Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
Meta AnalysisInflammatory Biomarker Levels After Propofol or Sevoflurane Anesthesia: A Meta-analysis.
The perioperative inflammatory response may be implicated in adverse outcomes including neurocognitive dysfunction and cancer recurrence after oncological surgery. The immunomodulatory role of anesthetic agents has been demonstrated in vitro; however, its clinical relevance is unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare propofol and sevoflurane with respect to biomarkers of perioperative inflammation. The secondary aim was to correlate markers of inflammation with clinical measures of perioperative cognition. ⋯ Surgery induces an inflammatory response; however, the inflammatory response did not differ as a function of anesthetic technique. This absence of an effect suggests that patient and surgical variables may have a far more significant impact on the postoperative inflammatory responses than anesthetic technique. The majority of studies assessing perioperative cognition in older patients reported a benefit associated with the use of propofol; however, larger trials using homogenous outcomes are needed to demonstrate such an effect.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
Validation of the Lusaka Formula: A Novel Formula for Weight Estimation in Children Presenting for Surgery in Zambia.
In children, the use of actual weight or predicted weight from various estimation methods is essential to reduce harm associated with dosing errors. This study aimed to validate the new locally derived Lusaka formula on an independent cohort of children undergoing surgery at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, to compare the Lusaka formula's performance to commonly used weight prediction tools and to assess the nutritional status of this population. ⋯ The Lusaka formula is comparable to, or better than, other age-based weight prediction tools in children presenting for surgery at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, and has the advantage that it covers a wider age range than tools with comparable accuracy. In this population, commonly used aged-based prediction tools significantly overestimate weights.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
A Simple Risk Scoring System for Predicting the Occurrence of Aspiration Pneumonia After Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.
Aspiration pneumonia after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is rare, but can be fatal. We aimed to investigate risk factors and develop a simple risk scoring system for aspiration pneumonia. ⋯ Our simple risk scoring system has 8 predictors incorporating patient-, procedure-, and sedation-related factors. This system may help clinicians to stratify patients at risk of aspiration pneumonia after ESD.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
Leftover Opioid Analgesics and Disposal Following Ambulatory Pediatric Surgeries in the Context of a Restrictive Opioid-Prescribing Policy.
Opioid analgesics are commonly prescribed for postoperative analgesia following pediatric surgery and often result in leftover opioid analgesics in the home. To reduce the volume of leftover opioids and overall community opioid burden, the State of Tennessee enacted a policy to reduce initial opioid prescribing to a 3-day supply for most acute pain incidents. We aimed to evaluate the extent of leftover opioid analgesics following pediatric ambulatory surgeries in the context of a state-mandated restrictive opioid-prescribing policy. We also aimed to evaluate opioid disposal rates, methods of disposal, and reasons for nondisposal. ⋯ Despite Tennessee's policy aimed at reducing leftover opioids, a significant proportion of prescribed opioids were left over following pediatric ambulatory surgeries. A majority of parents did not engage in safe opioid disposal practices. Given the safety risks related to leftover opioids in the home, further interventions to improve disposal rates and tailor opioid prescribing are warranted after pediatric surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
Pro-Con Debate: Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays Should Replace Fixed Ratio Massive Transfusion Protocols in Trauma.
Major trauma patients at risk of traumatic coagulopathy are commonly treated with early clotting factor replacement to maintain hemostasis and prevent microvascular bleeding. In the United States, trauma transfusions are often dosed by empiric, low-ratio massive transfusion protocols, which pair plasma and platelets in some ratio relative to the red cells, such as the "1:1:1" combination of 1 units of red cells, 1 unit of plasma, and 1 donor's worth of pooled platelets. ⋯ VHAs are used at many centers to better target hemostatic therapies in trauma. This Pro/Con section will address whether VHA guidance should replace empiric fixed ratio protocols in major trauma.