Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Prophylactic intravenous ephedrine to minimize fetal bradycardia after combined spinal-epidural labour analgesia: a randomized controlled study.
The combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique for relief of labour pain offers both rapid onset and superior first-stage analgesia. Nevertheless, the known increased risk for early profound fetal bradycardia (EPFB) following CSE continues to be a concern that often limits its use. The purpose of this study was to determine if giving prophylactic intravenous ephedrine at the time of CSE administration would reduce EPFB. ⋯ We conclude that prophylactic intravenous ephedrine administration at the time of CSE during labour was ineffective at reducing the risk for EPFB associated with CSE. Nevertheless, a lower than expected rate of EPFB resulted in the trial being underpowered. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02062801.
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Regional anesthesia has been shown to improve outcomes in several recent studies. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block provides anesthesia to the abdominal wall by introducing local anesthetic to the ventral rami of the thoracolumbar nerves. This work quantifies the area of anesthesia obtained after performing the novel thoracolumbar interfascial plane block (analogous to the TAP block but intended for the back) which targets the sensory component of the dorsal rami of the thoracolumbar nerves. ⋯ This report shows that a reproducible area of anesthesia can be obtained by ultrasound-guided injection of local anesthetic in the fascial plane between the multifidus and longissimus muscles of the thoracolumbar spine. The area of anesthesia consistently covered the midline and had a predictable spread. This project was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02297191).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Ultrasound guidance versus direct palpation for radial artery catheterization by expert operators: a randomized trial among Canadian cardiac anesthesiologists.
The use of ultrasound (US) for radial arterial catheterization has been reported to result in faster insertion times with fewer complications when compared with traditional direct palpation (DP). We sought to determine if this applies to expert operators and tested the hypothesis that, among cardiac anesthesiologists, US-guided insertion similarly results in faster insertion times as well as fewer re-directs, attempts, and complications. ⋯ Among experienced cardiac anesthesiologists, the use of US to facilitate radial arterial catheterization did not affect insertion times, the number of re-directs, or the number of attempts when compared with DP. Ultrasound use had no significant effects on the rates of success on first attempt, failure, or hematoma formation. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02118441.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized controlled trial of light versus deep propofol sedation for elective outpatient colonoscopy: recall, procedural conditions, and recovery.
This study aimed to determine if the incidence of recall was equivalent between light and deep sedation for colonoscopy. Secondary analysis included complications, patient clinical recovery, and post-procedure cognitive impairment. ⋯ Light sedation was not equivalent to deep sedation for procedural recall, the spectrum of complications, or recovery times. This study provides evidence to inform discussions with patients about sedation for colonoscopy. This trial was registered at the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number 12611000320954.
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Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a major cause of anesthesia morbidity and mortality. Point-of-care gastric ultrasound provides information regarding the type and volume of gastric content. The hypothesis of this prospective cohort study was that the addition of point-of-care gastric ultrasound to standard patient assessment results in changes in anesthetic management in at least 30% of elective surgical patients who do not follow fasting instructions. ⋯ This prospective case series suggests that a standardized point-of care gastric ultrasound examination informs anesthesiologists' perceived level of aspiration risk and leads to changes in anesthetic management in a significant proportion of elective patients who did not follow fasting instructions.