Journal of clinical medicine
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Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist with concurrent sedative and analgesic effects, and it is being increasingly used in pediatric anesthesia and intensive care. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of intravenous dexmedetomidine in mechanically ventilated children in the intensive care unit (ICU) after neurosurgery. Pediatric patients aged 2-12 years, who were mechanically ventilated in ICU after neurosurgery, were allocated into a low-dose (n = 15) or high-dose (n = 14) group. ⋯ The population estimates (95% confidence interval) per 70 kg body weight were as follows: clearance of 81.0 (72.9-90.9) L/h, central volume of distribution of 64.2 (50.6-81.0) L, intercompartment clearance of 116.4 (90.6-156.0) L/h, and peripheral volume of distribution of 167 (132-217) L. No serious adverse reactions or hemodynamic changes requiring the discontinuation of dexmedetomidine were observed. Dexmedetomidine had increased clearance and volume of distribution in mechanically ventilated children in ICU after neurosurgery, thereby indicating the need to adjust the dosage to obtain a target plasma concentration.
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:Introduction: Tofacitinib is an oral JAK inhibitor indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The efficacy and safety of tofacitinib have been shown in several randomized clinical trials. The study presented here aimed to assess the clinical tolerability and effectiveness of tofacitinib among RA patients in real life. ⋯ Tofacitinib may induce high rates of LDA and remission in patients with active disease, even after the use of one or more biologics, though the rate appeared higher in patients naïve to biologics. Tofacitinib may be a valuable option in a treat-to-target approach. Our data demonstrate that Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are safe and efficacious in real life patients.
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The association between the choice of general anesthetic agents and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and long-term renal dysfunction after nephrectomy has not yet been evaluated. We reviewed 1087 cases of partial or radical nephrectomy. The incidence of postoperative AKI, new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CKD upstaging were compared between general anesthetic agent groups (propofol, sevoflurane, and desflurane). ⋯ However, subgroup analysis of partial nephrectomy showed a significant difference only in CKD upstaging. In conclusion, propofol, compared to volatile agents, could be a better general anesthetic agent for nephrectomy to attenuate postoperative renal dysfunction. However, limitations of the retrospective study design and inconsistent results of the subgroup analysis preclude firm conclusions.
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Review
Fibromyalgia and Shoulder Surgery: A Systematic Review and a Critical Appraisal of the Literature.
Fibromyalgia is a common musculoskeletal syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain and other systemic manifestations, which has demonstrated a contribution to higher postoperative analgesic consumption to other surgeries such as hysterectomies and knee and hip replacements. The aim of this review is to search current literature for studies considering the impact of fibromyalgia on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing shoulder surgery. A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov in February 2019. ⋯ One retrospective study showed that patients with fibromyalgia had worse clinical postoperative outcomes; two retrospective studies reported a higher opioid prescription in patients with fibromyalgia and one prospective observational study found that a higher fibromyalgia survey score correlated with lower quality of recovery scores two days after surgery. The scarce and low-quality evidence available does not allow confirming that fibromyalgia has an impact on postoperative outcomes in shoulder surgery. Future studies specifically focusing on shoulder surgery outcomes may help improvement and personalization of the management of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (PROSPERO 2019, CRD42019121180).
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Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of prostate cancer. RALP requires the patient to be placed in the steep Trendelenburg position, along with pneumoperitoneum, which may increase the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). This large single-center retrospective study evaluated the incidence and risk factors of PPCs in 2208 patients who underwent RALP between 2014 and 2017. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative complications, rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and duration of ICU stay were significantly greater in the PPC group than in the non-PPC group. In conclusion, the incidence of PPCs in patients who underwent RALP under pneumoperitoneum in the steep Trendelenburg position was 30.9%. Factors associated with PPCs included older age, higher body mass index, hypoalbuminemia, and lack of PEEP.