Effect of Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia on Perioperative Neutrophil Extracellular Trapping Markers in Patients Undergoing Anesthesia and Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil extracellular trapping (NETosis) is an immunologic mechanism strongly linked with increased metastatic risk in colorectal cancer. The authors hypothesized that patients who received propofol-epidural anesthesia (PEA) would exhibit decreases in the expression of serum neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) and citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit) levels compared with patients who received general anesthesia (GA). METHODS: Colorectal cancer surgery patients were randomly assigned to the PEA (n = 30) or GA (n = 30) group. Serum MPO, H3Cit, and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels before surgery and 24 h after surgery were measured, and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded. RESULTS: The patients who received PEA showed decreases in MPO (28.06 ± 11.23 vs 20.54 ± 7.29 ng/ ml; P = 0.004) and H3Cit [3.22 ± 0.86 vs 2.73 ± 0.94 ng/ ml; P = 0.042) 24 h after surgery compared with the patients subjected to GA. In addition, there was no difference in MMP-9 levels (75.98 ± 26.9 vs 73.45 ± 28.4 ng/ ml; P = 0.726). The visual analogue scale scores 2 h and 24 h after operation were significantly lower in PEA group (P < 0.05). The number of postoperative analgesia pump pressings and sufentanil consumptions within 48 h after surgery were significantly lower in the PEA group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol-epidural anesthesia reduces the expression of NETosis (MPO and H3Cit) in serum during colorectal cancer surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2200066708 ( www.chictr.org.cn ).

Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia decreases the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting without affecting flap survival in free flap breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) may cause undesirable effects after microsurgical breast reconstruction. Although total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing PONV, it has not been assessed in autologous free flap breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antiemetic prophylaxis effect and safety of TIVA in microvascular breast reconstruction. METHODS: Eighty-three patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction with propofol (31 patients) or sevoflurane (52 patients) were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of PONV was assessed at 2, 6, and 24 hours after surgery. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was compared at T1 (after flap elevation but before transfer), T2 (15 minutes after revascularization), and T3 (at the end of surgery). RESULTS: The incidence of nausea was significantly reduced in the TIVA group over 0 to 2 hours period (P=0.017), and over 2 to 6 hours period (P=0.033). The incidence of vomiting was significantly reduced in the TIVA group over 0 to 2 hours period (P=0.006), and over 2 to 6 hours period (P=0.005). MAP was higher in the TIVA group at T1 (P=0.018), T2 (P=0.005), and T3 (P=0.007). The incidence of flap failure was similar between the two groups (P=0.373). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with sevoflurane maintaining anesthesia, propofol-based TIVA improves PONV with less fluctuation of MAP, and did not affect flap survival.

Epidural Combined with General Anesthesia versus General Anesthesia Alone in Patients Undergoing Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Addition of epidural anesthesia may have several benefits. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia in patients undergoing free flap breast reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified 99 patients who underwent free flap breast reconstruction under general anesthesia alone (46 patients) or general anesthesia plus epidural anesthesia (53 patients) between 2011 and 2014. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured before induction, after flap elevation but before flap transfer, 15 minutes after flap revascularization, and at the end of surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: The incidence of flap thrombosis was 3.8 percent in the epidural anesthesia/general anesthesia group versus 4.3 percent in the general anesthesia group (p = 1). Flap failure was 0 percent in the epidural anesthesia/general anesthesia group versus 4.3 percent in the general anesthesia group (p = 0.213). Patients in the epidural anesthesia/general anesthesia group had lower visual analogue scale scores at 2 hours (0.76 ± 0.62 versus 2.58 ± 0.99; p < 0.001), 6 hours (1.94 ± 1.19 versus 4.04 ± 1.46; p < 0.001), and 24 hours (0.74 ± 0.69 versus 1.56 ± 1.01; p < 0.001) postoperatively. Mean arterial blood pressure was lower in the epidural anesthesia/general anesthesia group after flap elevation but before flap transfer, 15 minutes after flap revascularization, and at the end of surgery. CONCLUSION: Epidural anesthesia/general anesthesia combination improves postoperative pain and side effects without increasing the risk of flap thrombosis. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Intravenous flurbiprofen axetil accelerates restoration of bowel function after colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE: Flurbiprofen axetil (FA) is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). We examined the effects that peri-operative intravenous administration of FA, combined with thoracic epidural anesthesia and postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), have on bowel function, postoperative pain, and cytokine release, after open colorectal surgery. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Forty patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups (n = 20 in each group). The FA group patients received FA 1 mg.kg(-1) iv, 30 min before and six hours after skin incision; whereas the control group patients received an equal volume of intralipid. Blood cytokine levels were measured before FA administration, at the end of surgery, and six hours and 24 hr postoperatively. All patients received postoperative PCEA for pain control. Analgesic efficacy was evaluated for 72 hr postoperatively using visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores both at rest and during coughing. Gastrointestinal motility was recorded. Temperature and leukocyte count were measured preoperatively, and 24 hr postoperatively. RESULTS: The times to first bowel movement (87 +/- 23 vs 105 +/- 19 hr, P = 0.008) and first flatus (63 +/- 16 vs 75 +/- 11 hr, P = 0.01) were earlier in the FA group compared to the control group. For the first 24 hr, the pain scores in the FA group were also lower during coughing (P < 0.001 compared to control). The plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in the FA group were lower, postoperatively (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively, compared to control). In contrast, the IL-10 levels were significantly increased at six hours, postoperatively, in the FA group (P = 0.009). The total leukocyte count and the incidence of pyrexia were also lower in patients of the FA group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively, compared to control). CONCLUSION: Flurbiprofen axetil may have an anti-inflammatory effect in major abdominal surgery. The combination of perioperative intravenous FA, intraoperative thoracic epidural anesthesia, and postoperative PCEA facilitated recovery of bowel function, enhanced analgesia, and attenuated the cytokine response.