European journal of anaesthesiology
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Hypotension after unilateral versus bilateral spinal anaesthesia: A Systematic review with meta-analysis.
Spinal anaesthesia is frequently used in surgical procedures involving the lower abdomen and extremities, however, the occurrence of hypotension remains a common and clinically important adverse effect. Unilateral spinal anaesthesia seems to be a promising approach to minimise this complication but the effectiveness of this remains controversial. ⋯ Unilateral spinal anaesthesia is associated with a significant reduction in the occurrence of hypotension, despite variations in the definition of hypotension, adjuvants, and site of surgery. These results favour the use of lateral spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing unilateral lower abdominal or lower limb surgery. However, the GRADE assessment of the quality of evidence was 'low' due to the high risk of bias and heterogeneity. All the results should be treated with caution.
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The management of peri-operative pain is one of the pillars of anaesthesia and is of particular importance in patients undergoing surgery for solid malignant tumours. Amongst several options, the most commonly employed analgesic regimens involve opioids, NSAIDs and regional anaesthesia techniques with different local anaesthetics. In recent years, several research reports have tried to establish a connection between peri-operative anaesthesia care and outcome after cancer surgery. ⋯ The reason for this might lie with the nature of tumour biology itself, and in the diversity of patient and tumour phenotypes. In a translational approach, future research should therefore concentrate on patient and tumour-related factors or biomarkers, which might either influence the tumour and its microenvironment or predict potential responses to interventions, including the choice of the analgesic. This might not only be relevant for the daily practice of clinical anaesthesia, but would also be of great importance for patients undergoing cancer surgery, who might be able to receive an individualised anaesthetic regimen based on their phenotypic profile.
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With the growing use of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) agonists as anti-obesity medication it is becoming increasingly important to examine its consequences in the peri-operative period. GLP-1R agonists are known for their effects of glucose-lowering and gastroparesis the latter causing some safety concerns regarding induction of anaesthesia, more specifically the risk of pulmonary aspiration. ⋯ Current evidence makes us assume there is indeed an increased level of gastroparesis, but there are no studies to date with evidential confirmation of a presumed elevated risk of pulmonary aspiration. Future perspectives should focus on the actual risk of pulmonary aspiration and the possible implementation of ultrasound in the preoperative assessment.
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Glucose management is an important component of peri-operative care. The usefulness of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in noncardiac surgery is uncertain. ⋯ Due to the limited number of controlled studies, the impact of CGM on postoperative glycaemic control and complications compared with point-of-care testing remains unknown. Variability in postoperative glycaemic profiles and a device dysfunction rate of 1 in 10 suggest CGM should be investigated in a targeted surgical group.
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Review Practice Guideline
Preoperative assessment of adults undergoing elective noncardiac surgery: Updated guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.
When considering whether a patient is fit for surgery, a comprehensive patient assessment represents the first step for an anaesthetist to evaluate the risks associated with the procedure and the patient's underlying diseases, and to optimise (whenever possible) the perioperative surgical journey. These guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (ESAIC) update previous guidelines to provide new evidence on existing and emerging topics that consider the different aspects of the patient's surgical path. ⋯ Each patient should have a tailored assessment of their fitness to undergo procedures requiring the involvement of an anaesthetist. The anaesthetist's role is essential in this phase to obtain a broad vision of the patient's clinical conditions, to coordinate care and to help the patient reach an informed decision.