Alcohol (70%) versus alcoholic chlorhexidine solution (0.5%) in skin antisepsis for neuraxial blocks: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the use of 0.5% alcoholic chlorhexidine and 70% alcohol in skin antisepsis for neuraxial blocks. METHOD: this is a non-inferiority randomized clinical trial, with two parallel arms. Seventy patients who were candidates for neuraxial block were randomly allocated to group A (n = 35), in whom antisepsis was performed with 0.5% alcoholic chlorhexidine, or to group B (n = 35), in whom we used 70% hydrated ethyl alcohol. Swabs were harvested for culture at three times: before antisepsis, two minutes after application of the antiseptic, and immediately after puncture. The samples were sown in three culture media and the number of colony forming units (CFU) per cm² was counted. RESULTS: there was no difference between the groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, time to perform the block or type of block. There were no differences between groups in the CFU/cm² counts before antisepsis. There was less bacterial growth in group B two minutes after application of the antiseptic (p = 0.048), but there was no difference between the groups regarding the number of CFU/cm² at the end of the puncture. CONCLUSION: 70% alcohol was more effective in reducing the number of CFU/cm² after two minutes, and there was no difference between the two groups regarding skin colonization at the end of the procedure. These results suggest that 70% alcohol may be an option for skin antisepsis before neuraxial blocks. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02833376.

Alcohol (70%) versus alcoholic chlorhexidine solution (0. 5%) in skin antisepsis for neuraxial blocks: a randomized clinical trial / Álcool 70% versus solução alcoólica de clorexidina 0, 5% na antissepsia da pele para bloqueios do neuroeixo: ensaio clínico randomizado

ABSTRACT Objective: to compare the use of 0.5% alcoholic chlorhexidine and 70% alcohol in skin antisepsis for neuraxial blocks. Method: this is a non-inferiority randomized clinical trial, with two parallel arms. Seventy patients who were candidates for neuraxial block were randomly allocated to group A (n = 35), in whom antisepsis was performed with 0.5% alcoholic chlorhexidine, or to group B (n = 35), in whom we used 70% hydrated ethyl alcohol. Swabs were harvested for culture at three times: before antisepsis, two minutes after application of the antiseptic, and immediately after puncture. The samples were sown in three culture media and the number of colony forming units (CFU) per cm² was counted. Results: there was no difference between the groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, time to perform the block or type of block. There were no differences between groups in the CFU/cm² counts before antisepsis. There was less bacterial growth in group B two minutes after application of the antiseptic (p = 0.048), but there was no difference between the groups regarding the number of CFU/cm² at the end of the puncture. Conclusion: 70% alcohol was more effective in reducing the number of CFU/cm² after two minutes, and there was no difference between the two groups regarding skin colonization at the end of the procedure. These results suggest that 70% alcohol may be an option for skin antisepsis before neuraxial blocks. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02833376.

RESUMO Objetivo: comparar o uso de solução alcoólica de clorexidina 0,5% e de álcool 70% na antissepsia da pele para bloqueios do neuroeixo. Método: ensaio clínico randomizado de não inferioridade, com dois braços paralelos. Foram selecionados 70 pacientes candidatos à bloqueio do neuroeixo, randomicamente alocados para o grupo A (n=35), em que a antissepsia foi realizada com clorexidina alcoólica 0,5%, ou para o grupo B (n=35), em que se utilizou álcool etílico hidratado 70%. Foram coletadas, com swab, amostras para cultura em três momentos: antes da antissepsia, dois minutos após aplicação do antisséptico, e imediatamente após a punção. As amostras foram semeadas em três meios de cultura e foi contabilizado o número de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) por cm². Resultados: não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à idade, ao sexo, ao índice de massa corporal, ao tempo para realização do bloqueio ou tipo de bloqueio. Também não houve diferenças entre os grupos na contagem de UFC/cm² antes da antissepsia. Constatou-se menor crescimento bacteriano no grupo B dois minutos após aplicação do antisséptico (p=0,048), mas não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto ao número de UFC/cm² ao final da punção. Conclusão: o álcool 70% mostrou-se mais efetivo em reduzir o número de UFC/cm² após dois minutos, e não houve diferença entre os dois grupos quanto à colonização da pele ao final do procedimento. Esses resultados sugerem que o álcool 70% pode ser opção para antissepsia da pele antes de bloqueios do neuroeixo. Registro ensaio clínico: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02833376.

Evidence for myocardial defects under extreme acute normovolemic hemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch and lactated ringer's solution.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) has been proposed to avoid the risks of allogenic transfusion. In reference to its cellular effects, ANH reports in the literature are scarce. Using electron microscopy (EM), we evaluated the effects of ANH on cardiac function and myocardial structure. Twenty-five dogs were prospectively randomized to a control group (n = 5) or to undergo ANH with 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES; n = 10) or lactated Ringer's solution (LR; n = 10) administered, respectively, at a ratio of 1:1 or 1:3 to the volume of blood removed. Animals were gradually hemodiluted to a hematocrit of 10%, which was accomplished in 80 min. Pulmonary artery catheter and echocardiography were used to evaluate cardiac function. Myocardial samples were taken after the last time point for electron microscopy analysis. Data were obtained during five different stages of ANH, with a mean 20-min interval between each time point. Cardiac index increased significantly in both groups during ANH. A significant decrease in oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption, as well as an increase in oxygen extraction was verified in the LR group. Echocardiography demonstrated a decline in systolic function in the LR group at the end of the experiment. Electron microscopy analysis of the myocardium revealed slight lesions in cardiac cells in the HES group, and moderate-to-significant lesions in the LR group. In this animal species, ANH with HES resulted in better preservation of cardiac function, which was demonstrated by maintenance of systolic function and oxygenation parameters. Minor loss of cellular integrity with HES, in the presence of very low levels of hemoglobin, reinforces these findings.

O papel do anestesiologista no atendimento do trauma / Anesthesiologist's role in trauma management

O papel do anestesiologista, dentro da equipe de atendimento multiprofissional no trauma, tem aumentado progressivamente nos últimos anos. Esta revisäo aborda o papel do especialista tanto em relaçäo ao atendimento pré quanto intra-hospitalar até a fase de reabilitaçäo do trauma. Métodos de controle da via aérea, reposiçäo volêmica, monitorizaçäo e uso de drogas anestésicas no traumatizado säo discutidos. A analgesia pós-operatória é apresentada como método de reduçäo da morbimortalidade pós-operatória com diminuiçäo dos custos de internaçäo hospitalar