Association between intra-operative incidents and postoperative outcome and resource utilisation.

We assessed the predictive value of intra-operative quality indicators (incidents) with respect to outcome (hospital mortality) and resource utilisation (length of stay in the postanaesthesia care unit and in hospital). Institutional data obtained from reports of a quality system that complies with the ISO 9002 standard were evaluated retrospectively. Incidents occurred in 2009 of 25 091 anaesthetics. Mortality was higher after incidents than after uneventful anaesthetics, but in multivariate analysis the incidents did not contribute to mortality. Length of stay in the postanaesthesia care unit and hospital were longer after incidents (p < 0.001 for both). In multivariate analysis, incidents independently contributed to length of stay in the postanaesthesia care unit among ASA I-III patients (p < 0.05, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) and to length of hospital stay among ASA II-III patients undergoing scheduled operations (p < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Intra-operative incidents are associated with increased resource utilisation following surgery.

The effect of dopexamine on regional tissue oxygenation, systemic inflammation and amino acid exchange in major abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Beta-adrenergic agents are frequently used to improve cardiac performance in surgical and intensive care patients. Beta-adrenergic agents have metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects in addition to their cardiovascular effects. Splanchnic metabolic activity increases in response to surgery and inflammation. Dopexamine is believed to favor blood flow distribution to the splanchnic region. METHODS: We investigated the effect of dopexamine, started before major abdominal surgery, on postoperative patterns of systemic and regional blood flow, metabolic response, and markers of inflammation. Twenty-one patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were studied. All patients were stabilized preoperatively to predefined hemodynamic endpoints with fluids. After preoperative measurement of systemic and splanchnic oxygen transport and splanchnic lactate, glutamine and alanine exchange and blood levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), the patients were randomized to receive an infusion of dopexamine at 0.5 microg kg(-1) min(-1) (group 1) or 2.0 microg kg(-1) min(-1) (group 2) or placebo. Measurements were repeated at 6 h and 24 h after the end of the operation and the blood levels of cytokines also at 36 h postoperatively. RESULTS: Dopexamine evoked an increase in cardiac index preoperatively. Postoperatively, there was no difference between the groups in systemic and regional hemodynamics or oxygen transport: cardiac index, splanchnic blood flow and oxygen delivery increased similarly in each group. Accordingly, systemic oxygen extraction decreased. Glutamine, alanine and lactate exchange did not differ between the groups. The only metabolic change was an increased splanchnic uptake of alanine, which also was unaffected by dopexamine. There was no difference between the groups in TNF and IL-6 levels; TNF level did not change, while IL-6 level increased in response to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Dopexamine, when added to a preoperative stabilization protocol with fluids, did not augment the postoperative hemodynamic response, and had no effect on postoperative metabolic and inflammatory responses.

Microangiopathy in acute acalculous cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute acalculous cholecystitis is a well recognized complication of many acute illnesses. Ischaemia of the gallbladder seems to have an important role in its pathogenesis. METHODS: Microangiography was performed in 15 gallbladders immediately after cholecystectomy by infusing 10 per cent barium sulphate into the specimen. Five patients had symptomatic gallstone disease, five had acute gallstone-associated cholecystitis and five had acalculous cholecystitis. Sections for histological examination were taken from adjacent sides of the microangiography section. Filling of the vessels by contrast medium was compared with histological findings. RESULTS: Microangiography of the gallbladder in acute gallstone-associated cholecystitis showed strongly dilated arterioles and regular filling of the capillary network, whereas in acalculous cholecystitis the capillary filling was poor and irregular. CONCLUSION: Disturbed microcirculation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute acalculous cholecystitis.