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Recent literature suggests that the withdrawal of remifentanil (RF) infusion can be associated with hyperalgesia in clinical and nonclinical settings. We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with cross-over design, to assess the effect of discontinuing RF infusion on pain intensity and areas of hyperalgesia and allodynia in healthy volunteers. Nine studies were included. The intervention treatment consisted in RF infusion that was compared with placebo (saline solution). The primary outcome was pain intensity assessment at 30 ± 15 minutes after RF or placebo discontinuation, assessed by any pain scale and using any quantitative sensory testing. Moreover, postwithdrawal pain scores were compared with baseline scores in each treatment. Secondary outcomes included the areas (% of basal values) of hyperalgesia and allodynia. Subjects during RF treatment reported higher pain scores after discontinuation than during treatment with placebo [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.97; P = 0.04, I 2 = 71%]. A significant decrease in pain scores, compared with baseline values, was found in the placebo treatment (SMD: -0.87, 95% CI: -1.61 to -0.13; P = 0.02, I 2 = 87%), but not in the RF treatment (SMD: -0.28, 95% CI: -1.18 to 0.62; P = 0.54, I 2 = 91%). The area of hyperalgesia was larger after RF withdrawal (SMD: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.27-0.84; P = 0.001; I 2 = 0%). The area of allodynia did not vary between treatments. These findings suggest that the withdrawal of RF induces a mild but nonclinically relevant degree of hyperalgesia in HVs, likely linked to a reduced pain threshold.

Background: Recent literature suggests viscoelastic test (VET)-guided transfusion management could be associated with reduced blood product administration in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of coagulation management guided by VETs compared with conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) in reducing blood product transfusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised (RCTs) and nonrandomised clinical trials performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was previously published (PROSPERO: CRD42021230213). Data sources: The Cochrane Central Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and the Transfusion Evidence Library were searched up to 30 th January 2022. Eligibility criteria: Setting: operating room. Patients: liver transplantation recipients. Intervention: use of VETs versus CCTs. Main outcome measures: the primary outcome was the mean number of transfused units for each blood product including red blood cells (RBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets (PLTs) and cryoprecipitate. Secondary outcomes included mortality rate, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: Seventeen studies ( n = 5345 patients), 15 observational and two RCTs, were included in this review. There was a mean difference reduction in RBCs [mean difference: -1.40, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), -1.87 to -0.92; P < 0.001, I2 = 61%) and FFP units (mean difference: -2.98, 95% CI, -4.61 to -1.35; P = < 0.001; I2 = 98%) transfused in the VETs group compared with the CCTs one. A greater amount of cryoprecipitate was administered in the VETs group (mean difference: 2.71, 95% CI, 0.84 to 4.58; P = 0.005; I2 = 91%). There was no significant difference in the mean number of PLT units, mortality, hospital and ICU-LOS. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that VETs implementation was associated with reduced RBC and FFP consumption in liver transplantation pati

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive decline (pCD) occurs frequently (6 to 30%) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), although there are no exact estimates and risk factors are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine pCD incidence and risk factors in CEA patients. DESIGN: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of both randomised and nonrandomised trials following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. DATA SOURCES: We searched Cochrane, PubMed/Medline and Embase databases from the date of database inception to 1 December 2018. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We selected longitudinal studies including CEA patients with both pre-operative and postoperative cognitive assessments. Primary outcome was pCD incidence, differentiating delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR) and postoperative neurocognitive disorder (pNCD). dNCR and pNCD incidences were expressed as proportions of cases on total CEA sample and pooled as weighted estimates from proportions. Postoperative delirium was excluded from the study design. Secondary outcomes were patient-related (i.e. age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, contralateral stenosis, pre-operative symptoms, dyslipidaemia and statin use) and procedure-related (i.e. hyperperfusion, cross-clamping duration and shunting placement) risk factors for pCD. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences through a random effects model by using STATA 13.1 and RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: Our search identified 5311 publications and 60 studies met inclusion criteria reporting a total of 4823 CEA patients. dNCR and pNCD incidence were 20.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 17.1 to 24.0] and 14.1% (95% CI, 9.5 to 18.6), respectively. pCD risk was higher in patients experiencing hyperperfusion during surgery (OR, 35.68; 95% CI, 16.64 to 76.51; P < 0.00001; I = 0%), whereas dNCR risk was lower in patients taking statins before surgery (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.77; P = 0.0004; I = 19%). Sens

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive decline (pCD) occurs frequently (6 to 30%) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), although there are no exact estimates and risk factors are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine pCD incidence and risk factors in CEA patients. DESIGN: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of both randomised and nonrandomised trials following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. DATA SOURCES: We searched Cochrane, PubMed/Medline and Embase databases from the date of database inception to 1 December 2018. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We selected longitudinal studies including CEA patients with both pre-operative and postoperative cognitive assessments. Primary outcome was pCD incidence, differentiating delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR) and postoperative neurocognitive disorder (pNCD). dNCR and pNCD incidences were expressed as proportions of cases on total CEA sample and pooled as weighted estimates from proportions. Postoperative delirium was excluded from the study design. Secondary outcomes were patient-related (i.e. age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, contralateral stenosis, pre-operative symptoms, dyslipidaemia and statin use) and procedure-related (i.e. hyperperfusion, cross-clamping duration and shunting placement) risk factors for pCD. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences through a random effects model by using STATA 13.1 and RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: Our search identified 5311 publications and 60 studies met inclusion criteria reporting a total of 4823 CEA patients. dNCR and pNCD incidence were 20.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 17.1 to 24.0] and 14.1% (95% CI, 9.5 to 18.6), respectively. pCD risk was higher in patients experiencing hyperperfusion during surgery (OR, 35.68; 95% CI, 16.64 to 76.51; P < 0.00001; I = 0%), whereas dNCR risk was lower in patients taking statins before surgery (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.77; P = 0.0004; I = 19%). Sens