Anesthesia and analgesia
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyDetermination of Perioperative Blood Loss: Accuracy or Approximation?
Various different interventions can be used to reduce surgical blood loss; however, there is no "gold standard" for accurately measuring the volume of perioperative blood loss, and this makes it difficult to assess the efficacy of these interventions. ⋯ Formulas that take into account both anthropometric and laboratory parameters are useful for evaluating the efficacy of interventions aiming to decrease blood loss but do not ensure that the values obtained are sufficiently accurate for absolute measuring.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2017
ReviewNeuraxial Anesthesia in Obstetric Patients Receiving Thromboprophylaxis With Unfractionated or Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin: A Systematic Review of Spinal Epidural Hematoma.
Venous thromboembolism remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in obstetrics with an incidence of 29.8/100,000 vaginal delivery hospitalizations; cesarean delivery confers a 4-fold increased risk of thromboembolism when compared with vaginal delivery. Revised national guidelines now stipulate that the majority of women delivering via cesarean and women at risk for ante- or postpartum venous thromboembolism receive mechanical or pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. This practice change has important implications for obstetric anesthesiologists concerned about the risk of spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) among anticoagulated women receiving neuraxial anesthesia. ⋯ Although the very low level of evidence and high heterogeneity in these reports make it difficult to draw quantitative conclusions from this systematic review, it is encouraging that this comprehensive search did not identify a single case of SEH in an obstetric patient receiving thromboprophylaxis and neuraxial anesthesia. Analysis of large-scale registries (eg, the Anesthesia Incident Reporting System of the Anesthesia Quality Institute) with more granular clinical and pharmacological data is needed to assess the impact of these practice changes on obstetric SEH incidence. In the interim, optimal care of obstetric patients depends on multidisciplinary planning of anticoagulation dosing to facilitate neuraxial anesthesia and thoughtful weighing of the relative risks and benefits of providing versus withholding neuraxial in favor of general anesthesia.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialClosed-Loop Feedback Computer-Controlled Phenylephrine for Maintenance of Blood Pressure During Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Trial Comparing Automated Boluses Versus Infusion.
We previously described the use of closed-loop feedback computer-controlled infusion of phenylephrine for maintaining blood pressure (BP) during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. In this study, we report a modified system in which phenylephrine is delivered by intermittent boluses rather than infusion. We hypothesized that the use of computer-controlled boluses would result in more precise control of BP compared with infusions. ⋯ We confirmed the hypothesis that BP control was more precise when computer-controlled phenylephrine was delivered using intermittent boluses rather than continuous infusion. However, the difference between groups was small and was not associated with any difference in clinical outcomes. In the infusion group, greater doses of phenylephrine were delivered, which was related to the time taken for the noninvasive BP monitor to complete measurements. The use of intermittent boluses may be a useful alternative in the design of closed-loop vasopressor systems.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2017
Observational StudyDevelopment of Education and Research in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: A Descriptive Observational Study.
Data from 2006 show that the practice of anesthesia at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia was underdeveloped by international standards. Not only was there inadequate provision of resources related to environment, equipment, and drugs, but also a severe shortage of staff, with no local capability to train future physician anesthetic providers. There was also no research base on which to develop the specialty. This study aimed to evaluate patient care, education and research to determine whether conditions had changed a decade later. ⋯ The establishment of international partnerships to support postgraduate training of physician anesthetists in Zambia has created a significant increase in the number of anesthesia providers and has further developed nearly all aspects of anesthetic practice. The facilitation of the training program by a global health partnership has leveraged high-level support for the project and provided opportunities for North-South and international learning.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2017
Multicenter StudyBispectral Index Can Reliably Detect Deep Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Validation Study.
Excessively deep sedation is prevalent in mechanically ventilated patients and often considered suboptimal. We hypothesized that the bispectral index (BIS), a quantified electroencephalogram instrument, would accurately detect deep levels of sedation. ⋯ Combining baseline and stimulated BIS may help detect deep sedation in mechanically ventilated patients.