British journal of anaesthesia
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Organophosphorus (OP) nerve agent poisoning made the headlines in 2018 with the nerve agent 'Novichok' poisonings in Salisbury, England. This event highlighted a gap in the knowledge of most clinicians in the UK. In response, this special article aims to enlighten and signpost anaesthetists and intensivists towards the general management of OP nerve agent poisoned patients. ⋯ The risk to medical staff from OP poisoned patients appears low, especially if there is a thorough decontamination of the poisoned patient and staff wear appropriate personal protective equipment. The events in Salisbury in the past year were shocking, and the staff at Salisbury District General Hospital performed admirably in treating those affected by Novichok nerve agent poisoning. We eagerly anticipate their future clinical publications so that the medical community might learn from their valuable experiences.
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Preoperative cardiac function is an important predictor of postoperative outcomes. Patients with heart failure are at higher risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Left ventricular ejection fraction, derived by standard echocardiography, is most frequently used to assess cardiac function in the intraoperative and postoperative periods. ⋯ Here, we provide an overview of myocardial strain and different methods used to evaluate strain, including speckle tracking echocardiography. Speckle tracking echocardiography is an imaging modality that can analyse and track small segments of the myocardium, which provides greater detail for assessing global and regional cardiac motion and function. We further review the literature to illustrate the value of speckle tracking echocardiography-derived myocardial strain in describing cardiac function and its association with adverse surgical outcomes in the perioperative period, including low cardiac output states, need for inotropic support, postoperative arrhythmias, subclinical myocardial ischaemia, and length of hospital stay.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Post-discharge impact and cost-consequence analysis of prehabilitation in high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: secondary results from a randomised controlled trial.
Prehabilitation may reduce postoperative complications, but sustainability of its health benefits and impact on costs needs further evaluation. Our aim was to assess the midterm clinical impact and costs from a hospital perspective of an endurance-exercise-training-based prehabilitation programme in high-risk patients undergoing major digestive surgery. ⋯ NCT02024776.
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Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been implicated in hyperalgesia by sensitising nociceptors. A role for NGF in modulating myocardial injury through ischaemic nociceptive signalling is plausible. We examined whether inhibition of spinal NGF attenuates myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury and explored the underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Spinal NGF contributes to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury by mediating nociceptive signal transmission.