Minerva anestesiologica
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2020
ReviewHow do i manage cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia?
Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is the leading cause of mortality and disability in patients who survived the initial bleed of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Currently available guidelines are based on expert opinions derived from small observational studies due to the lack of randomized controlled trials. In this review, we will review some of the available literature and describe our local protocols for prophylaxis, risk stratification, monitoring in patients at risk, including multimodal invasive monitoring, and interventions measures in patients with DCI. These protocols are largely in line with the current guidelines but are deemed to evolve as ongoing and future trials provide stronger evidence to support interventions.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2020
ReviewContextualizing cardiac dysfunction in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
Acute cardiac injury incidence in COVID-19 is about 13 times higher in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/severely ill than in less critical patients. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities seem to be more prone to develop higher acuity of the infection, and myocardial injury has been reported amongst them in up to 15% of those hospitalized and up to 30% of ICU-admitted ones. The symptoms of over ischemia/heart failure may be challenging to distinguish as dyspnea and chest discomfort overlap with those due to COVID-19. ⋯ Moreover, the hyper-inflammation with endothelial dysfunction is likely be responsible of both pulmonary in-situ platelet aggregation and deep thrombosis potentially leading to severe pulmonary embolism and right ventricular failure. Besides the customary antithrombotic prophylaxis for critical patients, D-dimer levels and tighter coagulation monitoring are recommended and should guide the choice for anticoagulation treatment. We summarize the current knowledge regarding cardiovascular involvement in patient with COVID-19.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2020
ReviewBasic guide to chronic pain assessment: from neurophysiology to bedside.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a highly prevalent condition that is commonly encountered in both general and specialist practice. Nonetheless, it still represents a significant challenge to the practitioners because of the lack of substantial evidence-based guidance. This review aimed to summarize the main pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic pain offering a mechanism-oriented approach to diagnosis and management. ⋯ Neuropathic features include both negative signs, such as reduced perception of vibration and touch, and positive symptoms, such as paroxysmal electric shock pain, due to ectopic discharge. These phenomena are the neurobiological basis of the commonly defined refractory chronic pain. Early detection and specific treatment of these mechanisms are required in order to restrain the reinforcement of pronociceptive remodeling of the nervous system.