Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
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Postdural puncture headache is the most common major complication following neuraxial anesthesia; this adverse event is particularly frequent in obstetrics. The headache is usually benign and self-limited but if left untreated can lead to more serious complications that may be life-threatening. Many treatments and prophylactic measures have been suggested, but evidence supporting them is scarce in many cases. ⋯ Once symptoms begin, treatment is conservative for the first 24 hours. If this approach fails, the most effective intervention continues to be a blood patch, which should not be delayed beyond 24 to 48 hours in order to avoid suffering. If more blood patches are required, other possible causes of headache should be ruled out.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Nov 2011
Review[Anesthesia in the patient with impaired liver function].
We review information on impaired liver function, focusing on concepts relevant to anesthesia and postoperative recovery. The effects of impaired function are analyzed by systems of the body, with attention to the complications the patient with liver cirrhosis may develop according to type of surgery. Approaches to correcting coagulation disorders in the cirrhotic patient are particularly controversial because an increase in volume may be a factor in bleeding owing to increased portal venous pressure and imbalances in the factors that favor or inhibit coagulation. ⋯ Patients in Child class A are at moderate risk and surgery is therefore not contraindicated. Patients in Child class C or with a MELD score over 20, on the other hand, are at high risk and should not undergo elective surgical procedures. Abdominal surgery is generally considered to put patients with impaired liver function at high risk because it causes changes in hepatic blood flow and increases intraoperative bleeding because of high portal venous pressures.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Nov 2011
Multicenter Study[Risk factors for postoperative acute kidney injury in a cohort of 2378 patients from 59 hospitals].
To assess risk factors for postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in adults with normal renal function hospitalized for major surgery. To analyze mortality and length of hospital stay in patients who develop postoperative AKI. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative AKI was slightly over 1%. Knowledge of postoperative AKI risk factors can facilitate the planning of surgical interventions and anesthesia to reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality and length of hospital stay.