Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2023
ReviewImplementing change in the care of the complex cardiac patient.
Development of advanced and minimally invasive surgical procedures is providing treatment opportunities to older and higher risk patients. This has also led to highly specialized physicians and a need for better communication and planning with the patients and within the care team. ⋯ In this review, we discuss the concepts of shared decision making (SDM) and implementation science in the context of the complex cardiac patient. We also review the most recent evidence for their use in cardiac surgery. We argue that a team model not only bridges knowledge gaps but provides a multidisciplinary environment for the practice of SDM and implementation of evidence-based practices. Be believe this will provide patients with a better experience as they navigate their care and improve their medical outcomes as well.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2023
ReviewMeasures to prolong duration of sensory block after regional anaesthesia.
The duration of single-injection regional anaesthesia is limited due to the inherent pharmacological properties of local anaesthetics. The ideal duration of a regional anaesthesia block lasting for the first 24 h postoperatively can be stated, while a residual analgesic effect thereafter is desirable.The aim of this review is to present current options to prolong the duration of action of single-injection peripheral regional anaesthesia in the ambulatory setting. Secondly, this review outlines and discusses the latest evidence regarding the clinical use of adjuvants and sustained-release local anaesthetics. ⋯ In conclusion, adjuvants are the recommended measure to prolong regional anaesthesia where needed. With good evidence supporting it, dexamethasone is the most effective adjuvant, followed by dexmedetomidine. Both have few side effects and a favourable safety profile. However, a preferable duration of analgesia lasting for the first 24 h postoperatively is still not reliably achievable.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2023
ReviewLung transplantation for coronavirus disease 2019 associated severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The purpose of this review is to analyze the most recent and relevant literature involving lung transplantation for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the pathological mechanisms of lung injury, selection criteria and outcomes. ⋯ Lung transplantation after COVID-19 ARDS is a potentially life-saving procedure for appropriately selected patients with no evidence of lung function recovery despite maximal treatment. Lung transplantation should be ideally performed in high-volume centers with expertise.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2023
ReviewCardiac surgery, ICU sedation, and delirium: is dexmedetomidine the silver bullet.
Delirium is a marker of acute brain insufficiency and a harbinger of poor outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Despite success preventing delirium by nonpharmacologic measures, the incidence in the postcardiac surgical ICU population remains high. Dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2 agonist, is a plausible preventive agent with sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, sympatholytic and anti-inflammatory properties, and is the subject of very active study in cardiac surgery populations. ⋯ Although using dexmedetomidine to prevent delirium in unselected cardiac surgical patients is not supported by current evidence, there remains hope that it may offer benefits in highly selected populations, and further trials are ongoing.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2023
ReviewPresurgical radiation and chemotherapy in preparation for thoracic tumor resection.
This article aims at describing the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy as well the novel immunotherapy and targeted therapy in thoracic oncology with focus on anesthetic considerations of such treatments for the surgical patient. ⋯ Rather than a comprehensive review, the purpose of this work is to provide the reader with an overview of the most common neoadjuvant regimens used in current practice, with the corresponding most prevalent adverse effects as it pertains for patients with esophageal and lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and mediastinal tumors. Considerations relevant to the anesthesiologist, including specific toxicities related to each treatment type, and the impact of each treatment type on perioperative outcomes and complications will be discussed.