Adding fentanyl to etomidate fails to reduce painful recall of external direct current cardioversion in adults: a randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: External electrical cardioversion under hypnotics, even when combined with opioids, has been consistently described as distressing or painful. The main objective of the present study was to determine if adding an opioid to a hypnotic, in comparison to the same hypnotic alone, would decrease the incidence of unpleasant or painful recall during anaesthesia for external electrical cardioversion. METHODS: This was a single-centre, prospective, randomised, double-blinded clinical trial that took place from September 2011 to March 2012. Fifty-two adult patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, scheduled for external direct current cardioversion, were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were age >80 years, previous cardiac surgery, implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, and haemodynamic instability. Patients received intravenously either (group EF) fentanyl 50 g and after 60 s etomidate 0.1 mg/kg, or (group E) only etomidate 0.1 mg/kg. If the patients did not lose their eyelid reflex, repeated doses of etomidate 4 mg were given. Cardioversion was attempted with an extracardiac biphasic electrical shock from 200 to 300 J, at most three times. The primary endpoint was recall of something unpleasant or painful. Secondary outcome measures were predictors of the requirement for repeat doses of etomidate, and the number of shocks needed. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients (35 male, 16 female), aged 62.1 ± 10.2 years, completed the study. There were no differences between group EF and group E regarding recall (unpleasant recall 0 vs. 2 patients, p=0.235; painful recall 1 vs. 0 patients, p=0.510). The administration of etomidate alone was a significant predictor for subsequent repeated doses of etomidate (p=0.049, odds ratio 4.312, 95% confidence interval 1.007-18.460). The number of shocks needed to restore sinus rhythm did not differ between the groups (p=0.846). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the addition of fentanyl to etomidate did not diminish distressing or painful experience during anaesthesia for external cardioversion.

The effect of visiting surgical patients in the postanesthesia care unit on family members' anxiety: a prospective quasi-experimental study.

PURPOSE: Surgical procedures pose stressful events for patients and their family members. The main purpose of this study was to determine if visiting patients in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) would reduce the anxiety levels of Greek patients' family members. DESIGN: A prospective study with a one-group quasi-experimental pretest/post-test design was used. METHODS: Situational anxiety of surgical patients' relatives was assessed using the state subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Greek validation) at the beginning of the surgical procedure and again after their visitation of patients in the PACU. FINDINGS: STAI scores were significantly higher preoperatively (57 [23-80]) than postoperatively (51 [21-77]; P=.000008). Clinically significant levels of anxiety were present in 76% and 58% of the participants, pre- and postoperatively, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although postoperative STAI scores were reduced, family visitation in the PACU did not sufficiently reduce the anxiety of Greek family members to clinically acceptable levels.

Evaluation of the reliability of a new non-invasive method for assessing the functionality and mobility of the spine.

UNLABELLED: For the evaluation of the functionality and mobility of the spine, several methods have been developed. The purpose of this study was to estimate the test-retest reliability of the Spinal Mouse, a new, non-invasive, computer-assisted wireless telemetry device for the assessment of the curvatures, the mobility and the functionality of the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the test-retest reliability was evaluated in 50 adults with back or low back pain. Twenty four parameters were studied in the sagittal and frontal plane. For the characterization of the precision, the intraclass correlation coefficient and the standard error of measurement were used. RESULTS: in the sagittal plane, 22 of the 24 parameters showed high and good reliability, while only two fair and poor. In the frontal plane, 17 parameters showed high and good reliability, five fair and two poor. DISCUSSION: the Spinal Mouse showed excellent test-retest reliability in the sagittal plane, while a slightly inferior performance in the frontal plane, for the evaluation of curvatures, deformation and mobility of the spine.

Respiratory effects, hemodynamic changes and cement leakage during multilevel cement balloon kyphoplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of multilevel balloon kyphoplasty (BK) on blood pressure, blood gases and cement leakage. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 63 patients: 31 were treated for osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures (OVCF) and 32 for osteolytic tumors (OT). Twenty-six patients were treated at 1 level, 15 at 2, 2 at 3, 6 at 4, 3 at 5, 4 at 6, 5 at 7 and 2 at 8. PPMA was used in 43 patients and calcium phosphate in 20. All patients were treated under general anesthesia with continuous invasive monitoring of hemodynamic changes, arterial blood gases and peripheral and regional cerebral oxygen saturation. RESULTS: Two patients had a transient drop in blood pressure between 21 and 42 % during simultaneous inflation of all four balloons at two levels and three more patients during cement injection (two PMMA, one calcium phosphate). Five patients had a cement leak (7.9 %), which was unrelated to the cement type or number of levels. Blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure and arterial oxygen partial pressure decreased statistically, but without any clinical significance after cement insertion. Peripheral and regional cerebral oxygen saturation remained unchanged. One-way ANOVA revealed no difference between these changes when clustered by the groups single level, two levels and three or more levels. CONCLUSION: BK performed under general anesthesia appears to be safe when applied in multiple levels in the same seating provided the balloons are inflated sequentially and not simultaneously and the cement is inserted slowly in a very doughy state. Close monitoring of cardiorespiratory factors is valuable. Its rare circulatory effects are unrelated to the number of levels or the cement type.

Anaesthesia for cardioversion: a prospective randomised comparison of propofol and etomidate combined with fentanyl.

INTRODUCTION: External electrical cardioversion is mostly performed solely under sedatives or hypnotics, although the procedure is painful. The aim of this prospective randomised study was to compare two anaesthetic protocols that included analgesia. METHODS: Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation were randomised to receive intravenously either fentanyl 50 µg and propofol 0.5 mg/kg (group P) or fentanyl 50 µg and etomidate 0.1 mg/kg (group E), while breathing spontaneously 100% oxygen. In the case of inadequate anaesthesia, repeated doses of 20 mg propofol (group P) or 4 mg etomidate (group E) were given as often as necessary until loss of eyelid reflex. Cardioversion was achieved with an extracardiac biphasic electrical shock ranging from 200 to 300 J, performed three times at most. RESULTS: Forty-six patients (25 in group P, 21 in group E), aged 64 ± 9 years, were enrolled in the study. There were no differences between the study groups concerning left ventricular ejection fraction, the dimension of the left atrium, the number of shocks needed or the number of unsuccessful cardioversions. Patients in group E had a shorter time from injection of the induction agents until loss of consciousness (49 vs. 118 s, p=0.003) and until the first shock was given (61 vs. 135 s, p=0.004). Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly (repeated measurements ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment) in group P when the baseline value was compared to that after anaesthesia induction (mean decrease 15.2 mmHg, 95% CI 5.6-24.8 mmHg, p=0.001) and to the value after recovery (mean decrease 15.2 mmHg, 95% CI 4.8-25.7 mmHg, p=0.002). Manual ventilation was required in 7 and 9 patients in groups P and E, respectively (p=0.360). CONCLUSION: Both anaesthetic regimens provided excellent conditions for external electric cardioversion. In addition, etomidate in combination with fentanyl had a shorter induction time and ensured haemodynamic stability.

Reversal of tetraplegia in a patient with haematogenous cervical epidural abscess.

Pyogenic haematogenous cervical epidural abscess complicated by tetraplegia is an uncommon entity, but its clinical importance overshadows its rarity. Predisposing risk factors for spinal epidural abscess include diabetes, intravenous drug abuse, liver disease, renal failure, malignancy, HIV, infection elsewhere, rheumatoid conditions, trauma and a number of spinal interventions. Lack of recovery and death are much more frequent when complete paralysis exists since more than 24 to 48 hours. Most authors combine decompressive laminectomy and antibiotics. Anterior decompression and needle aspiration are rarely used, the former more specifically in case of anterior abscess formation. A high index of suspicion along with reliance on gadolinium-enhanced MRI is essential to diagnose the pathology and institute appropriate treatment on an individual basis. The authors report on a diabetic male patient who developed a cervical epidural abscess with tetraplegia after dental extraction. He was treated within six hours by one stage anterior/posterior decompression and fusion, with complete recovery.

Case report: subarachnoid anesthesia for kyphoplasty: is anesthesia adequate?

We performed a prospective pilot study of subarachnoid anesthesia for kyphoplasty in 11 nonrandomized patients. Subarachnoid anesthesia was administered at the level of the best palpable intervertebral space below L3. Patients received intrathecally either hyperbaric or plain bupivacaine with or without fentanyl. Five patients experienced pain during the surgical procedure and received supplemental IV analgesia. One patient felt pain from the pressure on the ribs while in the prone position. The remaining patients were comfortable. In no patient was respiratory compromise or deep sedation observed. We conclude that subarachnoid anesthesia may be an adequate technique for kyphoplasty.

Effect of epidural ropivacaine on somatosensory and motor evoked potentials.

The case of a 57-year-old man who underwent major spinal surgery as a result of a traumatic burst fracture of the T(12) vertebra, is presented. Changes in somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials following the intraoperative epidural administration of ropivacaine, is described.

Intra-articular calcaneal fracture: closed reduction and balloon-assisted augmentation with calcium phosphate cement: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: For decades, open reduction and internal fixation was the surgical treatment of choice for intra-articular calcaneal fractures, either with or without any augmentation. Delayed weight bearing and wound-related complications are still unresolved. Aiming at a minimally invasive therapy with accelerated mobilization, we applied closed reduction and balloon-assisted augmentation with calcium phosphate cement. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-years-old Greek man with intra-articular calcaneal fracture was treated with closed reduction and balloon assisted augmentation with calcium phosphate cement. Follow-up was performed using the Maryland foot score, plain radiographs and multidirectional computerized tomography. Early full weight-bearing was performed at the end of the first week postoperatively. There was no need for secondary reconstructive procedures at the 2 year follow-up. The patient had minimal problems regarding the pain, subtalar motion and peroneal impingement. There was no significant further collapse of the subtalar calcaneal articular surface radiologically. CONCLUSION: The closed reduction and balloon assisted augmentation with calcium phosphate cement of intra-articular calcaneal fractures is a minimally invasive surgical procedure which led to early full weight bearing, good functional patient outcomes and a low complication rate.

Airway management in cervical spinal cord injured patients: a survey of European emergency physicians' clinical practice.

No European airway management guidelines are currently specific to patients with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). The objectives of this study were to determine the clinical practice of European emergency physicians and anaesthesiologists regarding airway management in patients with CSCI. A questionnaire survey was completed by the participants of the fourth European Congress on Emergency Medicine regarding the preferred intubation techniques and the relevant skills, as well as airway management manoeuvres that, in the physician's opinion, caused the least and the greatest cervical spine movement. A total of 115 questionnaires from physicians from 15 European countries were returned. The most preferred techniques for tracheal intubation in patients with CSCI were the use of direct laryngoscopy, awake nasal intubation with a fibreoptic bronchoscope, and the use of the intubating and standard laryngeal mask airway, in descending order. Not all emergency physicians were skilled in an alternative intubation technique to direct laryngoscopy, in contrast to the anaesthesiologists, who were all familiar with at least the standard laryngeal mask airway. More than half of the physicians considered that the fibreoptic bronchoscope provided the least cervical spine movement. However, most of the physicians who indicated the use of the fibreoptic bronchoscope as their preferred technique, were not skilled in its use. Furthermore, two-thirds of the respondents did not recognise that mask ventilation causes considerable cervical spine movement. Emergency physicians need better training in airway management to anticipate problems in patients with CSCI.