Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2020
ReviewEnhanced recovery after surgery and practical application to liver transplantation.
There is a growing support for the use of protocols that incorporate multiple steps aimed at reducing the time patients require to regain health. A recurring limitation is the variable outcomes of these protocols with more or less success at the sites at which they are instituted. This review examines the essential building blocks needed to launch a successful ERAS protocol. It addresses why there are differences in outcome measures between centers such as the length of stay and the cost of care even if the protocols and patient populations are similar.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2020
ReviewCoagulation, hemostasis, and transfusion during liver transplantation.
Liver disease is associated with complex disturbances of hemostasis that affect both the pro- and anticoagulant systems. This results in a "rebalanced" coagulation system that may result in bleeding diathesis or increased clot formation. ⋯ Specific recommendations for transfusion of platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and fibrinogen as well as factor concentrates are discussed. In general transfusion should not only be guided by laboratory values but it also includes a clinical assessment of clot formation.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2020
ReviewAnesthesia for combined liver-thoracic transplantation.
The combined transplantation of a thoracic organ and the liver is performed in patients with dual-organ failure in whom survival is not expected with single-organ transplantation alone. Although uncommonly performed, the number of combined liver-lung and liver-heart transplants is increasing. ⋯ Major blood loss, prolonged operation time, difficult weaning of cardiopulmonary bypass and coagulation disturbances are common. Despite the complexity of surgery, the outcome is comparable to single-organ transplant.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2020
ReviewUpper extremity regional anesthesia techniques: A comprehensive review for clinical anesthesiologists.
Surgeries and chronic pain states of the upper extremity are quite common and pose unique challenges for the clinical anesthesiology and pain specialists. Most innervation of the upper extremity involves the brachial plexus. ⋯ Additional regional anesthetic techniques for upper extremity surgery include wrist, intercostobrachial, and digital nerve blocks, which are most frequently performed using landmark anatomical techniques. This review provides a comprehensive summary of each of these blocks including anatomy, best practice techniques, and potential complications.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2020
ReviewPreoperative cardiac assessment in liver transplant candidates.
New and extended indications, older age, higher cardiovascular risk, and the long-standing cirrhosis-associated complications mandate specific skills for an appropriate preoperative assessment of the liver transplant (LT) candidate. The incidence of cardiac diseases (dysrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease) are increasing among LT recipients: however, no consensus exists among clinical practice guidelines for cardiovascular screening and risk stratification. ⋯ The aim is to find an appropriate and rational stepwise algorithm. The final commitment is to select the right candidate for a finite resource, the graft, able to save (and change) lives.