Can the Rhomboid Major Muscle Be Used to Identify the Thoracic Spinal Segment on Ultrasonography? A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the thoracic segment corresponding to the inferior margin of the rhomboid major muscle (RMM) using ultrasound (US) to evaluate its potential as a reliable anatomic landmark for segment identification. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: An operating room. SUBJECTS: Patients who underwent procedures around the thoracic spine. METHODS: Four hundred segments corresponding to the RMM's inferior margin were identified through the use of paravertebral sagittal US and confirmed by fluoroscopy in 100 participants in the prone position with upward and downward shoulder rotation, comprising four datasets (up-right, up-left, down-right, and down-left). The US identification of the RMM's inferior margin was dichotomously scored (clear vs ambiguous). Each dataset was divided into two groups (dominant segment group vs remaining segments group), which were compared. Factors relevant to the dominant segment associated with the RMM's inferior border were determined through univariable analyses. RESULTS: The T6 segment was observed most commonly (59.5%) along the RMM's inferior border on paravertebral sagittal US acquired in the prone position, followed by T5 (25.0%), T7 (12.8%), and T4 (2.7%). The segments corresponding to the RMM remained unchanged by shoulder posture in most participants (n = 74, 74%). The RMM's inferior border was clearly distinguishable in 330 cases (82.5%). When the RMM's inferior border was clearly identified, the corresponding segment was likely to match T6 in all datasets, with odds ratios ranging from 3.24 to 6.2. CONCLUSIONS: The RMM's inferior border over the transverse process corresponded to T6 most frequently on paravertebral sagittal US, and its deep fascia was clearly visible in most cases.

Intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain control following robot-assisted prostatectomy: a prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is minimally invasive surgery, but also causes moderate to severe pain during the immediate postoperative period. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intrathecal morphine (ITM) for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing RALP. METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for RALP were randomly assigned into one of two groups. In the ITM group (n = 15), postoperative pain was managed using 300 µg intrathecal morphine with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA). In the IV-PCA group (n = 15), only intravenous patient-controlled analgesia was used. The numerical pain score (NPS; 0 = no pain, 100 = worst pain imaginable), postoperative IV-PCA requirements and opioid-related complications including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and pruritus were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The NPSs on coughing were 20 (IQR 10-50) in the ITM group and 60 (IQR 40-80) in the IV-PCA group at postoperative 24 h (p = 0.001). The NPSs were significantly lower in the ITM group up to postoperative 24 h. The ITM group showed less morphine consumption at postoperative 24 h in the ITM group than in the IV-PCA group [5 (IQR 3-15) mg vs 17 (IQR 11-24) mg, p = 0.001]. Complications associated with morphine were comparable between the two groups and respiratory depression was not reported in either group. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal morphine provided more satisfactory analgesia without serious complications during the early postoperative period in patients undergoing RALP.

Efficacy of intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain management following open nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal morphine (ITM) for postoperative pain control in patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing open nephrectomy. METHODS: Forty-five patients scheduled for open nephrectomy were randomised to receive 300 µg ITM and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) (n = 22) or IV-PCA alone (n = 23) for postoperative analgesia. The numeric pain score (NPS), postoperative IV-PCA requirements and opioid-related complications including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and pruritus were compared between groups. RESULTS: NPS was significantly lower in the ITM group up to 24 h postoperatively. Upon coughing, NPS at 24 h postoperatively was 50 (interquartile range (IQR) 30-60) in the ITM group and 60 (45-70) in the IV-PCA group. Cumulative morphine consumption at 72 h postoperatively was significantly lower in the ITM group compared with the IV-PCA group (20 (9-33) mg vs. 31 (21-49) mg, respectively). Opioid-related complications were similar in both groups with the exception of pruritus (ITM, 77% vs. IV-PCA, 26%). CONCLUSIONS: ITM was associated with greater analgesia without serious complications in patients undergoing open nephrectomy.

Pulmonary Protective Effects of Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery Involving Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Substudy of the Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning Outcome trial.

BACKGROUND: The RISPO (Remote Ischemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning Outcome) trial evaluated whether remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) combined with remote ischaemic postconditioning (RIPostC) improves the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This substudy of the RISPO trial aimed to evaluate the effect of RIPC with RIPostC on pulmonary function in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Sixty-five patients were enrolled (32: control and 33: RIPC-RIPostC). In the RIPC-RIPostC group, four cycles of 5min ischaemia and 5min reperfusion were administered before and after CPB to the upper limb. Peri-operative PaO2/FIO2 ratio, intra-operative pulmonary shunt, and dynamic and static lung compliance were determined. RESULTS: The mean PaO2/ FIO2 was significantly higher in the RIPC-RIPostC group at 24h after surgery [290 (96) vs. 387 (137), p=0.001]. The incidence of mechanical ventilation for longer than 48h was significantly higher in the control group (23% vs. 3%, p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in other pulmonary profiles, post-operative mechanical ventilation time, and duration of intensive care unit stay. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, RIPC-RIPostC improved the post-operative 24h PaO2/FIO2 ratio. Remote ischaemic preconditioning-Remote ischaemic postconditioning has limited and delayed pulmonary protective effects in cardiac surgery patients with CPB.

Misplacement of left-sided double-lumen tubes into the right mainstem bronchus: incidence, risk factors and blind repositioning techniques.

BACKGROUND: Double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs) are commonly advanced into the mainstem bronchus either blindly or by fiberoptic bronchoscopic guidance. However, blind advancement may result in misplacement of left-sided DLTs into the right bronchus. Therefore, incidence, risk factors, and blind repositioning techniques for right bronchial misplacement of left-sided DLTs were investigated. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study performed on the data depository consecutively collected from patients who underwent intubation of left-sided DLTs for 2 years. Patients' clinical and anatomical characteristics were analyzed to investigate risk factors for DLT misplacements with logistic regression analysis. Moreover, when DLTs were misplaced into the right bronchus, the bronchial tube was withdrawn into the trachea and blindly readvanced without rotation, or with 90° or 180° counterclockwise rotation while the patient's head was turned right. RESULTS: DLTs were inadvertently advanced into the right bronchus in 48 of 1135 (4.2 %) patients. DLT misplacements occurred more frequently in females, in patients of short stature or with narrow trachea and bronchi, and when small-sized DLTs were used. All of these factors were significantly inter-correlated each other (P < 0.001). In 40 of the 48 (83.3 %) patients, blind repositioning was successful. CONCLUSIONS: Smaller left-sided DLTs were more frequently misplaced into the right mainstem bronchus than larger DLTs. Moreover, we were usually able to reposition the misplaced DLTs into the left bronchus by using the blind techniques. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01371773.

Association between red blood cell storage duration and clinical outcome in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged storage of red blood cells (RBCs) leads to fundamental changes in both the RBCs and the storage media. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between the RBC age and in-hospital and long-term postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 1,072 OPCAB patients were reviewed and information on the transfused RBCs and clinical data were collected. The effects of RBCs age (mean age, oldest age of transfused RBCs, any RBCs older than 14 days) on various in-hospital postoperative complications and long-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events over a mean follow-up of 31 months were investigated. Correlations between RBCs age and duration of intubation, intensive care unit, or hospital stay, and base excess at the first postoperative morning were also analyzed. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, there was no relationship between the RBCs age and in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes except for postoperative wound complications. A significant linear trend was observed between the oldest age quartiles of transfused RBCs and the postoperative wound complications (quartile 1 vs. 2, 3 and 4: OR, 8.92, 12.01 and 13.79, respectively; P for trend = 0.009). The oldest transfused RBCs showed significant relationships with a first postoperative day negative base excess (P = 0.021), postoperative wound complications (P = 0.001), and length of hospital stay (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass, the oldest age of transfused RBCs were associated with a postoperative negative base excess, increased wound complications, and a longer hospital stay, but not with the other in-hospital or long-term outcomes.