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Nurhusen Riskey Arefayne,1 Yophtahe Woldegerima Berhe,1 André A van Zundert2 1Department of Anaesthesia, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2The University of Queensland & Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaCorrespondence: Nurhusen Riskey Arefayne, Tel +251969299996, Fax +2510581141240, Email nurizke@gmail.comAim: The aim of this systematic review is to explore the current literature to provide evidence regarding the incidence and risk factors of prolonged POCD in elderly patients following cardiac and non-cardiac surgical interventions.Methods: The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using appropriate keywords and search engines for adequate evidence from studies meeting the inclusion criteria so as to reveal the end-point, which was the presence of prolonged POCD in elderly patients following surgery and anaesthesia. The incidence of POCD at different time intervals and the variables predicting the occurrence of POCD were analysed.Results: The results of 23 articles covering 5077 patients (3694 non cardiac and 1383 cardiac surgeries) were carefully analysed. POCD occurs from the first postoperative day and lasts for potentially long periods. The incidence of POCD in this review ranged from 2.2% to 35.7%. More specifically, it ranged from 2.2% to 31.5% in non-cardiac surgeries and 11.8% to 35.7% in patients who had undergone cardiac surgeries. Some of the independent risk factors (predictors) for the development of POCD were advanced age, high concentration of neuroinflammatory mediators detectable in plasma, low SpO2, longer anaesthetic and surgical duration, and depth of anaesthesia.Conclusion: This review can only provide limited evidence of prolonged POCD (more than a year) and further research that involves better study designs, larger samples, involving longer follow-up, and at different sites (multicentre) is highly advised. This in turn may help researchers and clinicians to discover the actual causes and risk factors and develop appropriate preventive and treatment protocols to tackle POCD in the ageing surgical population.Keywords: incidence, postoperative, cognitive dysfunction/decline, elderly patients, surgery, anaesthesia

The demand for increased patient safety has led to greater use of simulation training of health professionals performing medical procedures. The study aim was to evaluate the usefulness of the Mediseus® Epidural Simulator in teaching basic epidural needle-handling skills. Three groups of 15 anaesthetists (Novice=zero to two year anaesthesia trainees; Intermediate=three- to five-year anaesthesia trainees; Expert=consultants and regional-specialist anaesthetists) from three different medical centres participated. Each participant performed 20 simulated epidural needle insertions and was scored on several parameters (e.g. time, success of the insertion, bone collisions). Following familiarisation with the simulator and the needle insertions, participants answered seven questions on the applicability of the simulator to the teaching of basic epidural needle-handling skills. There was a clear learning effect with regard to the simulation procedure time, this decreasing throughout the experiment (P=0.037). There was no significant influence of either group or experience with the simulator in the study on the number or type of errors made. The quality of the simulation was scored 2.3 out of 5.0 (for bone simulation) and 4.7 (for loss-of-resistance simulation). All groups considered that the simulator was best suited for training prospective anaesthetists. Each group rated the usefulness of the simulator for training novices at greater than 3.0 out of 5.0. The Mediseus® Epidural Simulator seems to be an appropriate training device for an introduction to epidural needle insertion. For medical professionals with procedural knowledge, the simulation is not realistic enough and the simulator did not distinguish between the groups based on the errors made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate,with magnetic resonance imaging, the human anatomic positions of the spinal canal (eg, spinal cord, thecal tissue) in various postures and identify possible implications from different patient positioning for neuraxial anesthetic practice.Method: Nine volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging in supine, laterally recumbent, and sitting (head-down) positions. Axial and sagittal slices of the thoracic and lumbar spine were measured for the relative distances between anatomic structures, including dura mater and spinal cord.Results: The posterior dura-spinal cord (midline) distance is on average greater than the anterior dura-spinal cord (midline) distance along the thoracic spinal column, irrespective of volunteer postures (P G 0.05).The separation of the dura mater and spinal cord is greatest posterior in the middle thoracic region compared with upper and lower thoracic levels for all postures of the volunteers (P G 0.05). By placing the patient in a head-down sitting posture (as commonly done in epidural and spinal anesthesia), the posterior separation of the dura mater and spinal cordis increased.Conclusions: The spinal cord follows the straightest line through the imposed geometry of the spinal canal. Accordingly, there is relatively more posterior separation of the cord and surrounding thecal tissue at midthoracic levels in the apex of the thoracic kyphosis. Placing a patient in a position that accentuates the thoracic curvature of the spine (ie,sitting head-down) increases the posterior separation of the spinal cord and dural sheath at thoracic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the self-evident importance of hospital funding, many anaesthetists remain unsure of exactly how their daily work relates to hospital reimbursement. A lack of awareness of the nuances of the Australian hospital activity-based funding system has the potential to affect anaesthetic department reimbursement and thus resourcing. Activity-based funding relies on clinical coders reviewing clinical documentation and quantifying the care given to a patient during an admission. Errors in funding allocation may arise when there is a disconnect between the work performed and the information coded. In anaesthesia, there are several factors impeding this process, including clinical understanding of coding, system setup and coders' understanding of anaesthesia. This article explores these factors from the clinical anaesthetist's point of view and suggests solutions, such as awareness and education, clinician-coder cooperation and redesign of documentation systems at a systems level that anaesthetic departments can incorporate.

Background: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ® ) is a point-of-care test of coagulation. ROTEM ® -defined hypercoagulability has been identified in pregnant women and in non-pregnant patients with diabetes mellitus. Pregnancy is known to be a hypercoagulable state, but the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on coagulation is unknown., Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of pregnancy and GDM on coagulation using ROTEM ® and to compare this to healthy pregnant women presenting for elective caesarean delivery., Materials and Methods: Ethics approval was granted for recruitment of women presenting for elective caesarean delivery. Women with pre-existing conditions affecting coagulation were excluded. Group N included health pregnant women at term and Group G included pregnant women at term with GDM. Data regarding GDM management and glycaemic control were collected. Poor glycaemic control was defined by markers of accelerated fetal growth and elevated fasting or postprandial blood glucose levels. The ROTEM ® parameters (extrinsically activated thromboelastometric test (EXTEM) / fibrin polymerisation test (FIBTEM) amplitude at five minutes, coagulation time, maximum clot firmness and clot formation time) were compared between the two groups using Student's t-test., Results: There were 75 women in Group N and 21 women in Group G. Mean age and median body mass index values were comparable for both groups. There were no statistical differences found between the EXTEM and FIBTEM parameters analysed for the two groups., Conclusions: There was no association between GDM and increased hypercoagulability as demonstrated by ROTEM ® parameters in healthy pregnant women presenting for elective caesarean delivery at term., (© 2022 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Our understanding of chronic inflammation in obesity is evolving. Suggested mechanisms include hypoxia of adipose tissue and a subsequent increase in circulating cytokines. It is now known that adipose tissue, far from being an inert tissue, produces and secretes multiple peptides that influence inflammation and metabolism, including substrates of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). RAAS blocking antihypertensive medication and cholesterol-lowering agents are now being evaluated for their metabolic and inflammation-modulating effects. Surgery also has pro-inflammatory effects, which may be exacerbated in patients with obesity. This narrative review will summarise the recent literature surrounding obesity, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and interplay with the RAAS, with evidence-based recommendations for the optimisation of patients with obesity, prior to surgery and anaesthesia., (Copyright © 2021 Société française d’anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Airway Management is the key for anaesthetists dealing with patients undergoing diagnostic procedures and surgical interventions. The present coronavirus pandemic underpins even more how important safe airway management is. It also highlights the need to apply stringent precautions to avoid infection and ongoing transmission to patients, anaesthetists and other healthcare workers (HCWs). In light of this extraordinary global situation the aim of this article is to update the reader on the varied aspects of the ever-changing tasks anaesthetists are involved in and highlight the equipment, devices and techniques that have evolved in response to changing technology and unique patient and surgical requirements.

Background: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ® ) is a point-of-care coagulation test which has been used to demonstrate hypercoagulability in pregnant populations and obese populations., Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of pregnancy and obesity on coagulation using ROTEM ® in healthy pregnant women of varying body mass indices (BMIs) presenting for elective caesarean delivery., Materials and Methods: Ethics approval was granted for recruitment of women presenting for elective caesarean delivery. Women with any condition affecting coagulation were excluded. The ROTEM ® parameters of extrinsically activated thromboelastometric test / fibrin polymerisation test (EXTEM/FIBTEM) amplitude at five minutes (A5), coagulation time (CT), maximum clot firmness (MCF) and clot formation time (CFT) were compared between three different groups: normal weight, overweight and obese women., Results: One hundred and eighty-five women presenting for elective caesarean delivery met inclusion criteria and were divided into three groups; normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m 2 , n = 86), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 , n = 54) and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 , n = 45). They had a mean (SD) age of 32.7 ± 5.0 years and the median (interquartile range) BMI of 21.9 kg/m 2 (20.5-23.0), 27.0 kg/m 2 (26.0-28.5), 36.0 kg/m 2 (32.2-41.8) for the normal weight, overweight and obese groups respectively. Forty-one (22.2%) women were nulliparous. Across the three groups for FIBTEM A5 (P = 0.018), FIBTEM MCF (P = 0.032), FIBTEM CFT (P = 0.047) and EXTEM MCF (P = 0.015) there was evidence of increasing coagulability with increasing BMI. However, following Bonferroni correction, this was no longer significant., Conclusions: There is no association between BMI and ROTEM ® parameters in pregnant women presenting for elective caesarean delivery at term., (© 2020 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for surgical site infection after cesarean delivery. There is inadequate pharmacokinetic data available regarding prophylactic cefazolin dosing in obese pregnant women. We aimed to describe the plasma and interstitial fluid (ISF) pharmacokinetics of cefazolin in obese women undergoing elective cesarean delivery and use dosing simulations to predict optimal dosing regimens., Methods: Eligible women were scheduled for elective cesarean delivery at term, with a body mass index (BMI) of >35 kg·m. Plasma and ISF samples were collected following 2 g of intravenous cefazolin. Concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Population pharmacokinetic modeling and Monte Carlo dosing simulations were performed using Pmetrics. Total and unbound cefazolin concentrations in plasma and ISF were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentration at which 90% of isolates are inhibited (MIC90) of cefazolin for Staphylococcus aureus, 2 mg·L. The fractional target attainment (FTA) of dosing regimens to achieve a pre-established target of 95% unbound ISF concentrations >2 mg·L throughout a 3-hour duration of the surgery was calculated., Results: The 12 women recruited had a median (interquartile range [IQR]) BMI of 41.5 (39.7-46.6) kg·m and a median (IQR) gestation of 38.7 weeks (37.9-39.0). For each timepoint up to 180 minutes, the median across subjects of total and unbound plasma concentration of cefazolin remained above 2 mg·L. The minimum observed total plasma concentration was 31.7 mg·L and plasma unbound concentration was 7.7 mg·L (observed in the same participant). For each timepoint up to 150 minutes, the median across subjects of unbound ISF concentrations remained above 2 mg·L. The minimum observed unbound ISF concentration was 0.7 mg·L (observed in 1 participant). In 2 participants, the ISF concentration of cefazolin was not maintained above 2 mg·L. The mean (± standard error [SE]) penetration of cefazolin (calculated as area under the concentration-time curve for the unbound fraction of drug [fAUC]tissue/fAUCplasma) into the ISF was 0.884 ± 1.11. Simulations demonstrated that FTA >95% was achieved in patients weighing 90-150 kg by an initial 2 g dose with redosing of 2 g at 2 hours. FTA was improved to >99% when an initial 3 g dose was repeated at 2 hours., Conclusions: To maintain adequate ISF antibiotic concentrations in obese pregnant women, our results suggest that redosing of cefazolin may be required. When wound closure has not occurred within 2 hours, redosing is suggested, following either a 2 or 3 g initial bolus. These preliminary results require validation in a larger population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM ® ) baseline parameters in labouring women at term gestation. The secondary aim was to compare these reference ranges with those from previous studies on labouring women and from the manufacturer., Design: A prospective, observational study., Setting: Tertiary referral hospital., Participants: Healthy women in labour., Methods: Ethics approval was granted for an opt-out recruitment approach. ROTEM ® testing was performed in labouring women at term gestation. Women with any condition affecting coagulation were excluded. ROTEM ® Delta reference ranges were derived by calculating the 2.5% and 97.5% centiles for INTEM/EXTEM/FIBTEM parameters including amplitude at 5 minutes (A5), coagulation time (CT) and maximum clot firmness (MCF)., Main Outcome Measures: ROTEM ® parameters were measured in labouring women before delivery. The following tests were performed: FIBTEM, EXTEM and INTEM., Results: One hundred and twenty-one women met the inclusion criteria, with a mean (± SD) age of 29.6 ± 5.4 years and median (interquartile range) gestation of 39.4 weeks (37.4-40.4 weeks). Seventy-five (62.0%) women were nulliparous and 71 (58.7%) delivered vaginally. The median and interquartile ranges for selected ROTEM ® parameters were: FIBTEM A5, 21 mm (IQR 18-23 mm); EXTEM A5, 55 mm (52-58 mm); and EXTEM CT, 52 seconds (48-56 seconds)., Conclusions: The FIBTEM/EXTEM/INTEM amplitudes were higher than the manufacturer's reference ranges for non-obstetric patients. The FIBTEM MCF upper and lower limits were higher and the EXTEM/INTEM CT was shorter and narrower in range. This study provides reference ranges for ROTEM ® values in healthy labouring women at term gestation with uncomplicated pregnancies., Tweetable Abstract: This is the first study to report on ROTEM ® reference ranges with over 120 healthy labouring women of normal weight at term gestation., (© 2020 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Background: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) is a point-of-care coagulation test. Reference ranges in non-labouring women have recently been established from a cohort of women presenting for elective caesarean delivery using the recommended minimum sample size of 120. This study aimed to present baseline parameters for labouring and non-labouring women and to compare the mean values of these ROTEM® parameters., Methods: Ethical approval was granted for an opt-out recruitment approach for labouring women and written consent was obtained from non-labouring women (data published previously). ROTEM® testing was performed in these two cohorts at term gestation. Women with any condition affecting coagulation were excluded. ROTEM® Delta reference ranges were derived by calculating the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles for INTEM/EXTEM/FIBTEM amplitude at 5 min (A5), coagulation time (CT), maximum clot firmness (MCF) and clot formation time (CFT)., Results: One hundred and twenty-one labouring and 132 non-labouring women met inclusion criteria. The mean values for selected ROTEM® parameters for labouring and non-labouring women respectively were: FIBTEM A5, 21.05 and 19.7 mm (P=0.008); EXTEM A5, 54.8 and 53.2 mm (P=0.025); and EXTEM CT, 52.2 and 53.7 s (P=0.049). Significant differences between the groups were observed in measures of clotting onset and clot firmness., Conclusions: We demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean time-to-clotting onset in labouring women compared with non-labouring women. Mean values for measures of clot firmness were greater in labouring women. In comparison to previously established ROTEM® baseline parameters for non-labouring women, this study provides evidence that there is greater hyper-coagulability in labouring women., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Formal reference ranges for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in pregnancy have not been obtained in the recommended minimum sample size of 120. This prospective observational study aimed to establish baseline parameters in an Australian population of women undergoing elective caesarean delivery. The secondary aim was to compare these reference ranges with those from prior studies and the manufacturer., Methods: Women undergoing elective caesarean delivery at term were included if they were at term, of normal body mass index and had no conditions affecting coagulation. ROTEM® reference ranges were derived by calculating the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles for INTEM/EXTEM/FIBTEM amplitude at 5 minutes (A5), amplitude at 15 minutes (A15), coagulation time (CT), maximum clot firmness (MCF), and clot formation time (CFT)., Results: Of 202 women screened, 132 met the inclusion criteria, having a mean age of 32.7 ± 5.0 years and median body mass index of 23.8 kg/m 2 (interquartile range 21.5-26.4). The reference ranges for selected ROTEM® parameters were as follows: FIBTEM A5 (13-28 mm), FIBTEM CT (40-74 s), FIBTEM MCF (16-34 mm), EXTEM A5 (39-66 mm), EXTEM CT (43-69 s), INTEM A5 (38-63 mm)., Conclusions: ROTEM® reference ranges for women with uncomplicated term pregnancies were reported as per the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. The FIBTEM MCF and FIBTEM/EXTEM/INTEM amplitudes were higher in comparison to the manufacturer's reference ranges for the non-obstetric population. The EXTEM CT was shorter than the non-obstetric reference ranges. These ranges show an increase in coagulability during normal pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant reference ranges., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Most medical practitioners are not specifically trained to diagnose or manage in-flight medical incidents, yet there may occur a moral obligation to do so when least expected. We felt that knowledge of the frequency of emergency versus non-serious medical incidents, in addition to the clinical spectrum of incidents most often encountered, would be of interest to medical practitioners and, in particular, critical care physicians, who happen to find themselves asked to assist with such events. To this end we collaborated with the Department of Medical Services of a major Australian airline to define the incidence, severity, and type of all in-flight medical events encountered over the course of a year's flights. We audited in-flight medical data collected over a continuous 12-month period, which covered 131,890 international and domestic flight sectors transporting more than 27 million passengers. There was an average of 296 medical events per month (3555 in total) making the per-flight incidence of a medical event approximately 1:40 (2.7%). Of these in-flight incidents, 915 (26%) were graded as emergencies, with the commonest descriptors of such incidents being either loss of consciousness (37%) or a suspected cardiovascular event (12%). Six of these 915 emergencies proved fatal. Twenty-one flights were diverted due to medical incidents (<0.016% of all flights), with 52% of these attributed to suspected cardiac events. In this series, medical in-flight events were recorded in approximately one in 40 flights, whereas medical emergencies occurred in approximately one in 150 flights.

Background: In the armamentarium of an anesthesiologist, videolaryngoscopy is a valuable addition to secure the airway. However, when the videolaryngoscope (VLS) offers no solution, few options remain. Earlier, we presented an intubation technique combining Macintosh blade VLS and Bonfils intubation endoscope (BIE) for a patient with a history of very difficult intubation. In the present study, we evaluated this technique to establish whether it is a valuable alternative., Methods: In this single-blinded nonrandomized study, 38 patients with a history of difficult intubation or 1 or more predictors of difficult intubation, scoring a Cormack & Lehane (C&L) grade III or IV using Macintosh blade VLS, were included. Patients were intubated combining the VLS with the BIE. The C&L grade was scored 3 times during (1) direct laryngoscopy; (2) indirect videolaryngoscopy; and (3) using the combined technique (VLS + BIE). Afterward, 2 blinded anesthesiologists assessed the C&L grade using the pictures taken during the procedure., Results: Data of 38 patients were analyzed. An improvement of the C&L grade with the combined technique occurred in 33 of 38 patients (86.8%; 95% confidence interval, 71.9%-95.6%). Reviewer 1 reported an improvement of the C&L grade with the combined technique in 37 of 38 patients. Reviewer 2 reported improvement in 33 and deterioration in 2 of the patients. No complications occurred., Conclusions: The combined use of a VLS with Macintosh blade and BIE gives the anesthesiologist a valuable alternative intubation option in patients with extremely difficult airways.

Increasing rates of obesity in western populations present management difficulties for clinicians caring for obese pregnant women. Various governing bodies have published clinical guidelines for the care of obese parturients. These guidelines refer to two components of anaesthetic care: anaesthetic consultation in the antenatal period for women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m 2 and the provision of early epidural analgesia in labour. These recommendations are based on the increased incidence of obstetric complications and the predicted risks and difficulties in providing anaesthetic care. The concept behind early epidural analgesia is logical-site the epidural early, use it for surgical anaesthesia and avoid general anaesthesia if surgery is required. Experts support this recommendation, but there is weak supporting evidence. It is known that the management of labour epidurals in obese women is complicated and that women with extreme obesity require higher rates of general anaesthesia. Anecdotally, anaesthetists view and apply the early epidural recommendation inconsistently and the acceptability of early epidural analgesia to pregnant women is variable. In this topic review, we critically appraise these two practice recommendations. The elements required for effective implementation in multidisciplinary maternity care are considered. We identify gaps in the current literature and suggest areas for future research. While prospective cohort studies addressing epidural extension ('top-up') in obese parturients would help inform practice, audit of local practice may better answer the question "is early epidural analgesia beneficial to obese women in my practice?".

Caring for obese pregnant women presents challenges for all medical professionals. Despite a lack of supporting evidence, expert opinion and international guidelines suggest early labour epidural insertion for obese women. Anecdotally this is not supported by all anaesthetists. This qualitative study explored the experiences of anaesthetists regarding early epidural analgesia in obese parturients, to answer the research question: Are anaesthetists consistent in how they apply early epidural analgesia in obese parturients? Personal in-depth interviews with 42 specialist anaesthetists working in south-east Queensland, Australia, were completed between February and April, 2015. Leximancer™ text analysis software applied a validated algorithm to the data to identify themes and concepts. The major themes were explored by the first author to answer the research question. Three major themes were identified: the demands associated with caring for obese women; concern regarding the anaesthetic technique used in obese women; and the importance of communication with obstetric staff. Disagreement regarding interpretation and application of early epidural analgesia was identified within this group of anaesthetists. These anaesthetists were inconsistent in how they interpreted and applied early epidural analgesia for obese parturients, with some questioning the validity of the practice. The combination of uncertainty, urgency and technical difficulty presented by obese parturients provoked anxiety in these clinicians, particularly the anticipation of unplanned general anaesthesia. Consistent anaesthetic practice could improve the implementation of early epidural analgesia in obese parturients.

Correct inflation pressures of the tracheal cuff are recommended to ensure adequate ventilation and prevent aspiration and adverse events. However there are conflicting views on which measurement to employ. The aim of this review was to examine whether adjustment of cuff pressure guided by objective measurement, compared with subjective measurement or observation of the pressure value alone, was able to prevent patient-related adverse effects and maintain accurate cuff pressures. A search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL and ScienceDirect was conducted using keywords 'cuff pressure' and 'measure*' and related synonyms. Included studies were randomised or pseudo-randomised controlled trials investigating mechanically ventilated patients both in the intensive care unit and during surgery. Outcomes included adverse effects and the comparison of pressure measurements. Pooled analyses were performed to calculate risk ratios, effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals. Meta-analysis found preliminary evidence that adjustment of cuff pressure guided by objective measurement as compared with subjective measurement or observation of the pressure value alone, has benefit in preventing adverse effects. These included cough at two hours (odds ratio [OR] 0.42, confidence interval [CI] 0.23 to 0.79, P =0.007), hoarseness at 24 hours (OR 0.49, CI 0.31 to 0.76, P <0.002), sore throat (OR 0.73, CI 0.54 to 0.97, P <0.03), lesions of the trachea and incidences of silent aspiration ( P =0.001), as well as maintaining accurate cuff pressures (Hedges' g 1.61, CI 2.69 to 0.53, P =0.003). Subjective measurement to guide adjustment or observation of the pressure value alone may lead to patient-related adverse effects and inaccuracies. It is recommended that an objective form of measurement be used.

Study Objective: Central venous access is indicated for transduction of central venous pressure and the administration of inotropes in the perioperative period. The right internal jugular vein (RIJV) is cannulated preferentially over the left internal jugular vein (LIJV). Cannulation of the LIJV is associated with a higher complication rate and a perceived increased level of difficulty when compared with cannulation of the RIJV. Possible explanations for the higher complication rate include a smaller diameter and more anterior position relative to the corresponding carotid artery (CA) of the LIJV compared with the RIJV. In this study, the RIJV and LIJV were examined in mechanically ventilated patients to determine the validity of these possible explanations., Design: A prospective, nonrandomized cohort study., Setting: The operating room of a major teaching hospital., Patients: One hundred fifty-one patients scheduled for elective heart surgery., Intervention: Ultrasound examination of the RIJV and LIJV at the level of the cricoid cartilage with a 12-MHz linear transducer in 151 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated patients in the Trendelenburg position., Measurements and Results: In 72% of patients, the RIJV was dominant over the LIJV. The diameter and cross-sectional area of the RIJV was larger than the LIJV (P < .001). An anterior position of the LIJV in relation to the left CA was detected more often when compared with the RIJV and right CA (15.1% vs 5.4%, P = .01)., Conclusion: This study confirms the smaller diameter and increased frequency of anterior positioning relative to the corresponding CA of the LIJV when compared with the RIJV. This validates them as possible explanations for the higher complication rate of LIJV cannulation compared with RIJV cannulation., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Videolaryngoscopy is often reserved for 'anticipated' difficult airways, but thereby can result in a higher overall rate of complications. We observed 65 anaesthetists, 67 residents in anaesthesia, 56 paramedics and 65 medical students, intubating the trachea of a standardised manikin model with a normal airway using seven devices: Macintosh classic laryngoscope, Airtraq(®) , Storz C-MAC(®) , Coopdech VLP-100(®) , Storz C-MAC D-Blade(®) , GlideScope Cobalt(®) , McGrath Series5(®) and Pentax AWS(®) ) in random order. Time to and proportion of successful intubation, complications and user satisfaction were compared. All groups were fastest using devices with a Macintosh-type blade. All groups needed significantly more attempts using the Airtraq and Pentax AWS (all p < 0.05). Devices with a Macintosh-type blade (classic laryngoscope and C-MAC) scored highest in user satisfaction. Our results underline the importance of variability in device performance across individuals and staff groups, which have important implications for which devices hospital providers should rationally purchase., (© 2016 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Background and Aims: Insufficient illumination of the oral cavity during endotracheal intubation may result in suboptimal conditions. Consequently, suboptimal illumination and laryngoscopy may lead to potential unwanted trauma to soft tissues of the pharyngeal mucosa. We investigated illumination of the oral cavity by different videolaryngoscopes (VLS) in a manikin model., Methods: We measured light intensity from the mouth opening of a Laerdal intubation trainer comparing different direct and indirect VLS at three occasions, resembling optimal to less-than-optimal intubation conditions; at the photographer's dark room, in an operating theatre and outdoors in bright sunlight., Results: Substantial differences in luminance were detected between VLS. The use of LED light significantly improved light production. All VLS produced substantial higher luminance values in a well-luminated environment compared to the dark photographer's room. The experiments outside-in bright sunlight-were interfered with by direct sunlight penetration through the synthetic material of the manikin, making correct measurement of luminance in the oropharynx invalid., Conclusion: Illumination of the oral cavity differs widely among direct and indirect VLS. The clinician should be aware of the possibility of suboptimal illumination of the oral cavity and the potential risk this poses for the patient.

Airway management is one of the core skills of the anaesthetist and various techniques of airway management have developed over many years. Initially, the only view of the glottis that could be obtained was an indirect view (indirect laryngoscopy). Late in the 19th century, a direct view of the glottis was obtained via various direct laryngoscopes. Currently, in the early 21st century, there has been a return to indirect laryngoscopy via videolaryngoscopy using a videolaryngoscope. The aim of this paper is to give a historical overview of the development of both direct and indirect laryngoscopy.

Since the introduction of chloroform for labour analgesia in 1847, different methods and medications have been used to relieve the pain of labour. The use of heavy sedative medication in the early 1900s was encouraged by enthusiastic doctors and by women empowered by the women's suffrage movement in America. Nitrous oxide by inhalation has been used in Australia since the 1950s and improved methods of administration have made this method of analgesia safe and practical. Caudal epidural analgesia and lumbar epidural analgesia were first made popular in America and by the 1970s these techniques were more widely available in Australia. In 1847, physicians and the public were unsure whether relieving labour pains was the 'right' thing to do. However, many medical and social changes have occurred thanks to the clinical connection between Australia and the United Kingdom and those first settlers to land on Australian shores. Thanks to this historical connection, in today's Australia there is no question that women should use analgesia as a pain relief if they wish. Currently, the majority of women worldwide use some form of analgesia during labour and different methods are widely available. This paper discusses the four milestones of the development of obstetric analgesia and how they were introduced into patient care in Australia.

Introduction: Expertise in airway management is a fundamental aspect of anesthesia practice. Fortunately 'can't intubate, can't ventilate' scenarios are extremely rare. In particular, patients with tumors on the right side of the oropharynx and larynx can be very problematic to intubate., Methods: We present an alternative intubation technique, whereby a C-MAC D-blade videolaryngoscope is loaded with a Frova catheter in the narrow, curving channel within the blade's infero-posterior aspect on the left side of the blade. This technique can be a successful alternative in patients with difficult airways., Results: The proposed technique was successfully demonstrated in a case whereby a 47-year old male with premetrics of a difficult airway, presented with a large mass in the right supraglottis and hypopharynx with through-and-through thyroid cartilage infiltration, obstructing completely the view of the glottis with direct laryngoscopy. The referral hospital considered the patient unintubatable and sent the patient to our academic center for treatment. Endotracheal intubation with the new technique was successful at the first attempt., Conclusions: The C-MAC D-Blade videolaryngoscope-bougie technique provides an alternative method to intubate patients with difficult airways, even in exceptional situations such as in patients with a large right-sided oropharynx-larynx tumor.

Background: In our institution, we have redefined our criteria for direct availability of red blood cell (RBC) units in the operation room. In this study, we sought to evaluate the safety of applying this new logistical policy of blood transfusion in the first preliminary group of patients., Methods: In March 2010, we started a new policy concerning the elective availability of RBC units in the operation room. This policy was called: No Elective Red Cells (NERC) program. The program was applied for patients undergoing primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or single valve surgery. No elective RBC units were preoperatively ordered for these patients. In case of urgent need, blood was delivered to the operating room within 20 min. The present study includes the first 500 patients who were managed according to this policy. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of biomedical variables on fulfilling this NERC program., Results: The majority of patients (n = 409, 81 %) did not receive any RBCs during the hospital stay. In patients who did receive RBCs (n = 91, 19 %), 11 patients (2.2 %) received RBCs after 24 h postoperatively. Female gender, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and EuroSCORE were significant predictors for the need of blood transfusion (OR = 3.12; 2.79; 1.17 respectively)., Conclusion: In a selected group of patients, it is safe to perform cardiac surgery without the immediate availability of RBCs in the operating room. Transfusion was avoided in 81 % of these patients. Female gender, LVEF and EuroSCORE were associated with blood transfusion.

Statins feature documented benefits for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and are thought to improve perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery. To assess the clinical outcomes of perioperative statin treatment in statin-naive patients undergoing surgery, a systematic review was performed. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: randomized controlled trials, patients aged ≥18 yr undergoing surgery, patients not already on long-term statin treatment, reported outcomes including at least one of the following: mortality, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and length of hospital stay. The following randomized clinical trials were excluded: retrospective studies, trials without surgical procedure, trials without an outcome of interest, studies with patients on statin therapy before operation, or papers not written in English. The literature search revealed 16 randomized controlled studies involving 2275 patients. Pooled results showed a significant reduction in (i) mortality [risk ratio (RR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.94, P=0.03], (ii) myocardial infarction (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.38-0.76, P<0.001), (iii) perioperative atrial fibrillation (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.43-0.66, P<0.001), and (iv) length of hospital stay (days, mean difference -0.58, 95% CI -0.79 to -0.37, P<0.001) in patients treated with a statin. Subgroup analysis in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery showed a decrease in the perioperative incidence of mortality and myocardial infarction. Consequently, anaesthetists should consider prescribing a standard-dose statin before operation to statin-naive patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, there are insufficient data to support final recommendations on perioperative statin therapy for patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background and Aim of the Study: In the present study, we investigated the survival of patients who received postoperative renal replacement therapy (RRT) after cardiac surgery. We specifically focused on factors predicting long-term outcome in elderly patients., Methods: Data of all patients that received unintentional renal replacement therapy following cardiac surgery between 2004 and 2010 were analyzed. Logistic- and Cox regression analyses were performed to detect the predictors of early and late mortality, respectively., Results: During the study period, 11,899 patients underwent cardiac surgery in our center. Post-operative RRT was performed in 138 patients (1.2%). In this group of patients, 30-day mortality included 72 patients (52%) and the total overall mortality included 107 patients (77.5%). Regression analyses revealed that age predicted 30-day mortality (odds ratio = 1.08 [1.03 to 1.12]) as well as late mortality (odds ratio = 1.05 [1.02 to 1.07]., Conclusions: Patients requiring RRT after cardiac surgery have a poor prognosis with a high mortality. Older age predicted both 30-day and late mortality in these patients., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Inspired by the earlier establishment of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, but with a structure to accommodate the diverse languages and health care systems of Europe, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia (ESRA) held its first scientific meeting in 1982. During the following 30 years, ESRA grew from strength to strength and implemented a number of important educational initiatives, the story of these developments being the subject of this review. ESRA's prime function is to publicize the evidence on regional anesthesia and encourage its further development, but it also led the way in democratizing European anesthesia societies by being the first to open its membership to all. A recent revision of the constitution has further increased the society's democratic nature.Educationally, activities grew from a single annual congress to include zonal meetings, cadaver workshops, a major online program, and collaborations (guidelines and conferences) with other societies. Finally, the introduction of a Diploma qualification in regional anesthesia was an entirely novel project.

In extreme emergency situations, patients may need to undergo endotracheal intubation, while in a non-supine position. This manuscript offers several options to the anesthesiologist to cope with tracheal intubations in non-standard positions. The authors stress that there is a need for adequate training in an anaesthesia skills lab, whereby classic direct laryngoscopy and indirect videolaryngoscopy should be practiced on manikins, before our trainees actually practice anesthesia on patients in operating theatres. This manuscript is also a plea for developing an algorithm for emergency airway management in the non-supine position.

Objectives: Various studies have shown different parameters as independent risk factors in predicting the success of fast-track postoperative management in cardiac surgery. In the present study, we evaluated our 7-year experience with the fast-track protocol and investigated the preoperative predictors of successful outcome., Methods: Between 2004 and 2010, 5367 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery were preoperatively selected for postoperative admission in the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) and were included in this study. These patients were then transferred to the ordinary ward on the same day of the operation. The primary end-point of the study was the success of the PACU protocol, defined as discharge to the ward on the same day, no further admission to the intensive care unit and no operative mortality. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect the independent risk factors for failure of the PACU pathway., Results: Of 11,895 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, 5367 (45.2%) were postoperatively admitted to the PACU. The protocol was successful in 4510 patients (84.0%). Using the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age and left ventricular dysfunction were found to be independent risk factors for failure of the PACU protocol [odds ratio of 0.98/year (0.97-0.98) and 0.31 (0.14-0.70), respectively]., Conclusions: Our fast-track management, called the PACU protocol, is efficient and safe for the postoperative management of selected patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Age and left ventricular dysfunction are significant preoperative predictors of failure of this protocol.