Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2014
ReviewDelirium and sleep disturbances in the intensive care unit: can we do better?
Delirium in the ICU affects as many as 60-80% of mechanically ventilated patients and a smaller but substantial percentage of other critically ill patients. Poor sleep quality has been consistently observed in critically ill patients. These problems are associated with worse ICU outcomes and, in many cases, delirium and poor sleep quality may be related. This review will summarize the recent literature relevant to both the problems and provide a potential pathway toward improvement. ⋯ It is our responsibility to apply the best available, evidence-based medicine to our practice. Adherence to new guidelines for the treatment of pain, agitation, and delirium may be the best pathway toward reducing delirium, improving sleep quality, and improving related outcomes.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2014
Review'New' direct oral anticoagulants in the perioperative setting.
Out of the anesthetist's perspective, some uncertainties remain with the perioperative management of the so-called NOACs. This review emphasizes on the question of bleeding and thromboembolic risk as well as the management of bleedings and the discontinuing intervals in the context of regional anesthesia. ⋯ NOACs like dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban are effective alternatives to warfarin in primary and secondary prophylaxis of thromboembolic conditions. In the perioperative setting, some uncertainties and evidence gaps remain in estimating the bleeding risks associated with surgical procedures, emergency trauma and neuroaxial anesthesia. A discontinuation of NOACs should be at least 1 day before elective operation. Renal and liver impairment, older age, or co-medications could afford longer intervals. As no specific reversal agents are yet available for life-threatening bleeding or emergency surgery; nonspecific prohemostatic therapies are mainly recommended. Oral charcoal, application of tranexamic acid or hemodialysis could bring additional benefit depending on the individual NOAC. Practitioners need to be aware that NOACs can interfere in different pathways with the measurement of common hemostasis parameters. Estimating the bleeding risks and reversal strategies requires careful evaluation also in the light of a potential risk of thromboembolic complications. In difference to warfarin, 'bridging' concepts are not generally recommended for NOACs.
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In the last decade, there has been a rapid development in new endovascular treatment options for cerebral aneurysms. These techniques have their own inherent risk and can be challenging for the attending anesthetist. ⋯ The different endovascular techniques relevant to the anesthetist, the anesthetic options and complications that can occur during endovascular treatment of these patients will be discussed. This article can be a guidance to the anesthesiologist attending endovascular procedures for cerebral aneurysms.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2014
ReviewRole of novel drugs in sedation outside the operating room: dexmedetomidine, ketamine and remifentanil.
Progress in medical technology, diagnostic procedures and imaging techniques results in a growing demand for well tolerated sedation regimens, devoid of respiratory and haemodynamic complications. Moreover, rapid turnover time dictates the need for rapid onset of effect and rapid recovery. Recent literature regarding the use of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and remifentanil for sedation outside the operating room is reviewed. As procedural sedation is often performed by nonanaesthesiologists, articles from journals other than anaesthesiology journals are also included. ⋯ Recent literature is reviewed regarding dexmedetomidine, ketamine and remifentanil for its use outside the operating room. Sedationists have to keep in mind the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the currently used agents in adults and children.