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Background Early mobilization is incorporated into many enhanced recovery pathways. Inadequate analgesia or excessive opioids may restrict postoperative mobilization. The authors tested the hypotheses that in adults recovering from abdominal surgery, postoperative pain and opioid consumption are inversely related to postoperative mobilization, and that postoperative mobilization is associated with fewer potentially related complications. Methods The authors conducted a subanalysis of two trials that enrolled adults recovering from abdominal surgery. Posture and movement were continuously monitored for 48 postoperative hours using noninvasive untethered monitors. Mobilization was defined as the fraction of monitored time spent sitting or standing. Results A total of 673 patients spent a median [interquartile range] of 7% [3 to 13%] of monitored time sitting or standing. Mobilization time was 1.9 [1.0 to 3.6] h/day for patients with average pain scores 3 or lower, but only 1.2 [0.5 to 2.6] h/day in those with average scores 6 or greater. Each unit increase in average pain score was associated with a decrease in mobilization time of 0.12 (97.5% CI, 0.02 to 0.24; P = 0.009) h/day. In contrast, there was no association between postoperative opioid consumption and mobilization time. The incidence of the composite of postoperative complications was 6.0% (10 of 168) in the lower mobilization quartile, 4.2% (7 of 168) in the second quartile, and 0% among 337 patients in the highest two quartiles (P = 0.009). Conclusions Patients recovering from abdominal surgery spent only 7% of their time mobilized, which is considerably less than recommended. Lower pain scores are associated with increased mobility, independently of opioid consumption. Complications were more common in patients who mobilized poorly. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Background: Persistent pain is a common complication after mastectomy for breast cancer, and postoperative analgesia through paravertebral infusion is a promising technique for pain control after mastectomy. Although paravertebral local anesthetic infusion can be performed using continuous or intermittent bolus modes, there is no evidence of superiority of either infusion mode.Methods: We retrospectively studied patients who had undergone unilateral mastectomy with paravertebral catheter placed for postoperative analgesia between October 2017 and September 2018. Logistic regression was created to estimate the relative risk for moderate to severe pain defined by average pain scores greater than 4 using a 0 to 10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) within first 24 hours after surgery. Opioid consumption was compared using a Student T-test for difference in means using the log-transformed cumulative opioid consumption converted to milligrams of oral morphine equivalents (OME) within the first 48 hours after surgery.Results: 49 patients were included (continuous infusion group: 14; bolus infusion group: 35). Bolus paravertebral infusion was associated with reduction of relative risk of moderate to intense pain (adjusted relative risk: -0.96; 95%CI: -1.81, -0.1; p = 0.029) but there was no association with reduction in opioid consumption (difference of means: -1.4mg of OME; 95%CI: -2.78, 1.42; p = 0.33).Conclusion: Intermittent bolus infusion was associated with reduction of relative risk for moderate to severe postoperative pain for unilateral mastectomies. Therefore, paravertebral catheter infusion modality may influence postoperative pain experience after unilateral mastectomies.

Branchial arches are embryologic structures that develop between the fourth and seventh gestational week. Anomalies may form if these structures fail to develop. The majority of cases are diagnosed during childhood, with surgical excision recommended to prevent risk of infection, growth or malignancy. We report an unusual case of a 72-year-old man with severe cardiac comorbidities who presented with a large second branchial arch cyst extending into the oropharynx. General anaesthesia to facilitate surgical excision was deemed too risky. Therefore, we performed successful ultrasound-guided superficial and deep cervical plexus blocks as a sole mode of anaesthesia. This case highlights how regional anaesthesia can be utilised to facilitate surgery in high-risk patients, as well as presenting an alternative for general anaesthesia.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is considered a safe technique, but not without complications, though the vast majority are minor complications. We describe a rare case of splenic injury after ESWL. A 33-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) after three weeks experiencing severe intermittent left-sided flank pain that he contributed to a previous motor vehicle accident. Then computerized tomography (CT) revealed a left renal stone. ESWL was performed after three weeks. After being discharged home, he returned the same day to the ED with persistent, worsening abdominal pain, hypotension, and multiple syncopes. CT demonstrated the presence of active contrast extravasation from the spleen likely due to active bleeding. Initial resuscitation was with intravenous fluids and blood products. The following day, the embolization of the splenic artery was done. The patient was discharged home after nine days of conservative management. After one month, he had shortness of breath due to a large left-sided pleural effusion and lung collapse managed with thoracocentesis and thoracoscopic surgery. Subsequent follow-up reveals much improvement and successful conservative management. Splenic injury is a rare complication of ESWL, and all of the 11 reported cases in the literature were managed with splenectomy. Our case is unique in being successfully managed conservatively.

Summary Engaging patients—defined broadly as individuals with lived experience of a given condition, family members, caregivers, and the organisations that represent them—as partners in research is a priority for policymakers, funders, and the public. Nonetheless, formal efforts to engage patients are absent from most studies, and models to support meaningful patient engagement in clinical anaesthesia research have not been previously described. Here, we review our experience in developing and implementing a multifaceted patient engagement strategy within the Regional Versus General Anesthesia for Promoting Independence After Hip Fracture (REGAIN) surgery trial, an ongoing randomised trial comparing spinal vs general anaesthesia for hip fracture surgery in 1600 older adults across 45 hospitals in the USA and Canada. This strategy engaged patients and their representatives at both the level of overall trial oversight and at the level of individual recruiting sites. Activities spanned a continuum ranging from events designed to elicit patients' input on key decisions to longitudinal collaborations that empowered patients to actively participate in decision-making related to trial design and management. Engagement activities were highly acceptable to participants and led to concrete changes in the design and conduct of the REGAIN trial. The REGAIN experience offers a model for future efforts to engage patients as partners in clinical anaesthesia research, and highlights potential opportunities for investigators to increase the relevance of anaesthesia studies by incorporating patient voices and perspectives into the research process.

Septic sacroiliitis is sacroiliac (SI) joint inflammation secondary to microbial invasion of the synovial space characterized by tenderness over the sacroiliac joint, difficulty walking, and lower back pain that can radiate to the buttocks. Clinicians can easily overlook septic sacroiliitis as a potential diagnosis due to its rare occurrence and non-specific symptoms. A 30-year-old female (G2P2A0) who presented acutely to the ED nine days after an uncomplicated Cesarean section performed under spinal anesthesia. The patient experienced progressive lancinating, electric-shock pain originating from the coccyx radiating to the right buttock and lower back with the inability to bear weight. MRI pelvis demonstrated edematous changes of the right SI joint, indicative of septic sacroiliitis. Patient’s condition improved after empiric intravenous antibiotics and was discharged home on the continued intravenous course. Rapid empiric administration of intravenous antibiotics may have prevented the onset of severe complications of an infective SI joint.