procedures complicated by cognitive dysfunction are unknown. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that postoperative cognitive dysfunction is associated with acute perioperative renal injury after CABG surgery. Data were prospectively gathered for 282 elective CABG surgery patients. Psychometric tests were performed at baseline and 6 wk after surgery. Cognitive dysfunction was defined both as a dichotomous variable (cognitive deficit [CD]) and as a continuous variable (cognitive index). Forty percent of patients had CD at 6 wk. However, the association between peak percentage change in postoperative creatinine and CD (parameter estimate = -0.41; P = 0.91) or cognitive index (parameter estimate = -1.29; P = 0.46) was not significant. These data indicate that postcardiac surgery cognitive dysfunction, unlike stroke, is not associated with major increases in postoperative renal dysfunction. ⋯ We previously noted that patients with postcardiac surgery stroke also have greater acute renal injury than unaffected patients. However, in the same setting, we found no difference in renal injury between patients with and without cognitive dysfunction. Factors responsible for subtle postoperative cognitive dysfunction do not appear to be associated with clinically important renal effects.
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The use of succinylcholine in hyperkalemic patients (serum potassium >5.5 mEq/L) is often viewed as relatively contraindicated, although there are no systematic data to define what preoperative potassium level is safe. We retrospectively reviewed more than 40,000 general anesthetics administered over 70 mo in which succinylcholine was given at the induction. This search yielded 38 patients with a preoperative potassium of 5.6 mEq/L or greater. Survival of the anesthetic was 100%, and no dysrhythmias or other major morbidity were documented upon manual review of the intraoperative automated record keeper charts or the patient medical records. These data allow a 95% confidence interval assessment of maximal risk for an event of 7.9%, which is not negligible, but which almost certainly grossly overestimates the risk for patients with moderately increased potassium levels. A prospective trial to definitively assess the safety margin for succinylcholine use in hyperkalemic patients would be difficult. Therefore, these data, taken in the context of a compelling case for rapid intubating conditions without long-term paralysis, suggest safety in succinylcholine use in patients with modest hyperkalemia. ⋯ In a review of more than 40,000 general anesthetics in which succinylcholine was given at induction, 38 patients had a preoperative potassium of 5.6 mEq/L or greater. All patients survived the anesthetic with no dysrhythmias or other major morbidity documented. Succinylcholine may be appropriate and safe for use in certain patients with moderate hyperkalemia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2002
Case ReportsTemporary bilateral blindness after acute lidocaine toxicity.
This case report describes an uncommon complication (blindness) occurring after an inadvertent overdosage of a frequently used local anesthetic (lidocaine) during a regional anesthetic procedure. The discussion focuses on the suspected pathophysiology of the blindness.