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Liver transplantation (LT) is frequently complicated by coagulopathy associated with end-stage liver disease, which is often multifactorial and associated with hemostatic disturbances affecting both the procoagulant and anticoagulant systems. This rebalanced coagulation system may lead to bleeding diathesis or increased clot formation. Conventional coagulation tests cannot reflect these complex changes because they can only illustrate deficiencies in the procoagulant system. Viscoelastic tests such as rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) have been used in LT and have shown useful for detecting coagulopathy and guiding transfusions. Implementation of ROTEM-guided bleeding management algorithms has proven effectiveness in reducing bleeding, transfusion needs, complication rates, and healthcare costs in LT. This document is intended to provide a practice algorithm for the management of major bleeding and coagulopathy during LT and to encourage adaptation of the guidelines to individual institutional circumstances and resources.

Background: Reducing anesthesia-controlled time (ACT) such as extubation time may improve operation room (OR) efficiency result from different anesthetic techniques. However, the information about the difference in ACT between desflurane (DES) anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) techniques for open liver resection under general anesthesia is not available in the literature., Methods: This retrospective study uses our hospital database to analyze the ACT of open liver resection after either DES/fentanyl-based anesthesia or TIVA via target-controlled infusion (TCI) with fentanyl/propofol from January 2010 to December 2011. The various time intervals including waiting for anesthesia time, anesthesia time, surgical time, extubation time, exit from OR after extubation, total OR time, and post-anesthetic care unit stay time and percentage of prolonged extubation (≥ 15 minutes) were compared between the two anesthetic techniques., Results: We included 143 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, with 82 patients receiving TIVA and 61 patients receiving DES. The extubation time was faster (10.1 ± 3.2 min vs. 11.8 ± 5.2 min; P = 0.03), and the incidence of prolonged extubation was lower (9.8% vs. 26.8%; P = 0.02) in the DES group than in the TIVA group. The factors contributed to prolonged extubation were age, sex, anesthetic technique, and anesthesia time., Conclusion: The DES anesthesia provided faster extubation time and lower incidence of prolonged extubation compared with propofol-based TIVA by TCI in elective open liver resection. Besides, older age, male, TIVA, and lengthy anesthesia time were factors affecting prolonged extubation.

Background: The incidence of nasal secretions into the operative field is as high as 5% in ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia. It may induce postoperative endophthalmitis. Secretions under propofol-based total intravanous anesthesia (TIVA) are greater than sevoflurane anesthesia during surgery. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after inhalational anesthesia is higher than TIVA and may increase intraocluar pressure. We investigated the effect of sevoflurane combination with propofol-based TIVA on nasopharyngeal secretions and PONV in ocular surgery., Methods: Fifty patients undergoing ocular operations were randomly assigned for propofol-based TIVA or propofol/sevoflurane anesthesia. In the TIVA group (n = 25), anesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol and fentanyl; in the propofol/sevoflurane group (n = 25), 1% sevoflurane anesthesia was added., Results: Nasopharyngeal excretion volume was significantly higher in the propofol-based TIVA group than in the propofol/sevoflurane group (31.0 ± 18.1 vs 13.7 ± 12.6 ml; P < .001). No significant difference in extubation time was noted (propofol-based TIVA: 6.4 ± 3.6 vs propofol/sevoflurane: 7.4 ± 3.0 minutes; P = .34). No postoperative endophthalmitis or PONV in both groups was observed., Conclusion: Sevoflurane attenuated secretions under propofol-based TIVA and did not increase the incidence of PONV or prolonged extubation in ocular surgery.

After emergence from anesthesia, the incidence and severity of adverse airway effects caused by the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) can vary, depending on when the device was removed; nonetheless, reports differ regarding the exact optimal timing of LMA removal. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of adverse events between 2 groups: those whose LMA was removed under general anesthesia ("deep" group) or under target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol ("awake" group).Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent were obtained; 124 patients were then randomly allocated into either the "awake" group or the "deep" group. Anesthesia was induced and maintained using TCI of propofol, as well as intravenous fentanyl. In the "deep" group, the LMA was removed after surgery while the patients were deeply anesthetized using a target effect-site propofol concentration of 2 μg/mL, whereas in the "awake" group, the device was removed while the patients followed verbal instructions. The incidence of the following adverse events was recorded: coughing, straining, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, clenching, breath holding, gross purposeful movement, airway obstruction, retching, vomiting, and oxygen desaturation. If any such event occurred, the LMA removal was considered a failure. Airway hyperreactivity was recorded and graded - based on the severity of cough, breath holding, and oxygen desaturation.The failure rate was higher in the "awake" group (15/61; 24.6%) than in the "deep" group (5/60; 8.3%). Airway hyperreactivity was mild (score, <3) in both groups.Removal of the LMA under deep anesthesia using a target-controlled, effect-site propofol concentration of 2 μg/mL may be safer and more successful than removal when patients are fully awake after surgery., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Background: Cough causes poor quality of emergence from anesthesia and risks of several complications. We compared fentanyl and an antitussive action of tramadol on the quality of emergence and postoperative outcome., Methods: A total of 110 adults (18 to 83 y) of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III undergoing elective lumbar microdiscectomy with intubated total intravenous anesthesia were randomly divided into 2 groups of 55 each. The patients assigned to the fentanyl group received a dose of 1 μg/kg of fentanyl, whereas those assigned to the tramadol group received 1 mg/kg of tramadol, at the beginning of skin closure. We recorded the incidence of cough, quality of extubation at fixed times, maximal heart rates, maximal blood pressure during emergence, postoperative pain scores, and consumption of fentanyl. In addition, postoperative sore throat (POST), hoarseness, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and other anesthetic and surgical-related complications were recorded., Results: Tramadol reduced cough incidence, improved extubation quality, and provided more stable hemodynamics during emergence. There was no significant difference in postoperative pain, fentanyl consumption, incidence and severity of POST, hoarseness, and postoperative nausea and vomiting between groups. Moreover, we found that the incidence of POST did not correlate with cough incidence., Conclusions: A dose of 1 mg/kg of tramadol administered intravenously 30 minutes before the expected extubation, compared with 1 μg/kg of fentanyl, decreased cough incidence, improved emergence quality, and provided stable hemodynamics. However, there was no significant difference between tramadol and fentanyl in pain scores and fentanyl consumption postoperatively.

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complication after endotracheal intubation. We compared the effectiveness on POST of spraying the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff with benzydamine hydrochloride, 10% lidocaine, and 2% lidocaine., Methods: Three hundred seventy-two patients were randomly allocated into 4 groups. The ETT cuffs in each group were sprayed with benzydamine hydrochloride, 10% lidocaine hydrochloride, 2% lidocaine hydrochloride, or normal saline before endotracheal intubation. After insertion, the cuffs were inflated to an airway leak pressure of 20 cm H(2)O. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol. The patients were examined for sore throat (none, mild, moderate, or severe) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after extubation., Results: The highest incidence of POST occurred at 6 hours after extubation in all groups. There was a significantly lower incidence of POST in the benzydamine group than 10% lidocaine, 2% lidocaine, and normal saline groups (P < 0.05) at each observation time point. At 6 hours after extubation, the incidence of POST was significantly lower in the benzydamine group (17.0%) compared with 10% lidocaine (53.7%), 2% lidocaine (37.0%), and normal saline (40.8%) groups (P < 0.05). The benzydamine group had significantly decreased severity of POST compared with the 10% lidocaine, 2% lidocaine, and normal saline groups (P < 0.05) at each observation time point. Compared with the 2% lidocaine and normal saline groups, the 10% lidocaine group had significantly increased severity of POST at 1, 6, and 12 hours after extubation. There were no significant differences among groups in local or systemic side effects., Conclusions: Spraying benzydamine hydrochloride on the ETT cuff is a simple and effective method to reduce the incidence and severity of POST.

Background: The etiology of postoperative sore throat (POST) is considered to be the result of laryngoscopy, intubation damage, or inflated cuff compression of the tracheal mucosa. In this study, we compared the effectiveness in alleviating POST using different approaches to benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) administration by spraying the endotracheal tube (ET) cuff or the oropharyngeal cavity, or both., Methods: Three hundred eighty patients were included in this prospective and double-blind study, which was randomized into 4 groups: group A, oropharyngeal cavity spray of BH, and distilled water on the ET cuff; group B, both the oropharyngeal cavity and the ET cuff received BH spray; group C, the ET cuff received BH spray, and the oropharyngeal cavity received distilled water; and group D, distilled water sprayed on both the ET tube and into the oropharyngeal cavity. The patients were examined for sore throat (none, mild, moderate, severe) at 0, 2, 4, and 24 hours postextubation., Results: The incidence of POST was 23.2%, 13.8%, 14.7%, and 40.4% in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. POST occurred significantly less frequently in groups B and C compared with group D (odds ratio: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.21-0.60; P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between groups A and D (odds ratio: 0.62; 95% confidence interval: 0.38-1.01). Moreover, there was no significant interaction between spraying BH over the oropharyngeal cavity and the ET cuff on the incidence of POST (P = 0.088). The severity of POST was significantly more intense in group D compared with groups B and C (P < 0.001). Group B had a significantly higher incidence of local numbness, burning, and/or stinging sensation compared with patients in group D (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: This study indicates that spraying BH on the ET cuff decreases the incidence and severity of POST without increased BH-related adverse effects.