European journal of anaesthesiology
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Deep vs. moderate neuromuscular blockade during laparoscopic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Previous studies have reported that deep neuromuscular block (posttetanic-count 1 to 2 twitches) improves surgical conditions during laparoscopy compared with moderate block (train-of-four count: 1 to 2 twitches). However, comparisons of surgical conditions were made using different scales and assessment intervals with variable results. ⋯ Deep block was associated with excellent or good surgical rating more frequently than moderate block. However, this finding was not consistent on subgroup analyses based on frequencies of assessment of surgical conditions and abdominal pressure. Further studies are required to address the heterogeneity and power shortage demonstrated by the trial sequential analysis.
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Observational Study
Duration of the action of rocuronium in patients with BMI of less than 25: An observational study.
Duration of rocuronium action directly correlates with BMI.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Intra-operative cutaneous temperature monitoring with zero-heat-flux technique (3M SpotOn) in comparison with oesophageal and arterial temperature: A prospective observational study.
Continuous monitoring of core temperature is essential during major surgery as a way of improving patient safety. Oesophageal probes or specific arterial catheters are invasive methods used in this setting. A new noninvasive device based on zero-heat-flux (ZHF) technique (SpotOn) seems promising but has been poorly investigated during rapid core temperature changes (RCTC). ⋯ A SpotOn sensor using the ZHF method seems reliable for core temperature monitoring during abdominal surgery when variations in core temperature are slow rather than rapid.
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This meta-analysis (unsurprisingly) confirms that pre-operative troponin levels are post-operatively associated with both major adverse cardiac events and mortality risk.
This sounds obvious, why should we care?
First, there's a difference between evidence and that vague feeling we call common-sense that a disproportionate number of our clinical decisions are based upon.
Surgical patients are getting older and sicker. We need better tools for risk stratifying patients before surgery to improve perioperative planning. Most importantly (though not exclusively) reliably identifying biomarkers for risk allows closer postoperative surveillance and monitoring – which may alter outcomes.
Why troponin?
We already know that troponin I and T are markers of cardiac damage, and unlike brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin assays are readily available in most healthcare settings.
Ok, you convinced me... what did they find?
Analysing 10 studies totally 10,371 patients, they found an association between preoperative troponin elevation and MACE (OR 6.9), and short-term & long-term mortality (OR 4.2 & 2.5). Note though that the confidence intervals were quite wide.
There's always a but... the included studies were all observational in nature, used a variety of troponin assays, and the results were quite heterogenous across the 10. Most importantly, even assuming troponin is an accurate preop risk marker, we don't yet know whether that knowledge will allow us to alter outcomes for these patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Deep neuromuscular blockade and surgical conditions during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: A randomised, blinded study.
Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is a common surgical procedure. However, muscle contractions and general muscle tension may impair the surgical view and cause difficulties suturing the hernial defect. Deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) paralyses the abdominal wall muscles and may help to create better surgical conditions. ⋯ Deep compared with no NMB did not change the rating score of the surgical view immediately after introduction of trocars during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, but the surgical condition were improved during suturing of the hernia.