Anesthesia and analgesia
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2021
Postoperative Hematocrit and Adverse Outcomes in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society Database Collaboration.
We sought to examine potential associations between pediatric postcardiac surgical hematocrit values and postoperative complications or mortality. ⋯ High hematocrit on arrival to the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with increased operative mortality and major complications in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2021
Comparative StudyAcute Visceral Pain in Rats: Vagal Nerve Block Compared to Bupivacaine Administered Intramuscularly.
Visceral and parietal peritoneum layers have different sensory innervations. Most visceral peritoneum sensory information is conveyed via the vagus nerve to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). We already showed in animal models that intramuscular (i.m.) injection of local anesthetics decreases acute somatic and visceral pain and general inflammation induced by aseptic peritonitis. The goal of the study was to compare the effects of parietal block, i.m. bupivacaine, and vagotomy on spinal cord and NTS stimulation induced by a chemical peritonitis. ⋯ In rats receiving intraperitoneal carrageenan, i.m. bupivacaine similarly inhibited c-Fos and microglial activation both in cord and in the NTS. Vagal block inhibited activation only in the NTS. Our study underlines the role of the vagus nerve in the transmission of an acute visceral pain message and confirmed that systemic bupivacaine prevents noxious stimuli. This emphasizes the effects of systemic local anesthetics on inflammation and visceral pain.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of Local Anesthetic Volume (Standard Versus Low) on Incidence of Hemidiaphragmatic Paralysis and Analgesic Quality for Ultrasound-Guided Superior Trunk Block After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery.
Relative to interscalene block, superior trunk block (STB) provides comparable analgesia and a reduced risk of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. However, the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis remains high when a standard volume (15 mL) of local anesthetic is used. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of local anesthetic volume of STB on the incidence of phrenic nerve palsy, as well as its analgesic efficacy following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. ⋯ Low-volume STB provided a lower incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis with no significant difference in analgesic efficacy relative to standard-volume STB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2021
Observational StudyDay-of-Surgery Gabapentinoids and Prolonged Opioid Use: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Medicare Patients Using Electronic Health Records.
While preoperative gabapentinoids are commonly used in surgical multimodal analgesia protocols, little is known regarding the effects this therapy has on prolonged postsurgical opioid use. In this observational study, we used data from a large integrated health care system to estimate the association between preoperative day-of-surgery gabapentinoids and the risk of prolonged postsurgical opioid use. ⋯ In a large integrated health system, we did not find evidence that preoperative gabapentinoids were associated with reduced risk of prolonged opioid use in patients undergoing a broad range of surgeries.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2021
A Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Pivot: Development of the American Board of Anesthesiology's Virtual APPLIED Examination.
In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic interrupted the administration of the APPLIED Examination, the final part of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) staged examination system for initial certification. In response, the ABA developed, piloted, and implemented an Internet-based "virtual" form of the examination to allow administration of both components of the APPLIED Exam (Standardized Oral Examination and Objective Structured Clinical Examination) when it was impractical and unsafe for candidates and examiners to travel and have in-person interactions. This article describes the development of the ABA virtual APPLIED Examination, including its rationale, examination format, technology infrastructure, candidate communication, and examiner training. Although the logistics are formidable, we report a methodology for successfully introducing a large-scale, high-stakes, 2-element, remote examination that replicates previously validated assessments.