Management of Anesthesia for Procedures in the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory.

The complexity of cardiac electrophysiology procedures has increased significantly over the past three decades. Anesthesia requirements of these procedures can be different based on patient- and procedure-specific factors. This manuscript outlines various anesthesia strategies for cardiac implantable electronic devices and electrophysiology procedures including pre-procedural, procedural and post-procedural management. A team-based approach with collaboration between cardiac electrophysiologists and anesthesiologists is required with careful pre-procedural and intra-procedural planning. Given the recent advances in electrophysiology, there is a need for specialized cardiac electrophysiology anesthesia care to improve the efficacy and safety of the procedures.

Comparison between conventional-dose and high-dose rocuronium use in general anesthesia for Cesarean section.

Background: There have been few studies comparing the effects of high- and low-dose rocuronium during cesarean section by directly measuring the concentration. Therefore, we conducted a study to examine the blood concentrations and clinical effects of both doses of rocuronium on mothers and fetuses. Methods: Eighteen patients were randomly assigned to two groups: C Group (0.6 mg/kg), and H Group, (1.0 mg/kg). The primary outcome was the comparison of umbilical vein rocuronium concentration between two groups. We assessed ease of intubation, time from rocuronium administration to some TOF points, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay time, infused remifentanil dose, maternal rocuronium concentration, and Apgar scores. Results: No differences were observed in demographic data, ease of intubation, PACU stay time, 1 min Apgar scores, umbilical venous blood gas analysis between both groups. However, the time from rocuronium administration to T3 disappearance was shorter (p=0.009) and time to T1 and T2 reappearance were longer (p=0.003, p=0.009) in H group than that in C group. The administered remifentanil dose (p=0.042) was lower in the H group than in the C group. Rocuronium concentrations in the umbilical vein (p=0.004) and maternal vein before cord clamping (p=0.002) and at discharge (p<0.001) were also found to be higher in the H group than in the C group. Conclusions: We observed no prolongation of PACU stay, and no differences in Apgar scores in H group compared to C group. It suggests that 1.0 mg/kg of rocuronium has no negative effects on the fetus and mother in cesarean section.

Non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing CricOid pressure and para-laryngeal pressure in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery: NiCOP trial.

BACKGROUND: Cricoid pressure has been surrounded with controversies regarding its effectiveness. Application of ultrasound-guided para-laryngeal (PL) force has been shown to occlude the esophagus effectively compared with cricoid pressure (CP) in awake patients. We hypothesized that there would be no meaningful difference in the change in antero-posterior esophageal diameter from with application of cricoid or para-laryngeal pressure in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery under general anesthesia. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, non-inferiority trial, 40 parturients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under general anesthesia were randomized to receive rapid sequence induction with either cricoid pressure (n = 20) or para-laryngeal pressure (n = 20). The antero-posterior diameter of the esophagus, measured by sonography, was the primary outcome. Visualization of the esophagus, its position in relation to the glottic aperture, esophageal occlusion, percentage of glottic opening (POGO), time to intubation, first pass success rate, overall success rate and adverse events like desaturation or bronchospasm were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The mean change in anterior-posterior diameter in the CP group was 0.17 ±0.1 cm vs. 0.28 ±0.1 cm in the PL group. The mean difference (CP-para-laryngeal pressure) between the groups was -0.11 (95% CI -0.17 to -0.1) cm. As the upper limit of the 95% CI was lower than the prespecified non-inferiority margin (δ = -0.2), non-inferiority was established (P <0.001]. There was no significant difference in the POGO score (P = 0.818), time to intubation (P =0.55), or intubation attempts (P = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Para-laryngeal pressure was non-inferior to CP in occluding the esophagus in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery under general anesthesia and furthermore, no significant deterioration in intubation parameters was seen.

Comparative evaluation of blind supraglottic airway device insertion versus videolaryngoscope-guided technique in adults undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: A videolaryngoscope may decrease the high incidence of aberrant positioning of supraglottic airway devices (SAD) inserted with blind techniques. We aimed to compare Igel insertion characteristics between blind and videolaryngoscope-assisted techniques. METHODS: In this study 70 adult patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were randomly divided into blind (Group B, n = 35) and videolaryngoscope-guided (Group V, n = 35) Igel insertion. Oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), fiber-optic view score, time for device insertion, first attempt success, ease of insertion, ventilation score, maneuvers, and adverse events were assessed. RESULTS: OLP was significantly higher in group V at 1 and 10 minutes (24.80 ± 1.91 vs 21.71 ± 2.37; p < 0.001 and 32.60 ± 2.32 vs 30.68 ± 2.93; p = 0.006). The mean fiberoptic scoring (3.63 ± 0.49 vs 3.38 ± 0.49; p = 0.043), a fibreoptic score of grade 4 (24 vs 13; p = 0.012) and time-to-device insertion (25.6 ± 3.5 vs 21.7 ± 4.1; p < 0.001) was considerably higher in group V. First-attempt success (p = 0.630), ease of insertion of SAD (p = 0.540) and nasogastric tube (p = 1), ventilation score (p = 1), number of maneuvers required (p = 1), number of attempts (p = 0.592) and postoperative complications (p = 0.800) were comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The videolaryngoscope-guided technique provided superior airway sealing and reduced malposition of Igel without an increase in adverse events compared to the blind technique. However, this was at the cost of increased time of device insertion. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ctri.nic.in identifier is CTRI/2022/10/046269.

Effects of remimazolam combined with remifentanil on quality of recovery after ambulatory hysteroscopic surgery: a prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Remimazolam, a new benzodiazepine, is known for its quick onset of effects and recovery time. Recently, it has been licensed for general anesthesia and sedation in Korea and its use is increasing in other countries. However, less is known about its effect on postoperative recovery. We used a patient-reported outcome questionnaire to examine the effect of remimazolam on postoperative recovery. METHODS: Patients who underwent hysteroscopy on day surgery basis were administered an induction dose of remimazolam 6 mg/kg/h followed by a maintenance dose of 1-2 mg/kg/h. After surgery, the translated Korean version of 15-item Quality of Recovery scale (QoR-15K) including post-discharge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) and/or pain, was surveyed 24 h after surgery to evaluate patient recovery. RESULTS: Total of 38 patients were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. All patients successfully completed QoR-15K. Only one patient scored low for moderate pain and PDNV. On average, patients scored 9 and above for all QoR-15K items except for moderate pain (8.66 ± 1.68). When QoR-15K items were grouped into dimensions, all dimensions scored an average of 9 or higher on a 10-point scale. In addition, 19 out of 38 patients gave score range of 148 to 150 out of possible 150. CONCLUSIONS: Psychometric evaluation based on postoperative QoR-15K among patients receiving remimazolam shows satisfactory patient recovery profiles without significant pain or PDNV. Considering its effectiveness and safety, remimazolam could be one of useful agents for general anesthesia of day surgery in terms of postoperative recovery.

Ventilation failure after endotracheal intubation in an infant with abdominal compartment syndrome: A case report.

Intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are distinct clinical stages of pathology caused by increased intra-abdominal pressure, which may lead to respiratory and circulatory dysfunction in children and is associated with high pediatric mortality. An emergency exploratory laparotomy was planned for an infant with ACS. After induction of anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, the patient developed ventilation failure and any management was ineffective. Ventilation was resumed after a race against time abdominal decompression by the surgical team. Abdominal decompression is the primary treatment to relieve respiratory and circulatory failure in children with ACS.

Effect of 10 Minutes of Prewarming and Prewarmed Intravenous Fluid Administration on the Core Temperature of Patients Undergoing Transurethral Surgery under General Anesthesia.

Background: Patients undergoing transurethral urologic procedures using bladder irrigation are at increased risk of perioperative hypothermia. Thirty minutes of prewarming prevents perioperative hypothermia. However, its routine application is impractical. We evaluated the effect of 10 minutes of prewarming combined with the intraoperative administration of warmed intravenous fluid on patients' core temperature. Methods: Fifty patients undergoing transurethral bladder or prostate resection under general anesthesia were included in this study and were randomly allocated to either the control group or the prewarming group. Patients in the prewarming group were warmed for 10 minutes before anesthesia induction with a forced-air warming device and received warmed intravenous fluid during operations. The patients in control group did not receive preoperative forced-air warming and were administered room-temperature fluid. Participants' core body temperature was measured on arrival at the preoperative holding area (T0), on entering the operating room, immediately after anesthesia induction, and in 10-minute intervals from then on until the end of the operation (Tend), on entering PACU, and in 10-minute intervals during the postanesthesia care unit stay. The groups' incidence of intraoperative hypothermia, change in core temperature (T0 - Tend), and postoperative thermal comfort were compared. Results: The incidence of hypothermia was 64% and 29% in the control group and prewarming group, respectively (P = 0.015). Change in core temperature was 0.93 ± 0.3 °C and 0.55 ± 0.4 °C in the control group and prewarming group, respectively (P = 0.0001). Thermal comfort was better in the prewarming group (P = 0.004). Conclusions: Ten minutes of prewarming combined with warmed intravenous fluid significantly decreased the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia and resulted in better thermal comfort in patients undergoing transurethral urologic surgery under general anesthesia.

Lower alpha frequency of intraoperative frontal EEG is associated with postoperative delirium: A secondary propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious complication of surgery, especially in the elderly patient population. It has been proposed that decreasing the amount of anesthetics by titrating to an EEG index will lower POD rate, but clear evidence is missing. A strong age-dependent negative correlation has been reported between the peak oscillatory frequency of alpha waves and end-tidal anesthetic concentration, with older patients generating slower alpha frequencies. We hypothesized, that slower alpha oscillations are associated with a higher rate of POD. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of patients` data from a prospective observational study in cardiac surgical patients approved by the Bernese Ethics committee. Frontal EEG was recorded during Isoflurane effect-site concentrations of 0.7 to 0.8 and peak alpha frequency was measured at highest power between 6 and 17 Hz. Delirium was assessed by chart review. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between POD and non-POD groups. Selection bias was addressed using nearest neighbor propensity score matching (PSM) for best balance. This incorporated 18 variables, whereas patients with missing variable information or without an alpha oscillation were excluded. RESULT: Of the 1072 patients in the original study, 828 were included, 73 with POD, 755 without. PSM allowed 328 patients into the final analysis, 67 with, 261 without POD. Before PSM, 8 variables were significantly different between POD and non-POD groups, none thereafter. Mean peak alpha frequency was significantly lower in the POD in contrast to non-POD group before and after matching (7.9 vs 8.9 Hz, 7.9 vs 8.8 Hz respectively, SD 1.3, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative slower frontal peak alpha frequency is independently associated with POD after cardiac surgery and may be a simple intraoperative neurophysiological marker of a vulnerable brain for POD. Further studies are needed to investigate if there is a causal link between alpha frequency and POD.

Contamination of equipment and surfaces in the operating room anesthesia workspace: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Contamination of the breathing circuit and medication preparation surface of an anesthesia machine can increase the risk of cross-infection. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contamination of the anesthetic medication preparation surface, respiratory circuits, and devices used in general anesthesia with assisted mechanical ventilation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted at the surgical center of a philanthropic hospital, of medium complexity located in the municipality of Três Lagoas, in the eastern region of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. METHODS: Eighty-two microbiological samples were collected from the breathing circuits. After repeating the samples in different culture media, 328 analyses were performed. RESULTS: A higher occurrence of E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (P < 0.001) were observed. Variations were observed depending on the culture medium and sample collection site. CONCLUSION: The study findings underscore the inadequate disinfection of the inspiratory and expiratory branches, highlighting the importance of stringent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

General anesthesia versus conscious sedation in mechanical thrombectomy for patients with acute ischemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis / Anestesia geral versus sedação consciente na trombectomia mecânica para pacientes com AVC isquêmico agudo: revisão sistemática e metanálise

Abstract Background After recently published randomized clinical trials, the choice of the best anesthetic procedure for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) is not definite. Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of general anesthesia (GA) versus conscious sedation (CS) in patients with AIS who underwent MT, explicitly focusing on procedural and clinical outcomes and the incidence of adverse events. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing GA versus CS in patients who underwent MT due to LVO-AIS. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for binary outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random effects models were used for all outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Results Eight RCTs (1,300 patients) were included, of whom 650 (50%) underwent GA. Recanalization success was significantly higher in the GA group (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.26-2.24; p < 0.04) than in CS. No significant difference between groups were found for good functional recovery (OR 1.13; IC 95% 0.76-1.67; p = 0.56), incidence of pneumonia (OR 1.23; IC 95% 0.56- 2,69; p = 0.61), three-month mortality (OR 0.99; IC 95% 0.73-1.34; p = 0.95), or cerebral hemorrhage (OR 0.97; IC 95% 0.68-1.38; p = 0.88). Conclusion Despite the increase in recanalization success rates in the GA group, GA and CS show similar rates of good functional recovery, three-month mortality, incidence of pneumonia, and cerebral hemorrhage in patients undergoing MT.

Resumo Antecedentes A trombectomia mecânica (TM) é o padrão de tratamento para pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo (AVCI) devido à oclusão de grandes vasos (OGV). No entanto, ainda não está claro qual é o procedimento anestésico mais benéfico para a TM. Objetivo Nosso objetivo foi comparar a eficácia e a segurança da anestesia geral (AG) versus sedação consciente (SC) em pacientes com AVCI submetidos à TM, focando especificamente nos resultados procedimentais e clínicos, bem como na incidência de eventos adversos. Métodos Foram realizadas buscas sistemáticas nas bases PubMed, Embase e Cochrane por ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECRs) comparando AG versus SC em pacientes submetidos à TM devido a AVCI por OGV. Razões de chances (ORs) foram calculadas para desfechos binários, com intervalos de confiança de 95% (ICs). Modelos de efeitos aleatórios foram usados para todos os resultados. A heterogeneidade foi avaliada com estatísticas I2. Resultados Oito ensaios clínicos randomizados (1.300 pacientes) foram incluídos, dos quais 650 (50%) foram submetidos à AG. O sucesso da recanalização foi significativamente maior no grupo AG (OR 1,68; IC 95% 1,26-2,24; p < 0,04) em comparação com SC. No entanto, não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos para recuperação funcional adequada (OR 1,13; IC 95% 0,76-1,67; p = 0,56), incidência de pneumonia (OR 1,23; IC 95% 0,56- 2,69; p = 0,61), mortalidade em três meses (OR 0,99; IC 95% 0,73- 1,34; p = 0,95) ou hemorragia cerebral (OR 0,97; IC 95% 0,68- 1,38; p = 0,88). Conclusão Apesar do aumento significativo nas taxas de sucesso de recanalização no grupo AG, AG e SC mostram taxas semelhantes de recuperação funcional, mortalidade, pneumonia e hemorragia em pacientes com AVCI submetidos à TM.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis: A meta-review on systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Introduction: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications in surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia, and multiple strategies have been suggested to prevent them. Objective: To describe the available evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for preventing PONV in adults undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, as reported in previous meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Methodology: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses was conducted. Searches were performed in PubMed, EBSCO, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, Science Direct, and Scopus, without restrictions as to gender, clinical condition, or date of publication, including articles in Spanish, French, and English only. Two reviewers independently and in duplicate did the screening, data extraction, quality evaluation, and risk of bias assessment according to AMSTAR-2. The PRISMA and PRIOR statements were followed for reporting. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021251999. Results: Out of 80 candidate articles, three were viable for meta-analysis. 1.5 mg to 18 mg doses of Dexamethasone showed a significant reduction in the risk of PONV, with a RR of 0.48 (95 % CI 0.41-0.57; p<0.001), I2=63 % (p=0.07), and a NNTc of 5 and 7. Other effective strategies included the use of acoustic stimulation/acupuncture/acupressure, 5HT3 antagonists, NK1 antagonists, gabapentinoids, haloperidol, droperidol, metoclopramide, midazolam, mirtazapine, among others. The risk of publication bias was low. Conclusion: Different strategies are effective for PONV prophylaxis in surgeries under general anesthesia. Dexamethasone shows the best available evidence at the moment. The documented methodological quality suggests the need for better studies to establish the effectiveness of the strategies.

Introducción: Las náuseas y el vómito posoperatorios (NVPO) son comunes en pacientes quirúrgicos bajo anestesia general y se han planteado múltiples estrategias para prevenirlos. Objetivo: Describir la evidencia disponible sobre la efectividad de las estrategias farmacológicas y no farmacológicas para prevenir las NVPO en adultos sometidos a cirugía bajo anestesia general, según lo descrito en metaanálisis y revisiones sistemáticas previas. Metodología: Se realizó una metarrevisión de revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis. Se ejecutaron búsquedas en PubMed, EBSCO, Embase, Cochrane Database, ScienceDirect y Scopus, sin restricción por sexo, condición clínica ni fecha de publicación, solo de artículos en español, francés e inglés. Dos revisores llevaron a cabo tamizaje, extracción de datos, evaluación de calidad y riesgo de sesgo según AMSTAR-2, de manera independiente y en duplicado. Se siguieron las declaraciones PRISMA y PRIOR para el reporte, previo registro en Prospero CRD42021251999. Resultados: De 80 artículos candidatos, se seleccionaron tres viables para realización de metaanálisis. La dexametasona entre 1,5 mg y 18 mg mostró un RR=0,48 (IC95 % [0,41-0,57]; p<0,001), I2=63 % (p=0,07) y un NNTc 5 y 7. Otras estrategias efectivas incluyen el uso de acuestimulación/acupuntura/acupresión, antagonistas 5HT3, antagonistas NK1, gabapentinoides, haloperidol, droperidol, metoclopramida, midazolam, mirtazapina, entre otras. El riesgo de sesgo de las publicaciones fue bajo. Conclusión: Diferentes estrategias son efectivas para profilaxis NVPO en cirugías con anestesia general. Dexametasona presenta la mejor evidencia disponible al momento. La calidad metodológica documentada sugiere la necesidad de realizar mejores trabajos para determinar la efectividad de las estrategias.

[Evaluation of the quality of anesthetic recovery in postoperative patients]. / Evaluación de la calidad de recuperación anestésica en pacientes postoperados.

Background: Comprehensive health care includes the evaluation of satisfaction in patient care and the quality of medical services. High-precision instruments have been used to assess the quality of recovery after anesthesia (QoR), such as the QoR-15 questionnaire, a validated and accurate assessment tool that considers aspects of emotionality, physical and psychological well-being, pain, and autonomy. Objective: To assess QoR in postoperative patients who underwent anesthesia. Material and methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out from March to August 2022. 80 patients from 18 to 70 years who underwent an anesthetic procedure and to which the anesthetic quality QoR-15 questionnaire was administered 24 hours after surgery were included. Descriptive statistics were performed according to the Shapiro-Wilk test. For quantitative variables it was used Mann-Whitney U, and for qualitative variables chi-squared; it was considered significant a value of p < 0.05. Results: The 80 patients obtained a QoR-15 score of 122.06 (52-147), and their QoR was considered good. Anesthetic recovery quality in patients undergoing regional anesthetic techniques was excellent in 42.5% and 10% had balanced general anesthesia, p = 0.011. Conclusions: QoR was higher with regional anesthetic techniques. Quality assessment through validated tools allows objective evaluation and monitoring of the care process in medical services.

Introducción: la atención sanitaria integral incluye la satisfacción en la atención del paciente y la calidad de servicios médicos. Se han empleado instrumentos con alta precisión para evaluar la calidad de recuperación anestésica (CRA), como el cuestionario validado QoR-15, el cual considera aspectos sobre emocionalidad, bienestar físico y psicológico, dolor y autonomía física. Objetivo: evaluar la CRA en pacientes postoperados sometidos a anestesia. Material y métodos: estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal, realizado de marzo a agosto de 2022. Se incluyeron 80 pacientes de 18 a 70 años sometidos a procedimiento anestésico y a quienes se les aplicó el cuestionario de calidad anestésica QoR-15 a las 24 horas de postoperados. Se empleó estadística descriptiva de acuerdo con la prueba de Shapiro-Wilk. Las variables cuantitativas se analizaron con U de Mann-Whitney y las cualitativas con chi cuadrada; se consideró significativo un valor de p < 0.05. Resultados: los 80 pacientes obtuvieron 122.06 (52-147) puntos en el cuestionario QoR-15 y su CRA se consideró como buena; en los pacientes sometidos a técnicas anestésicas regionales la CRA fue excelente en 42.5% y 10% tuvieron anestesia general balanceada, p = 0.011. Conclusión: la CRA fue mayor con las técnicas anestésicas regionales. La evaluación de la calidad mediante herramientas validadas permite su evaluación objetiva y hacer seguimiento del proceso de atención en los servicios médicos.

Thoracic epidural analgesia as part of an enhanced recovery program in gynecologic oncology: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of thoracic epidural analgesia as part of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) multimodal analgesic protocol in patients with gynecologic oncology who have undergone laparotomy for suspected or confirmed malignancy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study, following an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway, among patients who had undergone laparotomy for confirmed or suspected gynecological malignancy between January 2020 and September 2021. All patients who underwent laparotomy at the gynecologic oncology department for the aforementioned reason during that time were considered eligible. Patients (n=217) were divided into two groups: epidural (n=118) and non-epidural (n=99) group. Both groups were treated with the standard ERAS departmental analgesic protocol. The primary outcomes were length of hospital stay, complications, and readmission rates. RESULTS: Data from 217 patients (epidural group, n=118 vs non-epidural group, n=99) with median age of 61 years (IQR 53-68) were analyzed. The most common type of cancer was of ovarian origin (85/217, 39.2%, p=0.055) and median (Aletti) surgical complexity score was 3 (p=0.42). No differences were observed in the patients' demographics, clinical, and surgical characteristics. Primarily, median length of stay was 4 days in both groups with statistically significant lower IQR in the epidural group (3-5 vs 4-5, p=0.021). Complication rates were more common in the non-epidural group (38/99, 38.3% vs 36/118, 30.5%, p<0.001) with similar rates of grade III (p=0.51) and IV (0%) complications and readmission rates (p=0.51) between the two groups. Secondarily, the epidural group showed lower pain scores (p<0.001) on the day of surgery and in the first post-operative day (p<0.001), higher mobilization rates on the day of surgery (94.1% vs 57.6%, p<0.001), faster removal of urinary catheter (p<0.001), shorter time to flatus (p<0.001), and less nausea on the day of surgery (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study we showed that thoracic epidural analgesia, when used as part of an ERAS protocol, is safe and offers more favorable pain relief along with a number of additional benefits, improving the peri-operative experience of patients with gynecologic cancer.

[Processed EEG for personalized dosing of anesthetics during general anesthesia]. / Das prozessierte EEG zur personalisierten Dosierung von Anästhetika während Allgemeinanästhesie.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)-guided anesthesia is indispensable in modern operating rooms and has become established as the standard form of monitoring. Many anesthesiologists rely on processed EEG indices in the hope of averting anesthesia-related complications, such as intraoperative awareness, postoperative delirium and other cognitive complications in their patients. This educational review aims to provide information on the five most prevalent monitors used to guide depth of sedation during general anesthesia. This article elucidates the principles underpinning the application of these monitors where known, which are generally based on power in various EEG frequency bands and on the burst suppression pattern. Convinced that EEG-guided anesthesia has the potential of benefitting many surgical patients, it is felt that many basic principles and shortcomings of processed EEG indices need to be better understood in the clinical practice. After discussing the different monitors and clinically relevant data from the literature, the article gives a short practical guidance on how to critically interpret processed EEG information and troubleshooting of confounded indices in the context of clinical situations.

Analysis of Hospital-Based Dental Procedures Under General Anesthesia in Uncooperative Patients: a Retrospective Study.

Background: General anesthesia is a well-documented therapeutic option for the provision of dental treatment, particularly in patients with special healthcare needs and uncooperative pediatric patients. Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the characteristics of dental general anesthesia (DGA) procedures for uncooperative patients of all ages in a tertiary healthcare facility, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, in Zagreb, Croatia. Material and methods: The hospital records for the patients treated for various dental reasons under GA were obtained at the Clinical Hospital Dubrava in Zagreb, Croatia. Results: Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 810 DGA procedures were performed including 607 patients. The median age was 18 years. Almost half of the patients referred to undergo DGA procedures were from the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, 27.8% (N=225) and 21.0% (N=170), respectively. More than 90% of patients undergoing DGA procedures were referred with 1 to 3 medical conditions. 47.9% of patients had 1 to 3 dental conditions, of which caries was the most common condition (95.7%). The mean waiting time (±SD) was 113.06 (±62.62) days. 90 patients (14.8%) were referred for dental procedures under GA more than once, accounting for 203 procedures (25.1%). Conclusions: DGA remains a single dental treatment option for specific individuals. There is an institutional and, also, an organizational need to address the long waiting times and high repeated DGA rates.

General anesthesia with a transcutaneous pacemaker for a Noonan syndrome patient with advanced atrioventricular block discovered in the remote period after open-heart surgery: a case report.

We provided general anesthesia management to a patient with advanced atrioventricular block, which was discovered in the remote period after open-heart surgery. A 21-year-old man with Noonan syndrome was scheduled to undergo excision of a median intramandibular tumor. At 2 months of age, the patient underwent endocardial repair for congenital heart disease. During our preoperative examination, an atrioventricular block was detected, which had not been previously noted. Emergency drugs were administered, and a transcutaneous pacemaker was placed. During anesthesia induction, mask ventilation was easy, and intubation was performed smoothly using a video laryngoscope. The transcutaneous pacemaker was activated in demand mode at a pacing rate of 50 cycles/min approximately throughout the anesthesia time, and the hemodynamic status remained stable. The effect of intraoperatively administered atropine was brief, lasting only a few seconds. Although body movements due to thoracoabdominal muscle spasm were observed during pacemaker activation, they did not interfere with surgery. In postoperative patients with congenital heart disease, an atrioventricular block may be identified in the remote period, and preoperative evaluation should be based on this possibility. In addition, during anesthesia management, it is important to prepare multiple measures to maintain hemodynamic status.

Retrospective analysis of the feasibility and safety of external jugular vein cannulation in surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: Establishing intravenous (IV) access is an essential procedure in surgical patients. External jugular vein (EJV) cannulation can be a good alternative for patients forwhom it is difficult to establish peripheral IV access. We aimed to investigate the feasibilityand safety of EJV cannulation in surgical patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of EJV cannulation in patients who underwent anesthesia for surgery at a tertiary hospital between 2010 and 2021. We collectedclinical characteristics, including EJV cannulation-related variables, from the anesthetic records. We also investigated the EJV cannulation-related complications, which included anyEJV cannulation-related complications (insertion site swelling, infection, thrombophlebitis,pneumothorax, and arterial cannulation) within 7 days after surgery, from the electronicmedical records during the hospitalization period for surgery. RESULTS: We analyzed 9,482 cases of 9,062 patients for whom EJV cannulation was performed during anesthesia. The most commonly performed surgery was general surgery(49.6%), followed by urologic surgery (17.5%) and obstetric and gynecologic surgery (15.7%).Unplanned EJV cannulation was performed emergently during surgery for 878 (9.3%) cases.The only EJV cannulation-related complication was swelling at the EJV-cannula insertion site(65 cases, 0.7%). There was only one case of unplanned intensive care unit admission dueto swelling related to EJV cannulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the feasibility and safety of EJV cannulation for surgical patients with difficult IV access or those who need additional large-bore IV access during surgery. EJV cannulation can provide safe and reliable IV access with a low risk of major complications in a surgical patient.

Evaluation of dental status using a questionnaire before administration of general anesthesia for the prevention of dental injuries.

Background: Dental evaluation and protection are important for preventing traumatic dental injuries when patients are under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to develop a questionnaire based on dentition-related risk factors that could serve as a valuable tool for dental evaluation and documentation. Methods: We developed a questionnaire for dental evaluation before administration of general anesthesia, investigated the association between patient-and-dentist responses and mouthguard fabrication, and assessed response agreement between 100 patients. Results: Protective mouthguards were fabricated for 27 patients who were identified as having a high risk of dental injury. There was a strong association between dentists' responses and mouthguard fabrication, depending on the general oral health status, use of ceramic prosthesis, presence of masticatory pain related to periodontal diseases, gingival edema, and implants (P < 0.05). Response agreement between patients and dentists for items related to dental pain, loss of dental pulp vitality, root canal therapy, dental trauma, aesthetic prosthesis, tooth mobility, and implant prosthesis was high (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ ≥ 0.6). Conclusions: A high agreement was observed between patient-dentist responses and a strong association with mouthguard fabrication for items pertaining to ceramic prosthesis, masticatory pain, and dental implants. Patients with a "yes" response to these items are recommended to undergo a dental evaluation and use a dental protective device while under general anesthesia.

The frequency and the etiology of re-treatment in patients and candidates for dental procedure under general anesthesia.

Background: General anesthesia in dentistry has been widely utilized in cases of uncontrollable fear/anxiety and uncooperative patients, patients of young age, and those allergic to local anesthesia and with other existing systemic diseases. These people usually require re-treatment owing to their weak immunity. Our study investigates the frequency and the prevalence of re-treatment in patients and candidates for dental procedure under general anesthesia in Isfahan during 1393-1396. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study randomly chose 162 patients who were candidates for dental procedures. Patients who came in for re-treatment twice or more during this period were identified and their records were requested from the archives. Demographic data, reason for using general anesthesia, underlying disease, physical condition, and mental condition were all gathered through a questionnaire. The causative etiology of re-treatment was identified by examining the patients' medical records including restorations, denervation, tooth extraction, filling, and pulpotomy. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software (version 25) and tests such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z-test, Spearman, and Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings of the present study showed that 92.25% of patients needed dental re-treatment during their second visit. The most needed treatment was in the second repair session and the least was related to prosthetics. It was also noted that 42.15% of patients needed dental treatment at the third visit and the highest need for treatment was in the third prosthesis session and the lowest reason was related to tooth restoration and extraction. Conclusion: The most needed treatment was in the second session of endodontic treatment, and in the third session, tooth extraction was one of the required treatments, which indicates the progression of dental problems in the interval between treatments.