Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2022
Review Meta AnalysisSalted or sweet? Hypertonic saline or mannitol for treatment of intracranial hypertension.
The aim of this review article is to present current recommendations regarding the use of hypertonic saline and mannitol for the treatment of intracranial hypertension. ⋯ Identifying and treating increased intracranial pressure is imperative in neurocritical care settings and proper management is essential to improve long-term outcomes. Currently, there is insufficient evidence from comparative studies to support a formal recommendation on the use of any specific hyperosmolar medication in patients with acute increased intracranial pressure.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2022
ReviewRegional anesthesia and analgesia for trauma: an updated review.
This narrative review is an updated summary of the value of regional anesthesia and analgesia for trauma and the special considerations when optimizing pain management and utilizing regional analgesia for acute traumatic pain. ⋯ Our ability to save life and limb has improved, but our ability to manage acute traumatic pain continues to lag. Understanding trauma-specific concerns and tailoring the analgesia to a patient's specific injuries can increase a patient's immediate comfort and long-term outcome as well.
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Complex spinal surgery is associated with significant postoperative pain. The purpose of this paper is to review recent literature on postoperative pain management in adult and adolescent patients having complex spinal surgery. ⋯ Pain management after complex spinal surgery remains challenging. Therefore, further studies are still required to determine the optimal multimodal analgesic regimen for these patients.
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The aim of this review is to provide a practical and updated summary on healthcare-associated central nervous system infections and their management. ⋯ Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for healthcare-associated central nervous system infections in patients with specific risk factors (i.e. recent neurosurgery, cerebrospinal shunts, drains or implantable devices, head/spinal traumatic events), taking into account systemic signs, and alterations in microbiological, imaging, cerebrospinal fluid findings. The diagnosis is often difficult to confirm because of reduced levels of consciousness or coma. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative (often multidrug-resistant or even pandrug-resistant) microorganisms may be the cause. Selection of antibiotics must consider susceptibility and penetration into the central nervous system. Ineffective treatments are frequent, and mortality can reach 60%. Future research should focus on the diagnostic performance of biomarkers and on the use of novel antimicrobial regimens, especially for the treatment of difficult to treat infections.
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The development of truncal and fascial plane blocks has created novel opportunities to apply regional analgesic techniques to patients undergoing spine surgery. This review will summarize recent literature devoted to evaluating candidate blocks for spine surgery, including erector spinae plane block, thoracolumbar interfascial plane block, midpoint transverse process to pleura block, and transversus abdominis plane block. Procedure-specific effects of blocks on patient and healthcare system outcomes will be presented and gaps in care and knowledge will be highlighted. ⋯ Our understanding of the risks, benefits, and value of truncal and fascial plane blocks for spine surgery cohorts is evolving. Although the results derived from this body of literature are encouraging, further research is required before the widespread adoption of specified blocks into spine care can be recommended.