Articles: postoperative.
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUltrasound-guided sciatic nerve block: a comparison between four different infragluteal probe and needle alignment approaches.
Our aim was compare onset time of sciatic nerve blockade (SNB) performed distal to the subgluteal fold using four different ultrasound (US)-guided approaches in patients undergoing foot or ankle surgery. ⋯ The LA-IP approach resulted in a rapid onset of SNB and was associated with the best satisfaction for postoperative analgesia in comparison with LA-OP, SA-IP, and SA-OP approaches for patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Aug 2014
Percentage hematocrit variation (phevar) index as a quality indicator of patient blood management in cardiac surgery.
Severe hemodilution and perioperative bleeding are determinants of hematocrit (HCT) variations in cardiac surgery patients. These variations may be direct determinants of bad outcomes, and may trigger allogeneic blood product transfusions, which are associated with morbidity and mortality. The present study introduces the Percentage HEmatocrit VARiation (PHEVAR) index as a tool to assess the quality of patient blood management (PBM) and to possibly guide specific interventions. ⋯ The PHEVAR index reflects HCT variations during 7 days of hospital stay in cardiac surgery patients, is associated with mortality and morbidity, and may be used as a quality index for PBM.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2014
Major complications of epidural anesthesia: a prospective study of 5083 cases at a single hospital.
We undertook a prospective study of non-obstetric epidurals placed in surgical inpatients at a single teaching hospital to evaluate the incidence of and potential risk factors for major complications of continuous epidural anesthesia. ⋯ Serious complications were very rare; only one patient had permanent sequelae, and a single epidural hematoma was diagnosed. Post-operative neurologic deficits were more common, but most complications resolved spontaneously within 3 months and they rarely required intervention.
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomised trial of oral versus intravenous opioids for treatment of pain after cardiac surgery.
Cardiac surgery and sternotomy are procedures accompanied by substantial postoperative pain which is challenging to treat. In general, intravenous (IV) opioids are used in the immediate postoperative phase, followed by oral opioids. Oral opioids are easier to use and generally less expensive. Our goal was thus to determine whether a new opioid preparation provides adequate analgesia after sternotomy. In particular, we tested the primary hypothesis that total opioid use (in morphine equivalents) is not greater with oral opioid compared with patient-controlled IV morphine. Our secondary hypothesis was that analgesic efficacy is similar with oral and IV opioids. ⋯ Analgesic quality was comparable with oral and IV opioids, suggesting that postoperative pain even after very painful procedures can be sufficiently managed with oral opioids.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Aug 2014
Observational StudyDynamic variables and fluid responsiveness in patients for aortic stenosis surgery.
Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular disease in developed countries, but it carries an increased mortality during non-cardiac surgery underscoring the importance of adequate hemodynamic management. Further, haemodynamic management of patients immediately after surgery for aortic stenosis can be challenging. Prediction of fluid responsiveness using dynamic variables has not been sufficiently studied in patients for aortic stenosis surgery. ⋯ The arterial pressure-based variables had moderate predictive values before valve replacement, but it predicted fluid responsiveness well postoperatively. Pleth variability index did not predict fluid responsiveness preoperatively, and it had a moderate predictive value postoperatively. These results indicate that arterial pressure-based dynamic variables have limited potential to guide fluid therapy in patients with aortic stenosis. Their ability to guide fluid therapy after aortic valve replacement seems better.