Minerva anestesiologica
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Palliative sedation (PS), the medical act of decreasing a patient's awareness to relieve otherwise intractable suffering, is considered by some commentators to be controversial because of its consequences on residual survival and/or quality of life, and to be inappropriate for treating pure existential suffering. We will argue that PS must be always proportional, i.e. controlling refractory symptoms while keeping the loss of personal values (communication, affective relationships, care relationship) as low as possible, and that imminence of death is necessary too, from an ethical point of view, if a deep and continuous sedation (DCS) is proposed. ⋯ The use of progressive consent and advance care planning to share the decision with the patient and to involve the family in the decision process as much as the patient desires is another ethical aspect to be pursued. Producing, implementing and sustaining guidelines at the higher scientific and professional level promise to help in improving both clinical and ethical aspects of the practice of PS.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2017
Meta AnalysisRisk of spontaneous fungal peritonitis (SFP) in hospitalized cirrhotic patients with ascites: a systematic review of observational studies and meta-analysis.
Spontaneous fungal peritonitis (SFP) is an infection of ascitic fluid occurring in cirrhotic patients. SFP prevalence varies from 0% to 41% of patients with spontaneous peritonitis (SP) and a positive ascitic fluid culture. Cirrhotic patients with SFP who fail to show improvement with empirical antibiotic therapy, before the identification of the fungal pathogen, have high mortality (89.5-100%). Although the weight of the disease is so dramatic, more recent guidelines on infections in cirrhosis do not consider SFP management. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between hospitalization (at least 48-72 hours after admission) and risk of SFP. ⋯ This meta-analysis suggests that hospitalization is related to a significant increase of SFP risk.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyPropofol-dexmedetomidine versus propofol-remifentanil conscious sedation for awake craniotomy during epilepsy surgery.
Conscious sedation during awake craniotomy requires balanced anesthesia technique to achieve optimum sedation and analgesia. This technique should be done without causing respiratory depression or loss of consciousness. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of propofol-dexmedetomidine versus propofol-remifentanil conscious sedation during awake craniotomy for epilepsy surgery. ⋯ Propofol-dexmedetomidine combination is as effective as propofol-remifentanil combination but with fewer side effects for conscious sedation during awake craniotomy for epilepsy surgery.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2017
Multicenter StudyEffects of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on intraoperative autonomic nervous system control of hemodynamics.
Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy induces hemodynamic changes that have been supposed due to autonomic nervous system activity. The aim of this study is to measure the sympathetic and vagal modulation on hemodynamic response to steep Trendelenburg and pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic surgery. ⋯ Hemodynamic changes occurring during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy reveal autonomic response to the challenges (i.e. general anesthesia and head down position), and non-neurally mediated increase of arterial pressure caused by pneumoperitoneum. This study supports the notion that during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy the association between the vagal stimulation due to Trendelenburg positioning and sympathetic withdrawal caused by general anesthesia could lead to severe bradycardia and cardiac arrest in risky patients.