A long-term longitudinal study of the osteoarthritic changes to the temporomandibular joint evaluated using a novel three-dimensional superimposition method.

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in individual condyles from 5 to 8 years in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis using 3-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (3D CBCT) reconstruction and superimposition. To assess the longitudinal TMJ changes, CBCT was performed at initial (T0) and final (T2) timepoints that were at least 5 years apart and at a middle (T1) timepoint. To improve the accuracy, we used a novel superimposition method that designated areas of coronoid process and mandibular body. The differences in the resorption and apposition amounts were calculated between each model via maximum surface distances. The greatest resorption and apposition observed were - 7.48 and 2.66 mm, respectively. Evaluation of the changes in each condyle showed that osteoarthritis leads to both resorption and apposition. Resorption was mainly observed in the superior region, while high apposition rates were observed (in decreasing order) in the posterior, lateral, and anterior regions. The medial parts showed greater apposition than the lateral parts in all regions. Our superimposition method reveals that both resorption and apposition were observed in condyles with TMJ osteoarthritis, and resorption/apposition patterns depend on the individual condyle and its sites.

Risk factors for postoperative delirium in elderly patients after spinal fusion surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) has an incidence rate of 9% to 41%. It is directly linked to decreasing cognitive function, increasing length of hospitalization and cost, as well as other complications and mortality. We aimed to assess the risk factors for POD among elderly patients by analyzing data from those who underwent spinal surgery. METHODS: This study included 446 patients aged 65 years or older who underwent spinal surgery at our institution between March 2013 and May 2018. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients' electronic medical records, and logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with POD. The diagnosis of POD was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and was made through consultation with a psychiatrist during postoperative hospitalization and before discharge. RESULTS: Seventy-eight (78/446, 17.4%) patients were diagnosed with POD. The most relevant risk factor for POD was preoperative cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio [OR], 4.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 11.93; P = 0.004), followed by emergency surgery (OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.27 to 5.74; P = 0.01), age (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.26; P < 0.001), and anesthesia time (OR, 1.01; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.01; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative cognitive dysfunction, emergency surgery, age, and anesthesia time were factors that affected POD occurrence after spinal surgery. Patients with such associated factors may be at a higher risk for POD when undergoing spinal surgery, and hence, careful management may be necessary for these patients.

Risk factors associated with outcomes of hip fracture surgery in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Hip fracture surgery on elderly patients is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors related to the postoperative mortality and complications following hip fracture surgery on elderly patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the medical records of elderly patients (aged 65 years or older) who underwent hip fracture surgery from January 2011 to June 2014 were reviewed. A total of 464 patients were involved. Demographic data of the patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, preoperative comorbidities, type and duration of anesthesia and type of surgery were collected. Factors related to postoperative mortality and complications; as well as to intensive care unit admission were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative mortality, cardiovascular complications, respiratory complications and intensive care unit (ICU) admission were 1.7, 4.7, 19.6 and 7.1%, respectively. Postoperative mortality was associated with preoperative respiratory comorbidities, postoperative cardiovascular complications (P < 0.05). Postoperative cardiovascular complications were related to frequent intraoperative hypotension (P <0.05). Postoperative respiratory complications were related to age, preoperative renal failure, neurological comorbidities, and bedridden state (P < 0.05). ICU admission was associated with the time from injury to operation, preoperative neurological comorbidities and frequent intraoperative hypotension (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate treatment of respiratory comorbidities and prevention of cardiovascular complications might be the critical factors in reducing postoperative mortality in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

The effect of long-term oral dantrolene on the neuromuscular action of rocuronium: a case report.

Oral dantrolene causes a dose-dependent depression of skeletal muscle contractility. A 52-year-old man treated with oral dantrolene for spasticity after spinal cord injury was scheduled to undergo irrigation and drainage of a thigh abscess under general anesthesia. He had taken 50 mg oral dantrolene per day for 3 years. Under standard neuromuscular monitoring, anesthesia was performed with propofol, rocuronium, and sevoflurane. A bolus dose of ED95 (0.3 mg/kg) of rocuronium could not depress T1 up to 95%. An additional dose of rocuronium depressed T1 completely and decreased the train-of-four (TOF) count to zero. There was no apparent prolongation of the neuromuscular blocking action of rocuronium. The TOF ratio was recovered to more than 0.9 within 40 minutes after the last dose of rocuronium. A small dose of oral dantrolene does not prolong the duration of action and recovery of rocuronium.

General anesthesia versus monitored anesthetic care with dexmedetomidine for closed reduction of nasal bone fracture.

BACKGROUND: Reduction of nasal bone fracture can be performed under general or local anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare general anesthesia (GA) and monitored anesthetic care (MAC) with dexmedetomidine based on intraoperative vital signs, comfort of patients, surgeons and nurses and the adverse effects after closed reduction of nasal bone fractures. METHODS: Sixty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were divided into a GA group (n = 30) or MAC group (n = 30). Standard monitorings were applied. In the GA group, general anesthesia was carried out with propofol-sevoflurane-N2O. In the MAC group, dexmedetomidine and local anesthetics were administered for sedation and analgesia. Intraoperative vital signs, postoperative pain scores by visual analog scale and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Intraoperatively, systolic blood pressures were significantly higher, and heart rates were lower in the MAC group compared to the GA group. There were no differences between the groups in the patient, nurse and surgeon's satisfaction, postoperative pain scores and incidence of PONV. CONCLUSIONS: MAC with dexmedetomidine resulted in comparable satisfaction in the patients, nurses and surgeons compared to general anesthesia. The incidence of postoperative adverse effects and severity of postoperative pain were also similar between the two groups. Therefore, both anesthetic techniques can be used during the reduction of nasal bone fractures based on a patient%s preference and medical condition.

Pneumothorax in a post-anesthetic care unit after right thyroidectomy with left neck dissection -A case report-.

A 46-year-old woman underwent a right thyroidectomy with left neck dissection under general anesthesia. The operation was performed successfully for over the course of 3 hours 30 minutes. After extubation, the patient was transferred to post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). After 10 minutes, dyspnea, chest discomfort, desaturation was suddenly occurred. Intubation was performed in PACU. The emergency chest X-ray revealed a right pneumothorax, and the patient was treated by chest tube insertion. The patient was improved and was discharged uneventfully from hospital 8 days later.

Difference in Core temperature in response to propofol-remifentanil anesthesia and sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia following the induction of anesthesia is caused by core to peripheral redistribution of body heat. It has been reported that propofol causes more severe hypothermia than sevoflurane by inhibiting thermoregulatory vasoconstriction during surgical procedures. Therefore, we evaluated the induction and maintenance of anesthesia with intravenous propofol to determine if it causes more core hypothermia than inhaled sevoflurane. METHODS: Forty-five patients who underwent hysterectomy were divided into two groups randomly, a propofol-remifentanil (PR) anesthesia group and a sevoflurane-remifentanil (SR) anesthesia group. Each group was subjected to anesthetic induction with either 1.5 mg/kg propofol or inhalation of 5% sevoflurane, respectively. Anesthesia in the former group was maintained with propofol while it was maintained with sevoflurane in the latter group. Specifically, 6-10 mg/kg/hr propofol, 3 L/min medical air, 2 L/min O2, and 0.25 mg/kg/hr remifentanil were used in the PR group for maintenance, while 1.5 vol% sevoflurane, 3 L/min medical air, 2 L/min O2 and 0.25 mg/kg/hr remifentanil were used for maintenance in the SR group. We measured the core temperature 8 times, prior to induction and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes after induction. RESULTS: Core temperatures decreased in both the PR and SR group during surgical operation, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesia induced and maintained by propofol did not cause a greater degree of hypothermia than sevoflurane.