British journal of anaesthesia
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Retracted Publication
Discharge of postoperative patients with an opioid prescription is associated with increased persistent opioid use, healthcare expenditures and mortality: a retrospective cohort study.
The risk factors for persistent opioid use after surgical discharge and the association between opioid prescription at discharge and postoperative emergency department visits, readmission, and mortality are unclear. ⋯ In this large cohort of patients undergoing surgery, an opioid prescription on discharge was associated with a higher chance of persistent opioid use and increased risks of postoperative emergency department visits, readmission, and mortality. Minimising opioid prescriptions on discharge could improve perioperative patient outcomes.
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Review Meta Analysis
Impact of female sex on anaesthetic awareness, depth, and emergence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Suggested anaesthetic dose ranges do not differ by sex, likely because of limited studies comparing sexes. Our objective was to systematically synthesise studies with outcomes of unintended anaesthesia awareness under anaesthesia, intraoperative connected consciousness, time to emergence from anaesthesia, and dosing to achieve adequate depth of anaesthesia, and to compare between females and males. ⋯ PROSPERO CRD42022336087.
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Review Meta Analysis
Intraoperative use of balanced crystalloids versus 0.9% saline: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled studies.
The evidence regarding optimal crystalloid use in the perioperative period remains unclear. As the primary aim of this study, we sought to summarise the data from RCTs examining whether use of balanced crystalloids compared with 0.9% saline (saline) leads to differences in patient-important outcomes. ⋯ CRD42022367593.
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Major cardiac surgery related blood loss is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Platelet dysfunction is believed to contribute to post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-induced microvascular bleeding. We hypothesised that moderately hypothermic CPB induces platelet dysfunction and that supplemental fibrinogen can restore in vitro thrombus formation. ⋯ Single valve surgery using moderately hypothermic CPB induces partial platelet dysfunction. Thrombus formation was restored in an experimental study design by ex vivo supplementation of fibrinogen.
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Editorial Comment
Patient blood management programmes: keeping the ball rolling.
Patient blood management programmes have been endorsed by the World Health Organization and multiple medical societies. It seems important to review the progress and results of patient blood management programmes so necessary modifications or new initiatives can be added to achieve their major goals. In this issue of the British Journal of Anaesthesia, Meybohm and colleagues show that a nationwide patient blood management programme had an impact and was potentially cost-effective in centres that previously utilised large amounts of allogeneic blood transfusions. Before implementing a programme, each institution might need to identify the area(s) of deficiency with respect to established patient blood management methods, which will warrant specific focus in subsequent clinical practice reviews.