British journal of anaesthesia
-
Clinicians inevitably encounter patients who meet the diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MetS); these criteria include central obesity, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidaemia, and hyperglycaemia. Regardless of the variations in its definition, MetS may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients undergoing both cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. There is a paucity of data concerning the anaesthetic management of patients with MetS, and only a few observational (mainly retrospective) studies have investigated the association of MetS with perioperative outcomes. ⋯ Metabolic syndrome has also been related to increased health service costs, prolonged hospital stay, and a greater need for posthospitalization care. Therefore, physicians should be able to recognize the MetS in the perioperative period in order to formulate management strategies that may modify any perianaesthetic and surgical risk. However, further research is needed in this field.
-
Despite lack of paediatric labelling, contributions to the literature on paediatric applications of dexmedetomidine have increased over recent years. Dexmedetomidine possesses many properties that are advantageous for a sedative and anaesthetic; it has been reported to provide sedation that parallels natural sleep, anxiolysis, analgesia, sympatholysis, and an anaesthetic-sparing effect with minimal respiratory depression. ⋯ A comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic effects of dexmedetomidine is critical to maximize its safe, efficacious, and efficient paediatric perioperative applications. This review focuses on the current paediatric perioperative and periprocedural applications of dexmedetomidine and its limitations, with a consideration for the future.
-
Accumulated evidences from clinical trials and updated reviews suggest that the role of acupuncture in perioperative medicine extends beyond the classical scope of anaesthesia and has been underestimated. Perioperative acupuncture reduces not only the consumption of anaesthetics and analgesics, but also anaesthesia-related complications, and protects organs in the perioperative period. These beneficial effects make acupuncture a promising approach in perioperative management, especially with respect to enhanced surgery recovery and specific surgical populations, such as elderly patients and 'triple-low' patients. Furthermore, efforts have been made to optimize the clinical application of perioperative acupuncture.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Pregabalin and pain after total knee arthroplasty: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multidose trial†.
Pregabalin may reduce postoperative pain and opioid use. Higher doses may be more effective, but may cause sedation and confusion. This prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study tested the hypothesis that pregabalin reduces pain at 2 weeks after total knee arthroplasty, but increases drowsiness and confusion. ⋯ ClinicalTrials.gov: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01333956.