Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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The particular fields within patient blood management (PBM) and patient safety reviewed here include novel insights into bleeding therapy, autologous cell salvage, and perioperative anemia therapy. ⋯ PBM should be further implemented in more hospitals. Emicizumab and Mim8 are indicated in acquired hemophilia or hemophilia A with inhibitors. TXA was confirmed to reduce bleeding. Autologous cell salvage is state of the art to reduce transfusion requirements in major cardiac and noncardiac surgery. Serum phosphate concentrations should be monitored after administration of intravenous iron compounds.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2022
ReviewRegional anaesthesia: what surgical procedures, what blocks and availability of a "block room"?
With an expected rise in day care procedures with enhanced recovery programs, the use of specific regional anaesthesia can be useful. In this review, we will provide insight in the used regional block and medication so far known and its applicability in a day care setting. ⋯ Regional anaesthesia has proven to be beneficial in ambulatory setting. Several short acting local anaesthetics are favourable over bupivacaine in the day care surgery. And if available, there are reports of the benefit of an additional block room used in a parallel (monitored) care of patients.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2022
ReviewExtension of patient safety initiatives to perioperative care.
Patient safety has significantly improved during the intraoperative period thanks to the anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurses. Nowadays, it is within the perioperative period where most of the preventable harm happened to the surgical patient. We aim to highlight the main issues and efforts to improve perioperative patient safety focusing and the relation to intraoperative safety strategies. ⋯ Any patient safety strategy to be implemented needs to be framed beyond the operating room and include in the intervention the whole perioperative period.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2022
ReviewAmbulatory anesthesia and discharge: an update around guidelines and trends.
Provide an oversight of recent changes in same-day discharge (SDD) of patient following surgery/anesthesia. ⋯ The increasing adoption of enhanced protocols, including the entire perioperative care bundle, in combination with increased use of minimally invasive surgical techniques have shortened hospital stay. More intermediate procedures are today transferred to ambulatory pathways; SDD or overnight stay only. The traditional scores for assessing discharge eligibility are however still valid. Stable vital signs, awake and oriented, able to ambulate with acceptable pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting are always needed. Drinking and voiding must be acknowledged but mandatory. Escort and someone at home the first night following surgery are strongly recommended. Explicit information around postoperative care and how to contact healthcare in case of need, as well as a follow-up call day after surgery, are likewise of importance. Mobile apps and remote monitoring are techniques increasingly used to improve postoperative follow-up.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2022
ReviewChecklists and cognitive aids: underutilized and under-researched tools to promote patient safety and optimize clinician performance.
Checklists and other cognitive aids serve multiple purposes in the peri-operative setting and have become nearly ubiquitous in healthcare. This review lays out the evidence for their use, shortcomings and pitfalls to be aware of, and how technology and innovation may improve checklist and cognitive aid relevance and usability. ⋯ Cognitive aids like checklists are powerful tools in the perioperative and critical care setting. Further research and innovation may elevate what is possible by improving the usability and relevance of these tools, possibly translating into improved patient outcomes.