Elevated International Normalized Ratio Is Not Associated With Increased Perioperative Morbidity in Podiatric Limb Salvage Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis.

The risk of hemorrhage always exists in anticoagulated patients with an elevated international normalized ratio (INR), a risk that must be measured against the necessity for surgical procedures. The objective of the present retrospective medical record study was to assess the safety with which limb salvage procedures can be conducted in patients with an INR >1.4. The medical records of 231 patients who had undergone limb salvage procedures by 1 surgeon at the Yale New Haven Health System from November 2008 through July 2014 were reviewed. All patients were administered foot blocks with monitored intravenous sedation. The patients' demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative anticoagulant use, coagulation profile, intraoperative analgesic administration, estimated blood loss, total operating room time, total postanesthesia care unit time, intraoperative ankle tourniquet use, and postoperative complications within the initial 72 hours were reviewed. We found no differences in intraoperative bleeding, total intraoperative time, or recovery time between the INR <1.4 group (n = 212) and the INR >1.4 group (n = 19). None of the patients experienced any postoperative complications, defined as any cardiac or pulmonary event, the need for invasive monitoring, or admission to the intensive care unit within the initial 72-hour period. Our findings suggest that patients are suitable for undergoing peripheral procedures with foot blocks and monitored intravenous sedation even in the presence of an elevated INR.

Safety of Deep Sedation in Patients Undergoing Full-Thickness Skin Graft Harvesting and Skin Graft Reconstruction for Limb Salvage An Outcome Analysis.

BACKGROUND:: Studies on obtaining donor skin graft using intravenous sedation for patients undergoing major foot surgeries in the same operating room visit have not previously been reported. The objective of this retrospective study is to demonstrate that intravenous sedation in this setting is both adequate and safe in patients undergoing skin graft reconstruction of the lower extremities in which donor skin graft is harvested from the same patient in one operating room visit. METHODS:: Medical records of 79 patients who underwent skin graft reconstruction of the lower extremities by one surgeon at the Yale New Haven Health System between November 1, 2008, and July 31, 2014, were reviewed. The patients' demographic characteristics, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, comorbid conditions, intraoperative analgesic administration, estimated blood loss, total operating room time, total postanesthesia care unit time, and postoperative complications within the first 72 hours were reviewed. RESULTS:: This study found minimal blood loss and no postoperative complications, defined as any pulmonary or cardiac events, bleeding, admission to the intensive care unit, or requirement for invasive monitoring, in patients who underwent major foot surgery in conjunction with full-thickness skin graft. CONCLUSIONS:: We propose that given the short duration and peripheral nature of the procedures, patients can safely undergo skin graft donor harvesting and skin graft reconstruction procedures with intravenous sedation regardless of American Society of Anesthesiologists class in one operating room visit.

Transvaginal cholecystectomy learning curve.

BACKGROUND: There are few surgeons in the United States, within private practice and academic centers, currently performing transvaginal cholecystectomies (TVC). The lack of exposure to TVC during residency or fellowship training, coupled with a poorly defined learning curve, further limits interested surgeons who want to apply this technique to their practice. This study describes the learning curve encountered during the introduction of TVC to our academic facility. METHODS: This study is an analysis of consecutive TVCs performed between August 14, 2009 and August 3, 2012 at an academic center. The TVC patients were divided into sequential quartiles (n = 15/16). The learning curve outcome was measured as the operative time of TVC patients and compared to the operative time of female laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) patients performed during the same time period. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients underwent a TVC with a mean age of 38 ± 12 years and mean BMI was 29 ± 6 kg/m(2). Sixty-seven female patients who underwent a LC with average age 41 ± 15 years and average BMI 33 ± 12 kg/m(2). The average operative time of LC patients and TVC patients was 48 ± 20 and 60 ± 17 min, respectively. Significant improvement in TVC operative times was seen between the first (n = 15 TVCs) and second quartiles (p = 0.04) and stayed relatively constant for third quartile, during which there was no statistically significant difference between the mean LC operative time for the second and third TVC quartiles CONCLUSIONS: The learning curve of a fellowship-trained surgeon introducing TVC to their surgical repertoire, as measured by improved operative times, can be achieved with approximately 15 cases.

Comparison of immediate postoperative pain after transvaginal versus traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Transvaginal cholecystectomy (TVC) is the most common natural orifice transluminal surgery (NOTES) performed in women, yet there is a paucity of data on intraoperative and immediate postoperative pain management. Previous studies have demonstrated that NOTES procedures are associated with less postoperative pain and faster recovery times. This study analyzes intraoperative and postoperative opioid use for TVC compared with traditional four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCs). METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of consecutive TVC and LC female patients between August 2009 and August 2012 in an academic institution. We compared demographics, intraoperative and postoperative opioid use and times in the operating room (OR) and in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). RESULTS: A total of 68 TVC and 67 LC patients were included in this study. The TVC and LC groups were similar in terms of age (both 41 years) and body mass index (29 and 31 kg/m2, respectively). The intraoperative preparation, surgical, and emergence times were significantly longer for the TVC than for the LC (p ≤ 0.01). Compared with the LC group, the intraoperative opioid requirement was significantly greater (TVC 27 mg vs. LC 25 mg; p = 0.003), but after adjusting for anesthesia time, the difference in OR opioid consumption became non-significant (p = 0.08). The PACU opioid requirement (TVC 2.5 vs. LC 5 mg; p = 0.04) was significantly lower for the TVC group, and a greater proportion of patients did not need any pain medications (TVC 38 % vs. LC 21 %; p = 0.04), compared with the LC group. The average PACU pain scores were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.45). CONCLUSION: TVC patients did not experience more pain than LC patients. Although the average pain scores of TVC patients did not differ from those of the LC patients, TVC patients did require less pain medication in the PACU.

Safety of spinal anesthesia in a patient with achondroplasia for cesarean section.

Controversial reports exist regarding the administration of spinal anesthesia in achondroplastic dwarfs regarding safety, dose, drug choice, in obstetric patients. Bony characteristics such as vertebral anomalies, lordosis and lumbar scoliosis, limited mouth opening and cervical spine instability make the administration of anesthesia to these patients truly a challenge. Here we demonstrate that low dose meperidine and bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in an achondroplastic parturient for cesarean section, was administered successfully after careful evaluation, consideration of risks, and awareness of potential complications.

Prolonged post-dural puncture headache in a patient with a renal transplant.

Data regarding the duration and severity of postdural puncture headache in patients with probable causes for impairment of cerebral autoregulation and altered rate of cerebrospinal fluid formation are rare. We present an interesting case of a patient with long-standing severe hypertension and resultant end-stage renal disease status postrenal transplant who developed a prolonged postdural puncture headache of mild severity. Its presentation and possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.