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The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's guidelines recommend a 1-hour interval after neuraxial anesthesia (NA) before systemic heparinization to mitigate the risk of spinal hematoma (SH). The study authors aimed to characterize the time interval between NA and systemic heparinization in vascular surgery patients (primary outcome). The secondary outcomes included the historic incidence of SH, and risk estimation of the SH formation based on available data. Heparin dose, length of surgery, difficulty and/or the number of NA attempts, and patient demographics were recorded.A retrospective analysis between April 2012 and April 2022.A single (academic) center.Vascular surgery patients.Intravenous heparin administration.All (N = 311) vascular patients were reviewed, of whom 127 (5 femoral-femoral bypass, 67 femoral-popliteal bypass, and 55 endovascular aneurysm repairs [EVAR]) received NA and were included in the final analysis. Patients receiving general anesthesia alone (N = 184) were excluded. Neuraxial anesthesia included spinal (N = 119), epidural (N = 4), or combined spinal-epidural (N = 4) blocks. The average time between NA and heparin administration was 42.8 ± 22.1 minutes, with 83.7% of patients receiving heparin within 1 hour of NA. The time between NA and heparin administration was 40.4 ± 22.3, 50.1 ± 23.4, and 31.3 ± 12.5 minutes for femoral-femoral bypass, femoral-popliteal bypass, and EVAR, respectively. Heparin was administered after 1 hour of NA in 20% of femoral-femoral bypass, 27% of femoral-popliteal bypass, and 3.9% of EVAR patients. No SHs were reported during the study period.The vast majority of vascular surgery patients at the authors' center received heparin within 1 hour of NA. Further studies are required to assess if their findings are consistent in other vascular surgery settings and/or centers.

IntroductionLiver resection patients may be at an increased risk of local anesthetic (LA) toxicity because the liver is essential for metabolizing LA and producing proteins (mainly α1-acid glycoprotein (AAG)) that bind to it and reduce the free (and pharmacologically active/toxic) levels in circulation. The liver resection itself, manipulation during surgery, and pre-existing liver disease may all interfere with normal hepatic protein synthesis and result in an attenuation of the increased AAG (a positive acute-phase protein) that normally occurs postoperatively. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the AAG response is attenuated postoperatively following liver resection and whether patients approach toxicity thresholds with continuous postoperative epidural infusion of bupivacaine.MethodsProspective, observational study with blood drawn preoperatively, in the postanesthetic care unit, on postoperative day (POD) 2, and prior to discontinuation of epidural analgesia on POD3/POD4. Plasma was analyzed for total and unbound bupivacaine via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and AAG via ELISA. Signs/symptoms of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), pain, and sedation scores were also recorded.ResultsFor the 19 patients completed, total plasma bupivacaine was correlated with total administered, but unbound levels were not associated with the total administered. Unlike non-hepatectomy surgery where unbound LA plasma levels remain stable (or decrease) with continuous postoperative epidural administration, we observed an overall increase. Several patients approached toxicity thresholds and 47% reported at least one symptom of LAST, but no epidurals were discontinued because of LAST. In contrast to the AAG response reported following major non-liver surgery where AAG levels increase twofold, we observed a reduction until POD2 and the magnitude was proportional to resection weight.DiscussionOur results are supported by the literature in suggesting that major liver resection patients may be at an increased vulnerability for LAST. Factors such as the extent of liver disease, resection and intraoperative blood loss should be considered when using continuous postoperative epidural infusion of bupivacaine and vigilance should be used in monitoring, for signs/symptoms of LAST, even for those subtle and non-specific. Future research will be required to verify these findings.Trial registration numberNCT03145805.

Objective Despite advances in health care and ample resources, post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) rates are increasing in high income countries. Although guidelines recommend therapeutic uterotonics, timing of administration is open to judgement and most often based on (inherently inaccurate) visual estimates of blood loss. With severe hemorrhage, every minute of delay can have significant consequences. Our objective was to examine the timing of uterotonic administration and its impact upon maternal outcomes. We hypothesized that increased time to uterotonic administration following the identification of PPH, would be associated with a greater decline in hemoglobin (Hb) and higher odds of hypotension and transfusion. Methods We reviewed all cases of PPH that occurred at an academic centre between June 2015 and September 2017. All cases of primary PPH (i.e., those declared within 24 h of delivery with estimated blood loss [EBL] >500 mL for vaginal and >1000 mL for cesarean deliveries) were analyzed. Patient records were excluded if they were missing information regarding time of PPH declaration, uterotonic administration, and/or Hb measures, or if a pre-existing medical condition could have contributed to PPH. Results Of 4397 births, there were 259 (5.9%) cases of primary PPH, of which 128 were included in this analysis. For these patients, each 5-minute delay in uterotonic treatment was associated with 26% higher odds of hypotension following delivery of any type. For vaginal deliveries (n = 86), each 5-minute delay was associated with 31% and 34% higher odds of hypotension and transfusion, respectively. Conclusion In this study, delay in administration of therapeutic uterotonics was associated with a higher incidence of hypotension and transfusion in primary PPH patients.

Effective pain control after major surgery in neonates presents many challenges. Parenteral opioids (and co-analgesics) are often used but inadequate analgesia and oversedation are not uncommon. Although continuous thoracic epidural analgesia is highly effective and opioid-sparing, its associated risks and the need for staff with specialised skills and/or neonatal intensive care unit staff buy-in may preclude this option even in many academic centres. We present the case of a six-day-old infant who underwent upper abdominal surgery and received intermittent morphine doses via a tunnelled caudal epidural catheter, which provided satisfactory analgesia and facilitated early extubation.

The fragility index (FI) is a sensitivity analysis of the statistically significant result of a clinical study. It is the number of hypothetical changes in the primary event of one of the two cohorts in a 1-to-1 comparative trial to render the statistically significant result non-significant (ie, to alter the P-value from ≤0.05 to0.05). The FI can be compared with the patient drop-out rates and protocol violations, which, if much higher than the FI, may arguably suggest less robustness/stability of the trial's results. To illustrate the concept, we have chosen the Term Breech Trial (TBT) as a case study. The TBT results favor planned cesarean birth, as opposed to planned vaginal delivery, in the term singleton fetus with breech presentation. Our analysis shows that the FI of the TBT is 21, which is small in comparison to the number (hundreds) of protocol violations present. Some experts have suggested the inclusion of the FI in data analysis and subsequent discussion of clinical trial data. Routine use of such a metric may be valuable in encouraging readers to maintain a healthy degree of skepticism, especially when interpreting trial results which may directly influence clinical practice.

Postoperative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often includes intrathecal opioids, periarticular injection (PAI) of local anesthetic, systemic multimodal analgesia, and/or peripheral nerve blockade. The adductor canal block (ACB) provides analgesia without muscle weakness and magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) may extend its duration. The purpose of this trial was to compare the duration and quality of early post-TKA analgesia in patients receiving postoperative ACB (± MgSO4) in addition to standard care. Elective TKA patients were randomized to: 1) sham ACB, 2) ropivacaine ACB, or 3) ropivacaine ACB with added MgSO4. All received spinal anesthesia with intrathecal morphine, intraoperative PAI, and multimodal systemic analgesia. Patients and assessors remained blinded to allocation. Anesthesiologists knew whether patients had received sham or ACB but were blinded to MgSO4. The primary outcome was time to first analgesic (via patient-controlled analgesia [PCA] with iv morphine) following ACB. Secondary outcomes were morphine consumption, side effects, visual analogue scale pain scores, satisfaction until 24 hr postoperatively, and length of stay. Of 130 patients, 121 were included. Nine were excluded post randomization: four were protocol violations, three did not meet inclusion criteria, and two had severe pain requiring open label blockade. There were no differences in the median [interquartile range] time to first PCA request: sham, 310 min [165–550]; ropivacaine ACB, 298 min [120–776]; and ropivacaine ACB with MgSO4, 270 min [113–780] (P = 0.96). Similarly, we detected no differences in resting pain, opioid consumption, length of stay, or associated side effects until 24 hr postoperatively. We found no analgesic benefit of a postoperative ACB, with or without added MgSO4, in TKA patients undergoing spinal anesthesia and receiving intrathecal morphine, an intraoperative PAI, and multimodal systemic analgesia. www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02581683); registered 21 October 2015.

Anesthetic management for anterior mediastinal mass resection is often challenging. The main concern being that the tumor might, on reduction in muscle tone, cause circulatory and/or airway collapse. In the setting of pregnancy, the expected physiologic changes (eg, increased oxygen demand, decreased functional residual capacity, and aortocaval compression) may further increase the risks. The objective of this report is to present a challenging case of a pregnant woman undergoing an anterior mediastinal mass resection with the additional rare requirement for one-lung anesthesia, and to describe the perioperative considerations and the plan executed to ensure a successful outcome. A 30-year-old pregnant (23 weeks) patient with a large anterior mediastinal mass and evidence of significant cardiovascular and tracheobronchial compression presented for thymectomy requiring one-lung ventilation. Anesthesia consisted of preoperative preparation, thoughtful selection of vascular access sites, preservation of spontaneous ventilation until sternotomy was accomplished, use of bronchial blocker and readily reversible pharmacologic agents, availability of backup airway and oxygenation plans, standby high-frequency ventilation, and anticipation of postoperative respiratory difficulties. Surgical considerations included the possibility of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and the need for lifting the thymoma to relieve the compression of the mediastinum. A methodical and multidisciplinary plan is described to mitigate the risk of cardiorespiratory collapse in the setting of anterior mediastinal mass resection. Backup measures in case of catastrophe, as well as careful consideration of the physiologic changes of pregnancy, must be taken into account.

To describe an alternative method of measuring the Epidural Waveform Analysis (EWA), a technique through which anesthesiologists can confirm the position of a needle and/or catheter tip in the epidural space. EWA consists of epidural catheter transduction with a pressure system typically used for invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring which generates a characteristic oscillatory waveform (provided the catheter tip is within the epidural space) in synchrony with the pulsatile epidural circulation. The technique requires a double-male connector, a 3-way stopcock and an arterial pressure extension tubing along with the patient's existing arterial line setup while ensuring a meticulously sterile technique to mitigate the risks of neuraxial infection. The technique described herein has been successfully and routinely applied within our institution to measure EWA with the advantage of being potentially less wasteful. EWA allows anesthesiologists to confirm the correct position of an epidural needle/catheter. We describe a method of successfully measuring EWA while reducing wastefulness.

COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality has been reported at 30.7–47.3% in Brazil, however studies assessing exclusively private hospitals are lacking. This is important because of significant differences existing between the Brazilian private and public healthcare systems. We aimed to determine the COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality and associated risk factors in a Brazilian private network from March/2020 to March/2021. Data were extracted from institutional database and analyzed using Cox regression model. Length of hospitalization and death-related factors were modeled based on available independent variables. In total, 38,937 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized of whom 3058 (7.8%) died. Admission to the intensive care unit occurred in 62.5% of cases, and 11.5% and 3.8% required mechanical ventilation (MV) and renal replacement therapy (RRT), respectively. In the adjusted model, age ≥ 61 years-old, comorbidities, and the need for MV and/or RRT were significantly associated with increased mortality (p

Rib fractures are a common complication of trauma and a marker of internal injuries and can carry a high mortality rate. Advanced age, multiple rib fractures, flail chest, and concomitant injuries are poor prognostic risk factors. Fractured ribs and chest drains are painful which can lead to

Modern massive transfusion protocols call for early plasma and platelets to patients presenting with hemorrhagic shock. The packed red blood cell (PRBC):plasma:platelet ratio generally ranges from 1:1:1 to 3:1:1, but the ideal ratio remains controversial. We aimed to determine the effects of different resuscitation strategies and blood product ratios on hematocrit, platelet and fibrinogen concentrations (FC) during resuscitation. Assuming: pre-insult blood volume 5 L; hematocrit 0.4, FC = 100%, platelet count 400 × 109/L; predetermined constant values for each blood product unit (volume, hematocrit, FC, platelet number); and transfusion rate to maintain euvolemia, we simulated different resuscitation strategies using a computer-based hemorrhage model. When crystalloids are administered to restore an acute 30% blood loss, the initial hematocrit, platelets and FC are adequate, and remain physiologic when further resuscitation is carried out with 1:1:1. Higher transfusion ratios increase the hematocrit at the expense of proportional drops in FC and platelets. When crystalloids and PRBCs (1500 mL) are administered to restore an acute 60% blood loss, the FC drops to 39%. Further resuscitation with 1:1:1 (but not with 2:1:1 or 3:1:1) increases the FC while maintaining the hematocrit and platelets within physiologic range. When blood products (1–3:1:1) are administered to restore an acute 60% blood loss, the initial hematocrit, platelets and FC are at adequate levels, but remain within physiologic range only when 1:1:1 (but not 2:1:1 or 3:1:1) is implemented for further resuscitation. Notably, platelet concentration consistently drops in all simulated scenarios reaching dangerously low levels particularly with high blood loss/transfusion rates and with higher transfusion ratios. The FC does not always drop by the same proportion with higher ratios probably because it is based on plasma concentration and is thus “cushioned” by the reduction in plasma volume as the hematocrit rises with higher transfusion ratios. In summary, computer simulation suggests that in non-severe shock hemorrhage, the differences between 1-3:1:1 transfusion ratios during initial resuscitation may be small. In severe shock, however, 1:1:1 results in the most physiologic hematocrit, FC and platelet concentration and is, therefore, desirable.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos A ultrassonografia cardiaca no local de atendimento (USCLA) provou ser importante para orientar o processo de tomada de decisao clinica dos anestesiologistas. Treinar os residentes para fazer e interpretar uma USCLA e viavel e eficaz. No entanto, o grau de retencao do conhecimento apos o treinamento permanece um assunto de debate. Procuramos fornecer uma descricao do curriculo de quatro semanas do treinamento de USCLA e avaliar a retencao do conhecimento entre os residentes de anestesia seis meses apos a rotacao em USCLA. Metodos Uma analise prospectiva foi realizada com 11 residentes seniores de anestesia. Ao final da rotacao em USCLA, os participantes preencheram um questionario (avaliando o numero de exames ultrassonograficos concluidos, o conhecimento adquirido e o nivel de conforto dos residentes com a USCLA) e fizeram um exame de multipla escolha para USCLA, composto por perguntas escritas e baseadas em video. Seis meses depois, os participantes preencheram um questionario de acompanhamento e um exame similar. A autoavaliacao do conhecimento e os escores do exame foram comparados no final da rotacao e apos seis meses. Correlacoes de Spearman foram usadas para testar a relacao entre o numero de exames concluidos e os escores dos exames, o conhecimento percebido, os escores dos exames, o numero de exames e o conhecimento percebido. Resultados Os escores medios dos exames (50) foram: 44,1 no final da rotacao e 43 apos seis meses. Os residentes tiveram conhecimento percebido significativamente maior (10) no final da rotacao (8,0) que apos seis meses (5,5), p = 0,003. No final da rotacao, todos os residentes se sentiram confortaveis usando o aparelho de USCLA e, aos seis meses, 10/11 ainda se sentiam confortaveis. Todos os residentes haviam usado o USCLA em sua pratica clinica apos o final da rotacao e a razao mais citada para nao usar o USCLA com mais frequencia foi a falta de necessidade clinica percebida. Uma correlacao forte e estatisticamente significativa (rho = 0,804, p = 0,005) foi observada entre o numero de exames realizados durante a rotacao em USCLA e o conhecimento percebido em seis meses de seguimento. Conclusao Quatro semanas de treinamento intensivo de USCLA resultaram em aquisicao e retencao adequadas do conhecimento por seis meses.

Background Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is common in patients with myocardial infarction or dilated cardiomyopathy, and portends a poor prognosis despite guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Surgical or transcatheter mitral repair for FMR from recent randomized clinical trials showed disappointing or conflicting results. Aims To provide an update on the role of surgical repair in the management of FMR. Materials and methods A literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The search terms included secondary/FMR, ischemic mitral regurgitation, mitral repair, mitral replacement, mitral annuloplasty, transcatheter mitral repair, and percutaneous mitral repair. Randomized clinical trials over the past decade were the particular focus of the current review. Results Recent data underlined the complexity and poor prognosis of FMR. GDMT and cardiac resynchronization, when indicated, should always be applied. Accurate assessment of the interplay between ventricular geometry and mitral valve function is essential to differentiate proportionate FMR from the disproportionate subgroup, which could be helpful in selecting appropriate transcatheter intervention strategies. Surgical repair, most commonly performed with an undersized ring annuloplasty, remains controversial. Adjunctive valvular or subvalvular repair techniques are evolving and may produce improved results in selected FMR patients. Conclusion FMR resulted from complex valve-ventricular interaction and remodeling. Distinguishing proportionate FMR from disproportionate FMR is important in exploring their underlying mechanisms and to guide medical treatment with surgical or transcatheter interventions. Further studies are warranted to confirm the clinical benefit of appropriate surgical repair in selected FMR patients.

BackgroundOrotracheal intubation (OTI) can result in aerosolisation leading to an increased risk of infection for healthcare providers, a key concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the OTI time and success rate of two aerosol-mitigating strategies under direct laryngoscopy and videolaryngoscopy performed by anaesthesiologists, intensive care physicians and emergency physicians who were voluntarily recruited for OTI in an airway simulation model.MethodologyThe outcomes were successful OTI, degree of airway visualisation and time required for OTI. Not using a stylet during OTI reduced the success rate among non-anaesthesiologists and increased the time required for intubation, regardless of the laryngoscopy device used.ResultsSuccess rates were similar among physicians from different specialties during OTI using videolaryngoscopy with a stylet. The time required for successful OTI by intensive care and emergency physicians using videolaryngoscopy with a stylet was longer compared with anaesthesiologists using the same technique. Videolaryngoscopy increased the time required for OTI among intensive care physicians compared with direct laryngoscopy. The aerosol-mitigating strategy under direct laryngoscopy with stylet did not increase the time required for intubation, nor did it interfere with OTI success, regardless of the specialty of the performing physician.ConclusionsThe use of a stylet within the endotracheal tube, especially for non-anaesthesiologists, had an impact on OTI success rates and decreased procedural time.

We describe 4 cases in which patients with coagulopathies, an absolute contraindication to epidural/paravertebral blocks, received an erector spinae plane block to manage severe thoracic pain with respiratory impairment. Intubation was avoided in 2 cases, and weaning from the ventilator was facilitated in 2 cases. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block is simple to perform, has a low risk profile, and provides an excellent analgesic alternative.

> Misunderstanding is generally simpler than true understanding, and hence has more potential for popularity. —Raheel Farooq (writer) In an Australian study, the most common mishap with endotracheal tube (ETT) placement was inadvertent endobronchial intubation (ETT placed too deep), more so than oesophageal intubation, accounting for nearly half of all the ETT-related incident reports.1 In the prehospital setting in a German study, emergency physicians inadvertently intubated the right mainstem bronchus in 6.7% of their intubations.2 In patients intubated by an emergency physician or anaesthesiologist in a German emergency department, the incidence of right mainstem intubation was 7%.3 In that study, the ETT tip was within 2 cm of the carina in another 13% of patients.3 When an ETT tip is that close to the carina, events such as head flexion can move the ETT up to 3.1 cm (mean 1.9 cm) toward the carina from the neutral position.4 Furthermore, rostral displacement of the carina because of Trendelenburg positioning (to treat hypotension, to cannulate a central vein or during surgery) or pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopy can result in right mainstem bronchial intubation. The margin of safety is correspondingly small in small patients. Mainstem intubation could trigger bronchospasm, cause hypoxaemia due to a massive shunt and atelectasis, and the increased inspiratory pressure may result in barotrauma and even haemodynamic disturbances. In complex cases (eg, major trauma), it can complicate diagnosis and management of life-threatening injuries. Endobronchial intubation accounts for 2% of adverse respiratory claims in adults and 4% in children in the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Closed Claims Database.5 Inadvertent mainstem intubation is therefore an important discussion topic with learners rotating through anaesthesia, emergency medicine, critical care and surgery. Spanning over 3 decades of our careers, we must have asked hundreds of residents and students in and from …

Introduction and objectives Multimodal Analgesia (MMA) has shown promising results in postoperative outcomes across a broad spectrum of surgeries, including bariatric surgery. We compared the analgesic effect immediately after Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery (LBS) of the combined effect of MMA and methadone against two techniques that were based mainly on the use of high-potency medium-acting opioids. Methods Two hundred seventy-one patients were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was postoperative pain score > 3/10 measured by the Verbal Numeric Scale (VNS) during the Postanesthetic Care Unit (PACU) stay. The three protocols of intraoperative analgesia were: (P1) sufentanil at anesthetic induction followed by remifentanil infusion; (P2) sufentanil at induction followed by dexmedetomidine infusion; and (P3) remifentanil at induction followed by MMA including dexmedetomidine, magnesium, lidocaine, and methadone. Only P1 and P2 patients received morphine toward the end of surgery. Poisson regression was used to adjust confounding factors and calculate Prevalence Ratio (PR). Results Postoperative VNS > 3 was recorded in 135 (49.81%) patients, of which 93 (68.89%) were subjected to P1, 25 (18.56%) to P2, and 17 (12.59%) to P3. In the final adjusted model, both anesthetic techniques (P3) (PR = 0.10; 95% CI [0.03-0.28]), and (P2) (PR = 0.42%; 95% CI [0.20-0.90]) were associated with lower occurrence of VNS > 3, whereas age range 20-29 was associated to higher occurrence of VNS > 3 (PR = 3.21; 95% CI [1.22-8.44]) in PACU. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) was distributed as follows: (P1) 20.3%, (P2) 31.25% and (P3) 6.77%; (P3 < P1, P2; p< 0.05). Intraoperative hypotension occurred more often in P3 (39%) compared to P2 (20.31%) and P1 (17.46%) (p< 0.05). Conclusion MMA + methadone was associated with higher incidence of intraoperative hypotension and lower incidence of moderate/severe pain in PACU after LBS.

Postoperative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often includes intrathecal opioids, periarticular injection (PAI) of local anesthetic, systemic multimodal analgesia, and/or peripheral nerve blockade. The adductor canal block (ACB) provides analgesia without muscle weakness and magnesium sulphate (MgSOElective TKA patients were randomized to: 1) sham ACB, 2) ropivacaine ACB, or 3) ropivacaine ACB with added MgSOOf 130 patients, 121 were included. Nine were excluded post randomization: four were protocol violations, three did not meet inclusion criteria, and two had severe pain requiring open label blockade. There were no differences in the median [interquartile range] time to first PCA request: sham, 310 min [165-550]; ropivacaine ACB, 298 min [120-776]; and ropivacaine ACB with MgSOWe found no analgesic benefit of a postoperative ACB, with or without added MgSOwww.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02581683); registered 21 October 2015.RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L’analgésie postopératoire suivant une arthroplastie totale du genou (ATG) inclut souvent des opioïdes intrathécaux, une injection périarticulaire (IPA) d’anesthésique local, une analgésie multimodale systémique, et/ou des blocs des nerfs périphériques. Le bloc du canal des adducteurs (BCA) permet une analgésie sans faiblesse musculaire et le sulfate de magnésium (MgSO

A dreaded complication of internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation is common carotid artery (CCA) puncture/cannulation, which has decreased, but not been eliminated, with ultrasound (US) guidance.1 Typically, with the head/neck in midline position, the IJV lies mostly lateral to the CCA.2 When the head is turned to the contralateral side for IJV cannulation, the IJV moves anteriorly and medially such that a considerable percentage of it now …