Current opinion in anaesthesiology
-
Chronic pain is often accompanied by mood, sleep and cognitive complications affecting the patient's quality of life. This reviews aims to provide a synthesis of the recent clinical and preclinical findings concerning the chronic pain and mood disorder comorbidity. ⋯ The epidemiological studies report a high prevalence of mood disorders in patients with chronic pain, and these consequences of pain can be preclinically modeled. This comorbidity may be explained by shared morphological and functional alterations observed in both chronic pain and mood disorders. However, mechanistic studies also highlight differences in such alterations depending on the type of chronic pain. Better understanding of the genetic and environmental determinants of pain-induced mood disorders and of the various neurobiological bases of this comorbidity depending on the pain subtype could provide the clinician with important diagnosis and treatment tools. Such progress benefits from translational effort between clinical and preclinical research.
-
Sitting position to surgically approach posterior fossa disorder continues to be the first choice for some neurosurgical teams. We underwent a literature research for recent published studies involving neurosurgical patients operated on in this position. Preoperative evaluation, anesthetic technique, intraoperative monitoring, detection and treatment of venous or arterial air embolism episodes, and all the reported complications were recorded. ⋯ Sitting position for neurosurgical procedures may be a well tolerated approach for the patient if neurosurgeons and neuroanesthesiologists undergo a strict team protocol, including all necessary monitoring and meticulously followed.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2014
ReviewPostoperative ICU management of patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
This article reviews recent advances in the postoperative ICU management of patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), especially with regards to hemodynamic management, methods of improving neurological outcomes, and management of cardiac and pulmonary complications. ⋯ The postoperative ICU period after SAH is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality risk, and recent studies have greatly contributed to our understanding of how to optimally manage these patients.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2014
ReviewSpinal anesthesia revisited: toxicity of new and old drugs and compounds.
Neural toxicity of substances injected into the intrathecal space has been a matter of debate since the introduction of spinal anesthesia in clinical practice. In recent years, new local anesthetics and adjuvants have been proposed for intrathecal use, and new techniques such as the use of ultrasound have been propagated. The present review summarizes recent clinical and experimental data on the neurotoxic effects of drugs and substances used for or in conjunction with spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Clinical data suggest a high safety profile for intrathecal drugs and substances used for or in conjunction with spinal anesthesia. Recent experimental models for toxicity have provided further insight into the mechanisms and demonstrated possible, albeit clinically small differences in the relative neurotoxic potential of intrathecal drugs. This may contribute to a further increase in the safe use of spinal anesthesia in the clinical setting.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2014
ReviewDiagnosis, mechanisms and treatment of complex regional pain syndrome.
The incidence and disease course of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) has been unclear until recently. This was due to inconsistent diagnostic criteria used in previous studies and a lack of large-scale prospective datasets. Multiple mechanisms of CRPS have been suggested, and recent research has begun to explain how inflammation, the immune system and the autonomic nervous system may interact with aberrant central neuroplasticity to produce the clinical picture. This review summarizes progress in these fields. ⋯ Recent findings in diverse research fields suggest novel treatment options for CRPS: from targeting autoimmunity to correcting abnormal body image. Many of the advances in our understanding of CRPS have arisen from the development of collaborative research efforts, such as the TREND group in the Netherlands.