Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2014
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis of ketamine for the prevention of persistent post-surgical pain.
While post-operative pain routinely resolves, persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) is common in certain surgeries; it causes disability, lowers quality of life and has economic consequences. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to evaluate the effectiveness of ketamine in reducing the prevalence and severity of PPSP and to assess safety associated with its use. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE through December 2012 for articles in any language. ⋯ The study data from our review are heterogeneous and demonstrate efficacy of intravenously administered ketamine only in comparison with placebo. Highly variable timing and dosing of ketamine in these studies suggest that no unifying effective regimen has emerged. Future research should focus on clinically relevant outcomes, should stratify patients with pre-existing pain and possible central sensitization and should enroll sufficiently large numbers to account for loss to follow-up in long-term studies.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2014
ReviewAdverse effects of perioperative paracetamol, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, gabapentinoids and their combinations: a topical review.
Post-operative pain affects millions of patients worldwide and the post-operative period has high rates of morbidity and mortality. Some of this morbidity may be related to analgesics. The aim of this review was to provide an update of current knowledge of adverse events (AE) associated with the most common perioperative non-opioid analgesics: paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids (GCCs), gabapentinoids and their combinations. ⋯ Importantly, data on AEs of combinations of the above analgesics are sparse and inconclusive. Despite the potential adverse events associated with the most commonly applied non-opioid analgesics, including their combinations, reporting of such events is sparse and confined to the immediate perioperative period. Knowledge of benefit and harm related to multimodal pain treatment is deficient and needs clarification in large trials with prolonged observation.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2014
Review Meta AnalysisPost-operative analgesic effects of paracetamol, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, gabapentinoids and their combinations: a topical review.
In contemporary post-operative pain management, patients are most often treated with combinations of non-opioid analgesics, to enhance pain relief and to reduce opioid requirements and opioid-related adverse effects. A diversity of combinations is currently employed in clinical practice, and no well-documented 'gold standards' exist. The aim of the present topical, narrative review is to provide an update of the evidence for post-operative analgesic efficacy with the most commonly used, systemic non-opioid drugs, paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)/COX-2 antagonists, glucocorticoids, gabapentinoids, and combinations of these. ⋯ Paracetamol, NSAIDs, selective COX-2 antagonists, and gabapentin all seem to have well-documented, clinically relevant analgesic properties. The analgesic effects of glucocorticoids and pregabalin await further clarification. Combination regimens are sparsely documented and should be further investigated in future studies.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2014
ReviewIndocyanine green plasma disappearance rate as dynamic liver function test in critically ill patients.
Indocyanine green (ICG) is a water-soluble fluorescent dye that is bound to plasma protein when administered intravenously. Removal of ICG from the blood depends on hepatic blood flow, function of the parenchymal cells and biliary excretion. ICG elimination is described as a useful dynamic liver function test. ⋯ In conclusion, measuring ICG-PDR is a valuable method for dynamic assessment of liver function, and is found to be a valuable prognostic tool in predicting survival for septic patients, patients presenting with acute liver failure and critically ill patients.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2014
Observational StudyEarly screening to identify patients at risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome.
To develop a screening tool to identify patients at risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) within 24 h of a patient's admission to intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ IAH is a common clinical entity in the intensive care setting that is associated with morbidity and mortality. A screening tool, based on data readily available within a patient's first 24 h in ICU, was developed and effectively identified patients that required intra-abdominal pressure monitoring.