Effects of etomidate use in ICU patients on ventilator therapy: a study of 12,526 patients in an open database from a single center / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#There is a debate regarding the safety of etomidate. We evaluated the effects of etomidate on mortality in a large cohort of critical care patients. @*Methods@#This retrospective matched-cohort study was performed using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care version 3 (MIMIC-III) database. Among 12,526 adult patients who were prescribed etomidate or propofol on the first day of mechanical ventilation, 625 patients administered etomidate were statistically matched with 6,250 patients administered propofol. The primary outcome measures were all-cause in-hospital mortality, 48-hour survival, cardiovascular morbidity, and infectious morbidity. Logistic regression analysis with stepwise selection of variables was performed to examine the dose–mortality relationship of etomidate. @*Results@#All-cause in-hospital mortality was 1.84 times higher in the etomidate cohort (OR, 1.84; 98.75% CI, 1.42, 2.37). Compared to the propofol cohort, the etomidate cohort showed 57% lower odds of 48-hour survival (0.43 [0.27, 0.73]), no difference in odds of cardiovascular morbidity (0.86 [0.66, 1.12]), and 1.77 times higher odds of infectious morbidity (1.77 [1.35, 2.31]). Additionally, the odds of mortality increased by 1.36 times per 0.1 mg/kg of etomidate (1.36 [95% CI: 1.23, 1.49]). @*Conclusions@#Etomidate is a poor choice as a hypnotic drug on the first day of mechanical ventilation, as it is associated with a dose-dependent increase in all-cause mortality, and does not improve survival for the first 48 h.

Effects of etomidate use in ICU patients on ventilator therapy: a study of 12,526 patients in an open database from a single center / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#There is a debate regarding the safety of etomidate. We evaluated the effects of etomidate on mortality in a large cohort of critical care patients. @*Methods@#This retrospective matched-cohort study was performed using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care version 3 (MIMIC-III) database. Among 12,526 adult patients who were prescribed etomidate or propofol on the first day of mechanical ventilation, 625 patients administered etomidate were statistically matched with 6,250 patients administered propofol. The primary outcome measures were all-cause in-hospital mortality, 48-hour survival, cardiovascular morbidity, and infectious morbidity. Logistic regression analysis with stepwise selection of variables was performed to examine the dose–mortality relationship of etomidate. @*Results@#All-cause in-hospital mortality was 1.84 times higher in the etomidate cohort (OR, 1.84; 98.75% CI, 1.42, 2.37). Compared to the propofol cohort, the etomidate cohort showed 57% lower odds of 48-hour survival (0.43 [0.27, 0.73]), no difference in odds of cardiovascular morbidity (0.86 [0.66, 1.12]), and 1.77 times higher odds of infectious morbidity (1.77 [1.35, 2.31]). Additionally, the odds of mortality increased by 1.36 times per 0.1 mg/kg of etomidate (1.36 [95% CI: 1.23, 1.49]). @*Conclusions@#Etomidate is a poor choice as a hypnotic drug on the first day of mechanical ventilation, as it is associated with a dose-dependent increase in all-cause mortality, and does not improve survival for the first 48 h.

Initial Seizure Threshold in Brief-Pulse Bilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to report the initial seizure threshold (IST) of a brief-pulse bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (BP-BL ECT) in Korean patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and to identify IST predictors. METHODS: Among 67 patients who received ECT and diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, we included 56 patients who received 1-millisecond BP-BL ECT after anesthesia with sodium thiopental between March 2012 and June 2018. Demographic and clinical information was gathered from electronic medical records, and a multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of the IST. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 36.9±12.0 years and 30 (53.6%) patients were male. The mean and median IST were 105.9±54.5 and 96 millicoulombs (mC), respectively. The IST was predicted by age, gender, and dose (mg/kg) of sodium thiopental. Other physical and clinical variables were not associated with the IST. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the IST of 1-ms BP-BL ECT following sodium thiopental anesthesia in Korean patients was comparable to those reported in previous literature. The IST was associated with age, gender, and dose of sodium thiopental.

Publication Delay of Korean Medical Journals

Publication lag is a determinant to journal efficiency that was not yet studied concerning Korean medical journals. To measure publication lag, we investigated the publication timestamps of 4,762 articles published by 10 Korean medical journals indexed in Scopus database, randomly selected from the KoreaMed Synapse since 2013. The total publication lag was 246.5 (Q1, Q3; 178.0, 347.0) days. The overall acceptance lag was 102.0 (65.0, 149.0) days. The overall lead lag was 123.0 (63.0, 236.0) days. The year of publication did not significantly affect the acceptance lag (P = 0.640), supposedly shortening it by about 1.4 (97.5% confidence interval [CI], −5.2 to 8.0) days/year, while the date affected the lead lag (P = 0.028), shortening it by about 12.9 (1.3 to 24.5) days/year. The Korean medical journals have reduced the total publication delay entirely by means of reducing the lead lag, not by reducing the acceptance lag.

Characteristics of the similarity index in a Korean medical journal / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Journal editors have exercised their control over submitted papers having a high similarity index. Despite widespread suspicion of possible plagiarism on a high similarity index, our study focused on the real effect of the similarity index on the value of a scientific paper. METHODS: This research examined the percent values of the similarity index from 978 submitted (420 published) papers in the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology since 2012. Thus, this study aimed to identify the correlation between the similarity index and the value of a paper. The value of a paper was evaluated in two distinct phases (during a peer-review process vs. after publication), and the value of a published paper was evaluated in two aspects (academic citation vs. social media appearance). RESULTS: Yearly mean values of the similarity index ranged from 16% to 19%. There were 254 papers cited at least once and 179 papers appearing at least once in social media. The similarity index affected the acceptance/rejection of a paper in various ways; although the influence was not linear and the cutoff measures were distinctive among the types of papers, both extremes were related to a high rate of rejection. After publication, the similarity index had no effect on academic citation or social media appearance according to the paper. CONCLUSIONS: The finding suggested that the similarity index no longer had an influence on academic citation or social media appearance according to the paper after publication, while the similarity index affected the acceptance/rejection of a submitted paper. Proofreading and intervention for finalizing the draft by the editors might play a role in achieving uniform quality of the publication.

Time for something different: the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology commences EPUB ahead of print / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

What repeated measures analysis of variances really tells us / 대한마취과학회지

This article examined repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA). Within-subjects repeated measurements are unavoidable during clinical and experimental investigation, and between- and within-subject variability should be treated separately. Only through proper use and meticulous interpretation can ethical and scientific integrity be guaranteed. The philosophical background of, and knowledge pertaining to, RMANOVA are described in the first half of this text. The sphericity assumption and associated issues are discussed in the latter half. The final section provides a summary measure analysis, which was neglected by P value-dependent interpreters.

Looking back on your statistical tool / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Effects of carbetocin infusion on hemodynamics during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia

BACKGROUND: Carbetocin is a long-acting synthetic analogue of oxytocin that is used to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Cardiovascular effects of oxytocin include tachycardia and hypotension. We investigated hemodynamic changes induced by carbetocin during spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Carbetocin 100 microg was infused over 5 min in 40 women undergoing cesarean delivery. Hemodynamic parameters were measured noninvasively using the Finometer(R) device. The hemodynamic values were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Statistically significant hemodynamic effects were seen with a maximal effect at about 75 seconds after infusion start compared with those of baseline: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased 21.6 +/- 8.8 mmHg, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreased 28.6 +/- 11.1% and heart rate (HR) increased 15.3 +/- 7.9 beats/min. Following the maximal effect, MAP and SVR remained almost constant at this decreased level until the end of study period. However, HR was slowly recovered after the peak, approaching the baseline value. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the maximal hemodynamic changes were occurred at about 75 seconds after administration of carbetocin. Therefore, careful observation is required during this early period.

War on research misconduct / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Optimal effect-site concentration of remifentanil for preventing development of hypertension during tracheal intubation with inhaled desflurane induction / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect-site concentration of remifentanil needed to prevent haemodynamic instability during tracheal intubation with inhaled desflurane induction. METHODS: One hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II female patients were randomized to receive an effect-site concentration of remifentanil of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 ng/ml. Induction of anaesthesia was started with intravenous injection of propofol 2 mg/kg. Ninety seconds after the completion of propofol injection, rocuronium (0.8 mg/kg) and remifentanil were administered simultaneously with 3% desflurane inhalation. Tracheal intubation was attempted 150 sec after the commencement of remifentanil administration. RESULTS: A probit model of remifentanil concentration was predictive of successful intubation without development of hypertension (P for goodness-of-fit = 0.419). The effect-site concentration of remifentanil needed to achieve successful intubation without development of hypertension in 95% of the patients was 3.3 ng/ml (95% confidence interval, 2.6-4.8 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: The effect-site concentration of remifentanil of 3.3 ng/ml is effective in blunting the haemodynamic response in 95% of the patients when 2.0 mg/kg of propofol induction was followed by 3% desflurane inhalation.

Hyperventilation delays clinical induction of desflurane

BACKGROUND: Ventilation is a major determinant of the alveolar concentration of inhaled anesthetics. Hyperventilation accelerates the equilibration of anesthetic in the lungs, but decelerates it in the brain. We evaluated this phenomenon for desflurane. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled after IRB approval. End-tidal concentrations of desflurane (P.DESF) were recorded during 10 minutes of mask induction with 8% desflurane. P.DESF was modeled with time and end-tidal concentrations of CO2 (P.ETCO2) using a two-exponential pharmacokinetic equation. Bispectral index (BIS) values were also measured to find out the component reflecting the cerebral concentration of desflurane. RESULTS: During induction, the rise of P.DESF could be separated into two components: early and late rises. Individual BIS values showed a higher correlation with the late component of P.DESF (P = 0.000). P.ETCO2 had two different effects on the rise of P.DESF. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperventilation hastened the early rise and delayed the late rise of P.DESF (P = 0.00, P = 0.00). Hyperventilation should be avoided to obtain rapid anesthesia induction with desflurane.

Effect-site concentration of remifentanil to blunt the hemodynamic changes during rapid sequence intubation

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect-site concentration of remifentanil to blunt the hemodynamic changes during rapid sequence intubation. METHODS: Eighty patients were enrolled and divided into four groups being assigned with different effect-site concentrations (Ce)of remifentanil of 0, 2, 3, or 4 ng/ml. Patients arrived at the operating room without premedication and their baseline vital signs were recorded. With preoxygenation of 100% O2, remifentanil was infused by target controlled infusion according to patient group. After achievement of a stable level of Ce, propofol 2 mg/kg and rocuronium 1.2 mg/kg were injected and the trachea was intubated one minute later. Hemodynamic changes were recorded at 1, 2, and 3 min after remifentanil infusion, immediately before and after endotracheal intubation, and 1 and 2 min after endotracheal intubation. RESULTS: The 50% effective Ce of remifentanil was 1.4 ng/ml (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.9-1.8) to blunt the increase of mean blood pressure and was 2.4 ng/ml (95% CI: 1.6-3.1) to blunt the increase of heart rate. The 50% Ce for the decrease of mean blood pressure was 2.8 ng/ml (95% CI: 2.2-3.4). CONCLUSIONS: During the rapid sequence intubation, the 50% effective effect site concentration of remifentanil to prevent hemodynamic changes is between 2.4 and 2.8 ng/ml.

Emergence cerebral oxygen desaturation without hemodynamic compromise in pediatric patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) decreases significantly during ordinary anesthetic recovery in pediatric patients anesthetized with sevoflurane or desflurane. The present study examined the relationship between rSO2 and the clinical parameters associated with the degree of anesthetic recovery. METHODS: Twelve pediatric patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 were assigned randomly to receive anesthesia with sevoflurane or desflurane. All children underwent general anesthesia for minor surgery. After surgery, the rSO2, the age-adjusted MAC fraction of anesthetic concentration (F(E)), and the bispectral index (BIS) were recorded over a 10-minute period. The correlations between rSO2 and candidate predictors, such as F(E), BIS, anesthetic, and duration of anesthesia, were analyzed. RESULTS: All children recovered uneventfully. The lowest observed rSO2 reached 63% and the maximum decrease in rSO2 was 24%. The mean blood pressure and heart rate were maintained within clinical ranges. The decrease in rSO2 correlated positively with the F(E) (r = 0.25, P = 0.00) and the duration of anesthesia (r = 0.24, P = 0.01), and inversely with the use of sevoflurane (r = -0.30, P = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: Despite normal parameters, cerebral desaturation occurred during the emergence of ordinary general anesthesia even without hemodynamic compromise or arterial desaturation. Cerebral desaturation might be associated with the degree of anesthetic recovery and the use of sevoflurane.

Tension pneumothorax after arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A case report

While arthroscopic shoulder surgery is considered relatively safe, complications have been reported.Though rare, pneumothorax has been reported in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.Tension pneumothorax must be immediately recognized and treated due to its potentially life threatening consequences.The authors present a case of a patient who developed tension pneumothorax after arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and its anesthetic managements.

Response of cerebral oximetry to increase in alveolar concentration of desflurane: effect of remifentanil and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: It is known that sympathetic stimulation and increase in cerebral blood flow velocity can be induced by desflurane. Cerebral oxygen balance could be disturbed during desflurane induction. Aim of this study was to elucidate that cerebral oxygen imbalance induced by desflurane mask induction can be reduced by combination of remifentanil and hypocapnia. METHODS: Twenty ASA 1-2 subjects were allocated randomly into 5 groups divided by concentration of remifentanil (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ng/ml). After confirmation of attaining proposed concentration of remifentanil, propofol and vecuronium were administered and mechanical ventilation was done with 8% desflurane with facial mask. Subsequently, changes in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (DeltarSO2), arterial blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, estimated alveolar concentration of desflurane (PDESF), and end-tidal concentration of carbon dioxide (PETCO2) were recorded for the following 10 minutes. According to concentration of desflurane and remifentanil, DeltarSO2 and hemodynamic factors were checked. RESULTS: During desflurane induction, changes in cerebral oximetry reached up to +10% (6 [first quartile], 13 [third quartile]). Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index were changed within clinical ranges. The DeltarSO2 showed S-shaped increasing pattern according to increasing PDESF. Hypocapnia and concentration of remifentanil reduced the maximum DeltarSO2 (P = 0.0046, P = 0.0060). Hypocapnia also shifted the curve to left (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: During 8% desflurane induction, regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) increases maximum +25%. Hypocapnia and use of remifentanil can reduce the increase in regional cerebral oxygen saturation.

Pulmonary edema during hysteroscopic surgery: Three cases report / 대한마취과학회지

Hysteroscopic surgery has become a routine gynecologic procedure. The advantages are associated with more accurate removal of lesion, its short operating time, rapid post-operative recovery and low morbidity. However, there are potentially serious complications which can be occured during and following hysteroscopic surgery. The complications are uterine perforation, fluid overload and electrolyte disturbance due to intravasation and absorption of uterine distention media, hemorrhage and, rarely, gas or air embolism. We experienced pulmonary edema during hysteroscopic surgery in three consecutive patients. Therefore, we report these cases of fluid overload with uterine distention media resulting acute pulmonary edema during hysteroscopic surgery.

Factors affecting difficult lightwand intubation: a prospective double-blind trial / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Unanticipated difficulties during tracheal intubation are related to perioperative morbidity and mortality, but the success of direct laryngoscopic intubation depends largely on clinician's experience and the upper airway anatomy. The lightwand was introduced as alternative intubation technique, but the indicators of difficult lightwand intubation (DLWI) have not been identified. Accordingly authors conducted this study to identify subject factors that affect DLWI, and to compare these with those of difficult laryngoscopic intubation. METHODS: Seventy-three healthy subjects requiring tracheal intubation for elective surgery were enrolled. Anatomic factors, such as, body mass index (BMI), Mallampati classification (MC), inter-incisor gap, thyromental distance, neck circumference, extent of head and neck motion, and Cormack-Lehane grade (CL) were determined and evaluated in terms of their abilities to predict DLWI, which was described using intubation time and number of intubation attempts. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictors using a variable selection technique. RESULTS: Only MC and BMI were found to predict DLWI. The weighted sum of time and number of attempts (r2 = 0.854, P = 0.000) was found to be better predictor of DLWI than their product (r2 = 0.734, P = 0.000). Cormack-Lehane grade was not found to be significantly related to DLWI (P = 0.093). CONCLUSIONS: Of the anatomic factors examined, only Mallampati classification and body mass index were found to predict difficult lightwand intubation.

Hypocapnia Attenuates, and Nitrous Oxide Disturbs the Cerebral Oximetric Response to the Rapid Introduction of Desflurane

The aim of this study was to develop a nonlinear mixed-effects model for the increase in cerebral oximetry (rSO2) during the rapid introduction of desflurane, and to determine the effect of hypocapnia and N2O on the model. Twelve American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status class 1 and 2 subjects were allocated randomly into an Air and N2O group. After inducing anesthesia, desflurane was then increased abruptly from 4.0 to 12.0%. The PET(CO2), PET(DESF) and rSO2 were recorded at 12 predetermined periods for the following 10 min. The maximum increase in rSO2 reached +24-25% during normocapnia. The increase in rSO2 could be fitted to a four parameter logistic equation as a function of the logarithm of PET(DESF). Hypocapnia reduced the maximum response of rSO2, shifted the EC50 to the right, and increased the slope in the Air group. N2O shifted the EC50 to the right, and reduced the slope leaving the maximum rSO2 unchanged. The N2O-effects disappeared during hypocapnia. The cerebrovascular reactivity of rSO2 to CO2 is still preserved during the rapid introduction of desflurane. N2O slows the response of rSO2. Hypocapnia overwhelms all the effects of N2O.

Discrimination of hemoglobin-effects on arterial-to-jugular bulb oxygen content differences according to arterial carbon dioxide tension

BACKGROUND: Arterial jugular bulb oxygen content differences (AJVDO2) can be related to cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption. Plasma Hb has been reported to have both-sided effect on AJVDO2. Increased Hb increases oxygen content in artery and jugular bulb, and the net effect is to reduce AJVDO2. Moreover, increasing Hb raises blood viscosity, and could increase AJVDO2. This study was designed to discriminate the Hb-effects on AJVDO2 mathematically. METHODS: Sixty adults were enrolled in this study. General anesthesia and mechanical ventilation were administered. A normocapnic and a subsequent hypocapnic state were achieved. Paired data including 1/AJVDO2, PaCO2, Hb, mean arterial pressure, temperature and anesthetic concentration were recorded during each state. Nonlinear mixed-effects model was applied to fit 1/AJVDO2 using PaCO2 and Hb as covariates. RESULTS: The 1/AJVDO2 was well modeled by PaCO2 and Hb using a three-parameter logistic function: predicted 1/AJv DO2 = 0.38713 / 1+e(31.20981-PaCO2)/25.94210-1.45162xHb The increase in PaCO2 raised the 1/AJVDO2 sigmoidally (P < 0.0001) and its slope was affected by Hb (P = 0.0022). The transition point of the Hb-effect was PaCO2 = 31.20981 (SEM 1.519201). Intraclass correlation coefficient was estimated at 0.9973. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding suggests that the Hb-effect on 1/AJVDO2 is both-sided; the viscosity-effect is dominant at low levels of PaCO2 and effect of oxygen content is dominant at high levels of PaCO2