Optimizing neuromuscular blockade management for improving patient safety and peri-operative outcomes: a pilot phase of a quality improvement initiative.

INTRODUCTION: Although quantitative monitoring of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is recommended, it is not routinely used in daily practice. The optimizing NMB management to improve patient safety and perioperative outcomes (OBISPO) quality improvement (QI) initiative intends to address this issue and change clinicians' behaviors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pilot phase of the prospective QI intervention was conducted. The primary objective was implement clinical practice change that emphasizes improving NMB monitoring in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery who are eligible for fast-track extubation between February 2021 and December 2021. The secondary objective was to reduce the train-of-four ratio (TOFR) < 0.9 incidence before tracheal extubation to less than 20%. The intervention included educational sessions for teams. RESULTS: A total of 859 patients underwent elective cardiac surgery, 40% were eligible for fast-track extubation. From our cohort of fast-track cardiac cases, 69% had reported TOFR; 47% of them had residual paralysis (TOFR < 0.9) on arrival to PACU, 22% persisted with residual paralysis after extubation, and 27% were extubated without monitoring. The survey identified cognitive biases, knowledge gaps, unfamiliarity, and lack of trust in quantitative monitoring devices. Workflow disruptions imposed by COVID and changes in NMB monitoring devices have negatively affected our initiative. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that changes in clinician behavior are among the most challenging issues in perioperative medicine. Continuous teaching and QI initiatives, focused on quantitative NMB monitors and adequate reversal agent use, are mandatory to improve perioperative outcomes. Therefore, new proposals are required to promote changes in current practices.

Erector spinae plane block, neuropathic pain and quality of life after video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery. Pilot, observational study.

BACKGROUND: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a valuable alternative for pain management after video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS). The incidence of postoperative chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is high while the quality of life (QoL) after VATS remains unknown. We hypothesised that patients with ESPB would have a low incidence of acute and CNP and would report a good QoL up to three months after VATS. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre prospective pilot cohort study from January to April 2020. ESPB after VATS was the standard practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of CNP three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included QoL assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire three months after surgery and pain control at the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: We conducted a single-centre prospective pilot cohort study from January to April 2020. ESPB after VATS was the standard practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of CNP three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included QoL assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire three months after surgery and pain control at the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We conducted a single-centre prospective pilot cohort study from January to April 2020. ESPB after VATS was the standard practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of CNP three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included QoL assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire three months after surgery and pain control at the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 12 and 24 hours postoperatively.

Perioperative management of patients undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative management of Tracheal Resection and Reconstruction (TRR) presents many challenges to the physicians involved in airway management. Factors related to postoperative outcomes can be identified as early as the preoperative setting and can even be linked to demographic characteristics of patients affected by tracheal stenosis. The primary aim of this study is to describe the experience of patients undergoing TRR at our hospital from an anesthesiology perspective, describing as a second aim demography, preoperative conditions, and postoperative complications. METHODS: This was a single institution retrospective review of patients who underwent TRR between 2009 and 2020. We did a post-hoc exploratory analysis to identify possible associations between perioperative complications and perioperative management. RESULTS: Forty-three ASA I-IV adult patients aged 18-72 years who underwent TRR were included. Prolonged intubation (72%) is the primary cause of tracheal stenosis. Intraoperative management: intravenous induction and laryngeal masks are now the most frequently used for airway management, especially in subglottic stenosis. Perioperative complications were vocal cord paralysis (25.6%), postoperative ventilatory support (20.9%), and need for surgical reintervention (20.9%). One patient (2%) died in the postoperative period due to anastomotic complication. After resection, dexmedetomidine is the preferred choice (48.8%) for sedoanalgesia in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative management of TRR at our hospital has a low mortality and high morbidity rate. We did not find an association between perioperative anesthetic interventions and postoperative complications. Further studies are needed to evaluate which anesthetic interventions may be associated with better outcomes.

[Anesthetic management of neonates undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization: a systematic literature review]. / Manejo anestésico de neonatos submetidos a cateterismo cardíaco diagnóstico e terapêutico: uma revisão sistemática da literatura.

BACKGROUND: Several interventional cardiology procedures are required in neonates with congenital heart disease. Interventional cardiology procedures have a higher risk of cardiac arrest compared to other interventions. At present, there is great heterogeneity in the perioperative management of congenital heart disease neonates undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization or therapeutic cardiac catheterization. STUDY OBJECTIVES: Primary aim: Provide a systematic review of the most effective and/or safe anesthetic and perioperative management in neonates with congenital heart disease who undergo diagnostic cardiac catheterization or therapeutic cardiac catheterization. Secondary aim: Identify the medications, monitoring parameters and airway management used in the same population. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. SETTING: Catheterization laboratory. METHODS: Literature was searched (December 2017) in electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, BIREME-Lilacs-Biblioteca Virtual de la Salud, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Health Technology Assessment Database. MAIN RESULTS: From 130 records identified, four studies met inclusion criteria and quality assessment. None of the studies were relevant to the primary objective. Regarding the secondary objectives, one study compared the efficacy and adverse effects of racemic ketamine and its S(+) ketamine enantiomer, one study reported the efficacy of subarachnoid anesthesia for high-risk children undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization, one study identified the factors associated to high severity adverse events related to sedation, anesthesia and airway, and one study retrospectively analyzed cardiac catheterization procedures in neonates weighing less than 2.5 kg. CONCLUSION: There are no evidence-based recommendations available for congenital heart disease neonates undergoing cardiac catheterization. More studies are required to evaluate the ideal anesthetic and perioperative management in this population.

Anesthetic management of neonates undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization: a systematic literature review / Manejo anestésico de neonatos submetidos a cateterismo cardíaco diagnóstico e terapêutico: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

Abstract Background: Several interventional cardiology procedures are required in neonates with congenital heart disease. Interventional cardiology procedures have a higher risk of cardiac arrest compared to other interventions. At present, there is great heterogeneity in the perioperative management of congenital heart disease neonates undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization or therapeutic cardiac catheterization. Study objectives: Primary aim: Provide a systematic review of the most effective and/or safe anesthetic and perioperative management in neonates with congenital heart disease who undergo diagnostic cardiac catheterization or therapeutic cardiac catheterization. Secondary aim: Identify the medications, monitoring parameters and airway management used in the same population. Design: Systematic literature review. Setting: Catheterization laboratory. Methods: Literature was searched (December 2017) in electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, BIREME-Lilacs-Biblioteca Virtual de la Salud, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Health Technology Assessment Database. Main results: From 130 records identified, four studies met inclusion criteria and quality assessment. None of the studies were relevant to the primary objective. Regarding the secondary objectives, one study compared the efficacy and adverse effects of racemic ketamine and its S(+) ketamine enantiomer, one study reported the efficacy of subarachnoid anesthesia for high-risk children undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization, one study identified the factors associated to high severity adverse events related to sedation, anesthesia and airway, and one study retrospectively analyzed cardiac catheterization procedures in neonates weighing less than 2.5 kg. Conclusion: There are no evidence-based recommendations available for congenital heart disease neonates undergoing cardiac catheterization. More studies are required to evaluate the ideal anesthetic and perioperative management in this population.

Resumo Introdução: Vários procedimentos de cardiologia intervencionista são necessários em neonatos com doença cardíaca congênita. Os procedimentos de cardiologia intervencionista têm um risco maior de parada cardíaca em comparação com outras intervenções. Atualmente, há grande heterogeneidade no manejo perioperatório de neonatos com doença cardíaca congênita submetidos a cateterismo cardíaco diagnóstico ou cateterismo cardíaco terapêutico. Objetivo: Objetivo principal: fornecer uma revisão sistemática do manejo anestésico e perioperatório mais efetivo e/ou seguro em neonatos com doença cardíaca congênita submetidos à cateterismo cardíaco diagnóstico ou cateterismo cardíaco terapêutico. Objetivo secundário: Identificar os medicamentos usados, parâmetros monitorizados e manejo das vias aéreas utilizado na população estudada. Desenho: Revisão sistemática da literatura. Local: Laboratório de hemodinâmica e cateterismo cardíaco. Método: Foi realizada busca na literatura (Dezembro de 2017) nos seguintes bancos de dados eletrônicos: Medline, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, BIREME-Lilacs-Biblioteca Virtual de la Salud, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects e Health Technology Assessment Database. Resultados principais: Dos 130 registros identificados, quatro estudos obedeceram aos critérios de inclusão e de avaliação de qualidade. Nenhum dos estudos foi relevante para o objetivo principal. Em relação aos objetivos secundários, um estudo comparou a eficácia e os efeitos adversos da cetamina racêmica e seu enantiômero S(+) cetamina, um estudo relatou a eficácia da anestesia subaracnóidea em crianças de alto risco submetidas ao cateterismo cardíaco diagnóstico, um estudo identificou os fatores associados à maior gravidade de eventos adversos relacionados à sedação, anestesia e vias aéreas, e um estudo analisou retrospectivamente os procedimentos de cateterismo cardíaco em neonatos com peso inferior a 2,5 kg. Conclusão: Não há recomendações com base em evidências disponíveis para neonatos com doença cardíaca congênita submetidos a cateterismo cardíaco. Mais estudos são necessários para avaliar o manejo anestésico e perioperatório ideal nessa população.