British journal of anaesthesia
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Multicenter Study
Perioperative Doppler ultrasound assessment of portal vein flow pulsatility in high-risk cardiac surgery patients: a multicentre prospective cohort study.
Portal vein Doppler ultrasound pulsatility measured by transoesophageal echocardiography is a marker of the haemodynamic impact of venous congestion in cardiac surgery. We investigated whether the presence of abnormal portal vein flow pulsatility is associated with a longer duration of invasive life support and postoperative complications in high-risk patients. ⋯ NCT03656263.
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Opioid analgesia is the cornerstone of anaesthetic management during cardiac surgery. However, a subset of patients use opioids persistently after three months of surgery. We discuss a recent meta-analysis and systematic review by Liu and colleagues describing both patient and peri-procedural risk factors that contribute to this phenomenon in the context of chronic pain after cardiac surgery. Anaesthetists for cardiac surgery should consider opioid alternatives and individual patient risk factors to optimise recovery and pain control.
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Acid-base status in full-term pregnant women is characterised by hypocapnic alkalosis. Whether this respiratory alkalosis is primary or consequent to changes in CSF electrolytes is not clear. ⋯ NCT03496311.
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Rapid elimination of remifentanil facilitates application of intense opioid effect during general anaesthesia whilst maintaining prompt emergence. Interruptions in remifentanil supply mean clinicians must relearn titration of pharmacokinetically longer-acting opioids to achieve appropriate levels of opioid effect whilst maintaining acceptable recovery times. Opioid-free anaesthesia is achievable for many minor and intermediate surgical procedures for which remifentanil might have been used previously.