Assessing Empathy in Anesthesia Residents with the Chinese Version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy: A Pilot Standardized Patient Program.

Objectives To validate the reliability of the Chinese version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) in physician-standardized patient (SP) encounter. We also tried to examine the agreement between video-based ratings and in-room ratings, as well as the agreement between the faculty ratings and SP ratings. Methods The CARE was translated into Chinese. Forty-eight anesthesia residents were recruited to make preoperative interview in SP-counter. Performance of each resident was graded by in-room raters, video raters and SP raters. Consistency between different raters was examined. Results The Chinese-CARE measure demonstrated high scale reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.95 and high consistency in the in-room ratings in intraclass correlation (coefficient=0.888,P<0.001). Despite a good consistency in intraclass correlation, video ratings were significantly higher than in-room ratings (39.6±7.1vs. 24.0±10.0,P<0.001), and Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that the pass/fail rate was significantly higher based on video ratings than based on in-room ratings (45/48vs. 22/48, P<0.001). SP ratings had a moderate consistency with in-room faculty ratings (coefficient=0.568,P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between the pass/fail rates based on the in-room ratings and SP ratings (22/48vs. 28/48, P=0.12). Conclusions The Chinese-CARE measure is reliable in the assessment of empathy during preoperative anesthesia interview. In-room and video ratings are not equivalent, while SP may provide a feasible alternative for the faculty rater in the assessment of communication skills with an appropriate measure.

Infection Prevention Strategy in Operating Room during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak.

A novel coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 rapidly spread around the world. Most severe cases need endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, and some mild cases may need emergent surgery under general anesthesia. The novel coronavirus was reported to transmit via droplets, contact and natural aerosols from human to human. Therefore, aerosol-producing procedures such as endotracheal intubation and airway suction may put the healthcare providers at high risk of nosocomial infection. Based on recently published articles, this review provides detailed feasible recommendations for primary anesthesiologists on infection prevention in operating room during COVID-19 outbreak.

[Efficacy of Oxycodone Hydrochloride for Patient-controlled Intravenous Analgesia after General Surgery].

Objective To evaluate the value of oxycodone hydrochloride for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA). Methods The medical records on postoperative pain management in our department from January 1 to June 30,2018,were retrospectively analyzed.Totally 136 patients were assigned into oxycodone,sufentanil,or morphine groups according to the opioid used in the PCIA.Patients were assessed for postoperative pain severity(scored with NRS)and adverse reactions 24,36,and 48 hours after surgery.The area under curve(AUC)was calculated. Results The score of pain at exercise was significantly lower in the oxycodone group(2.2±2.4)than in the sufentanil group(3.4±2.1)(t=0.305,P=0.0126)or the morphine group(3.4±1.7)(t=0.104,P=0.0277)36 hours after surgery.AUC at rest was significantly lower in the oxycodone and morphine groups than in the sufentanil group(29.00,27.00,and 40.01,respectively);in contrast,AUC at exercise was significantly lower in the oxycodone group(63.17)than in the sufentanil and morphine groups(82.00 and 80.93,respectively).The consumption of opioids was significantly higher in the sufentanil group[(37.2±16.1),(46.1±24.3),(64.4±33.4)mg]than in the oxycodone group[(20.4±14.8)(t=3.571,P=0.001),(24.2±16.1)(t=4.63,P<0.0001),(34.4±25.1)mg(t=6.409,P<0.0001)]or the morphine group[(16.6±11.7)(t=4.233,P<0.0001),(20.5±14.1)(t=5.250,P<0.0001),(28.8±19.0)mg(t=7.354,P<0.0001)]24,36,48 hours after surgery.The oxycodone group experienced less vomiting(χ 2=11.360,P=0.003)and early termination of PCIA(χ 2=7.914,P=0.019)compared with the other two groups. Conclusions Oxycodone can be used for postoperative PCIA.It can alleviate a variety of postoperative pain,with superior analgesic efficiency and safety to sufentanil and morphine.

Expert Recommendations for Tracheal Intubation in Critically ill Patients with Noval Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is a highly contagious disease. It firstly appeared in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in December 2019. During the next two months, it moved rapidly throughout China and spread to multiple countries through infected persons travelling by air. Most of the infected patients have mild symptoms including fever, fatigue and cough. But in severe cases, patients can progress rapidly and develop to the acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, metabolic acidosis and coagulopathy. The new coronavirus was reported to spread via droplets, contact and natural aerosols from human-to-human. Therefore, high-risk aerosol-producing procedures such as endotracheal intubation may put the anesthesiologists at high risk of nosocomial infections. In fact, SARS-CoV-2 infection of anesthesiologists after endotracheal intubation for confirmed COVID-19 patients have been reported in hospitals in Wuhan. The expert panel of airway management in Chinese Society of Anaesthesiology has deliberated and drafted this recommendation, by which we hope to guide the performance of endotracheal intubation by frontline anesthesiologists and critical care physicians. During the airway management, enhanced droplet/airborne PPE should be applied to the health care providers. A good airway assessment before airway intervention is of vital importance. For patients with normal airway, awake intubation should be avoided and modified rapid sequence induction is strongly recommended. Sufficient muscle relaxant should be assured before intubation. For patients with difficult airway, good preparation of airway devices and detailed intubation plans should be made.

Factors Influencing Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation during One-lung Ventilation in Thoracic Surgery.

Objective To identify factors influencing regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in thoracic surgery. Methods Totally 33 patients with an ASA physical status of 1-3 scheduled for elective thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation under general anesthesia were recruited. After anesthesia was induced with propofol,fentanyl/sufentanil,and rocuronium. All patients received balanced anesthesia using sevoflurane. During OLV,volume-controlled ventilation was used with a tidal volume of 6-7 ml/kg and an inspiration:expiration ratio of 1:1.5. The ventilator frequency was adjusted with a target end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PetCO2) between 35 mmHg and 45 mmHg. During the anesthesia,patients were maintained at a pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) of>90%,systolic blood pressure (SBP) of>90 mmHg (or reducing no more than 30% of the basic values),heart rate (HR) of>50 beat/min,and hemoglobin concentration of>90 g/L. Changes of rScO2 were monitored with FORESIGHT probes by specialized researchers. Patients were classified into low rScO2 (L-rScO2) group (n=10) or high rScO2 (H-rScO2)group(n=23) according to whether the lowest intraoperative rScO2 was under 65% or 15% lower than the baseline values. We compared gender,age,body mass index (BMI),intraoperative hemoglobin level,and the values of peak airway pressure (Ppeak),SBP,PetCO2,and SpO2 when rScO2 dropped to the lowest level between these two groups. Results Statistically higher Ppeak and lower SBP were noted in the L-rScO2 group compared with H-rScO2 group (P=0.028,P=0.046). SpO2 was lower in the L-rScO2 group compared with H-rScO2 group,but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.421). There was also no significant difference between the two groups according to age,BMI,SpO2,PetCO2,or hemoglobin level. Ppeak appeared to be a risk factor for rScO2 reduction during OLV,as shown by unconditioned Logistic regression analysis. Conclusion During OLV in thoracic surgery,Ppeak is a risk factor for rScO2 reduction.

Dilutional Hyponatremia during Hysteroscpic Surgery: Prevention and Treatment.

Dilutional hyponatremia caused by excess absorption of hypo-osmotic irrigation fluids is one of the severe complications during hysteroscopic surgery. Appropriate delivery system and distending media,proper distending pressure,and reducing destruction of uterine venous sinus may remarkably lower the morbidity. Meanwhile,early detection and timely treatment of moderate and severe hyponatremia to avoid the occurrence of secondary nervous system demyelination are particularly important during the surgery. This review summarizes the risk factors and the prevention and treatment strategies of dilutional hyponatremia during hysteroscopic surgery.

Effect of low dose rocuronium in preventing ventilation leak for flexible laryngeal mask airway during radical mastectomy.

The flexible laryngeal mask airway (FLMA) is becoming more and more popular in general anesthesia during surgery of head, neck and upper chest. But very limited information has been published about whether muscle relaxant was necessary or not for anesthesia with FLMA. To investigate whether low-dose muscle relaxant is necessary in preventing ventilation leak of FLMA in radical mastectomy, forty-eight female patients undergoing radical mastectomy were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into low-dose muscle relaxant (LD-MR) group and non-muscle relaxant (non-MR) group. All the included patients received total intravenous anesthesia (with propofol, fentanyl and remifentanil) and controlled mechanical ventilation with FLMA during the surgery. Patients in LD-MR group received 0.4 mg/kg rocuronium during anesthesia induction, while patients in non-MR group received equivalent volumes of physiological saline. Insertion time was shorter in LD-MR group than that in non-MR group (P < 0.05). Peak airway pressures and ventilation leak volumes at 10, 20 and 30 minutes were lower in LD-MR group than those in non-MR group (P < 0.05). No difference was found between LD-MR and non-MR group in terms of emergence time, FLMA extraction time, and maximum tidal volumes before FLMA extraction. The results show that low-dose rocuronium could reduce the ventilation leak for mechanical ventilation with FLMA during radical mastectomy without prolonging the emergence time.

Effectiveness of Two Training Methods for Avoiding Excessive Inflation of Laryngeal Mask Airway Supreme.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of two training methods for avoiding excessive inflation of laryngeal mask airway(LMA)Supreme. METHODS: Totally 41 anesthesiologists were randomly divided into hand touch group(H group,n=20)and short-term pressure gauge training group(G group,n=21). Before training,subjects were asked to inflate the cuff of LMA Supreme to two target pressures,30 cmH(2)O and 60 cmH(2)O, according to their own experiences. The actual cuff pressures were recorded as baseline pressures. Subjects in H group then received the training of hand touch:touch the vermilion of the lip and apex nasi with the left ring finger and feel the hardness. A cuff pressure with hardness similar to the vermilion of the lip was defined as 30 cmH(2)O, and similar to the apex nasi as 60 cmH(2)O. Subjects in G group were asked to inflate the cuff with a pressure gauge and feel the hardness of the cuff when the pressure reached 30 cmH(2)O and 60 cmH(2)O. After one-week training,two groups of subjects repeated the cuff inflation test. Actual cuff pressures after training were also recorded and compared with the baseline pressures. Results Actual cuff pressures after training[Group H:(39.7±15.7) cmH(2)O(P=0.00);Group G:(26.2±13.2) cmH(2)O(P=0.03)]were significantly lower than baseline pressures in both groups when the target cuff pressure was 30 cmH(2)O, and the differences were not statistically significant between these two groups(P=0.06). When the target pressure was 60 cmH(2)O,the actual cuff pressure of H group [(91.1±24.3)cmH(2)O] was significantly higher than that of G group [(58.1±15.4) cmH(2)O (P=0.01)]. However,the actual cuff pressure of G group was similar to the target pressure. CONCLUSION: The two training methods are equally effective when the target pressure is 30 cmH(2)O, while short-term pressure gauge training method is superior when the target pressure is 60 cmH(2)O.

Impact of cuff pressure on airway leak pressure in laryngeal mask airway supreme and flexible.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of cuff pressure on airway leak pressure in laryngeal mask airway(LMA)Supreme and Flexible. METHODS: Patients about to have elective breast surgery were divided into Supreme group(35 cases)and Flexible group(33 cases). After general induction of anesthesia,LMA Supreme or Flexible was inserted by one anesthesiologist. We confirmed the LMA location,adjusted the cuff pressure,and recorded the peak airway leak pressures under different cuff pressures(10,20,30,40,and 50 cmH2O). RESULTS: In Supreme group,peak airway leak pressures [(24.46±5.43),(25.11±5.51),(25.86±5.57),(26.17±5.72)cmH2O] under 20,30,40,and 50 cmH2O cuff pressure showed no significant difference(P>0.05)between each other,but significantly higher than that under 10 cmH2O cuff pressure(20.80±4.63)cmH2O(P<0.05). And in the Flexible group,peak airway leak pressures [(20.09±2.98),(20.70±3.08),(21.21±3.15)cmH2O] under 30,40,50 cmH2O cuff pressure also showed no significant difference(P>0.05)between each other,but significantly higher than those under 10 or 20 cmH2O cuff pressure [(17.52±2.39),(18.61±2.42)cmH2O]. Mean peak airway leak pressure [(25.40±5.52) cmH2O] of LMA Supreme was significantly higher than that of LMA Flexible(20.67±3.06)cmH2O(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mean airway leak pressure of LMA Supreme is higher than LMA Flexible. The lowest cuff pressure to meet the tightness requirement with LMA Supreme is 20 cmH2O,which is lower than Flexible(30 cmH2O).

[Perioperative airway management for patients with morbid obesity].

The excess fatty tissues on the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen of morbid obese patients can impede the patency of the upper airway and impair lung functions. Meanwhile, these patients often have comorbidities such as obstructive sleep apnea, hypoventilation syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma, which may result in difficult airway, intraoperative hypoventilation, and postoperative respiratory depression. Therefore, perioperative airway management for morbid obese patients may pose a big challenge to anesthesiologists. Anesthesiologists should know well about the pathophysiological features of respiratory system and grasp rational management principles, so as to improve the safety and effectiveness of perioperative airway management and optimize the clinical prognosis.

Antinociceptive effects of combination of tramadol and acetaminophen on painful diabetic neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model with rats and investigate the antinociceptive effect of combination of Tramadol (TR) and Acetaminophen (NAPA) on the animal model for the first time. METHODS: Diabetic model was induced by a single injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Nociceptive thresholds were measured by means of electronic von Frey test, hot-plate test, and tail-flick test. On the 28th day of diabetes induction, diabetic rats with significant hyperalgesia were randomly divided into three groups: TR, NAPA, and TR-NAPA combination group. Each group was randomly divided into four subgroups. Three geometric series of drugs were given to each group respectively. Antinociceptive effects of the drugs were assessed at 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after drug administration. 50% Maximum antinociceptive effect of each drug was determined by probit analysis, whereas interaction between TR and NAPA was evaluated by isobolographic analysis. RESULTS: Hyperalgesia, along with hyperglycemia, developed 4 days after STZ injection and persisted at all tested time points until 28 days. TR, NAPA, and TR-NAPA combination administration all produced dose-dependent antinociceptive effects. Isobolographic analysis showed a significant deviation of TR/NAPA 50% maximum antinociceptive effect (in tail-flick test, but not in von Frey test) from the additive line. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of the two drugs produces an additive antinociceptive effect in tail-flick test, whereas probable additive antinociceptive effect in von Frey test in painful diabetic neuropathy rats.

[Management of pulmonary thromboembolism in post-operative neurosurgical patients].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in post-operative neurosurgical patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients who experienced pulmonary thromboembolism after neurosurgical operations in our department from October 2009 to March 2010. RESULTS: Of these 7 patients, 6 were confirmed with computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and 1 was diagnosed according to the clinical manifestations and other diagnostic examinations. All the patients were treated initially with low-dose heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin and then with warfarin. Two patients were implanted with permanent inferior vena cava filters before anticoagulation. One received anticoagulant therapy and died of respiratory failure due to pulmonary embolism on the fourth post-operative day. Six patients were discharged after significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Many risk factors may cause PTE peri-operatively. Post-operative CTPA may be indicated. Anticoagulation and other management strategies may be applied to improve the outcome.