Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2018
ReviewWhat is new in the battle against postoperative nausea and vomiting?
The issue of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) still poses a significant burden on our patients. Although rarely associated with a life-threatening condition, it is consistently considered as one of the most undesirable side effects of surgery and anesthesia. ⋯ Because pharmacologic interventions for PONV are not without risks, practitioners must assess patient's risk status from low to high and consider the benefits of treatment. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge related to PONV and provides a practical approach toward risk assessment, prevention, and numerous treatment strategies.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2018
ReviewNeuromuscular blockers and reversal agents and their impact on anesthesia practice.
Neuromuscular blockers have long been an intricate part of the anesthesia regimen. The scientific progress in pharmacology and physiology has strengthened their clinical relevance, has helped to delineate with precision their medical role, and has enhanced the safety and effectiveness of their use. New frontiers in research will define further the role of these agents in modern anesthesia practice and guide their expanding and discrete clinical applications.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2018
ReviewPerioperative implications of common and newer psychotropic medications used in clinical practice.
Psychotropic medications are widely prescribed by clinicians as both primary therapy for a variety of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and as adjunctive analgesics for use in the perioperative period. It is critical to understand various modes of action, drug-drug interactions, side effects, and clinical implications. ⋯ We will also discuss emerging psychotropic drugs and the challenges they may create during the perioperative period. Future direction of investigation into the role of these drugs during the perioperative period and implications is also discussed.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2018
ReviewNew antihypertensive medications and clinical implications.
Hypertension remains a global public health issue and is a leading preventable risk factor for many causes of mortality and morbidity. Although it is generally managed as an outpatient chronic disease, anaesthetists will inevitably encounter patients with hypertension, ranging from undiagnosed asymptomatic to chronic forms with end-organ damage(s). ⋯ Although many drugs are familiar, new drug groups that have relevance for blood pressure control and perioperative care have evolved in recent years. This article also describes new antihypertensive agents currently available or under development that could impact perioperative management.