Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2020
ReviewWrong-site nerve blocks: evidence-review and prevention strategies.
There has been increasing attention to wrong site medical procedures over the last 20 years. This review aims to provide a summary of the current understanding and recommendations for the prevention of wrong-site nerve blocks (WSNB). ⋯ Though the evidence is limited, it is recommended that a combination of multiple strategies should be employed to prevent WSNB. These include the use of preprocedural markings, well constructed checklists, time-out/stop-moments, and cognitive/physical aids. Effective implementation requires team education and engagement that empowers all team members to speak up as part of a culture of safety.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2020
ReviewInterventions to improve perioperative neurologic outcomes.
Few outcomes in surgery are as important to patients as that of their neurologic status. The purpose of this review is to discuss and categorize the most common perioperative neurologic complications. We will also discuss strategies to help prevent and mitigate these complications for our patients. ⋯ A thorough understanding of threats to patients' neurologic well-being is essential to excellent clinical practice.
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Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) may render patients at a risk of cerebral hypoperfusion with decreasing cerebral blood flow (CBF), and lead to postoperative neurological injury. On the basis of the literature in recent years, this review attempts to refine the definition of IOH and evaluate its impact on neurological outcomes. ⋯ Despite the lack of a known threshold value, IOH is a modifiable risk factor targeted to improve neurological outcomes. Ideal BP management is recommended in order to maintain target BP based on the monitoring of rScO2 or cerebral pressure autoregulation.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2020
ReviewHas the future arrived? Liposomal bupivacaine versus perineural catheters and additives for interscalene brachial plexus block.
Single injection interscalene block (ISB) provides effective analgesia for shoulder surgery. However, the duration of these is limited. This review summarizes the effectiveness of three potential means of extending the duration of analgesia: perineural infusion of local anesthetic agents, addition of adjuvant drugs to local anesthetics in single-injection nerve block, and utilization of liposomal bupivacaine in the surgical field or in the block itself. ⋯ Interscalene catheters, adjunctive drugs added to local anesthetics in single-injection interscalene brachial plexus blocks, or liposomal bupivacaine may be used to effectively prolong the duration of analgesia for shoulder surgery patients.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2020
ReviewCognitive declines after perioperative covert stroke: Recent advances and perspectives.
With the aging of the population, there are increasing number of aged patients who require surgical interventions. Perioperative covert stroke is emerging as an important health threat and social burden that could affect patients' long-term neurological outcomes. ⋯ The present review will summarize recent findings in perioperative covert stroke and highlight future perspectives of its early diagnosis and the impact of postoperative cognitive impairments.