Addition of droperidol to prophylactic ondansetron and dexamethasone in children at high risk for postoperative vomiting. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: : The combination of dexamethasone (DEX), ondansetron (OND) and droperidol (DRO) is efficacious in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults, but has not been well assessed in children. METHODS: : Children undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia and considered at high risk for postoperative vomiting (POV) were randomly assigned to receive a combination of DEX, OND and placebo (Group A) or a combination of DEX, OND and DRO (Group B). The primary outcome was the incidence of POV during the first 24 hours after surgery. We hypothesized that the addition of DRO to the standard antiemetic prophylaxis would provide a further 15% reduction in the residual risk for POV. The secondary outcome considered was any adverse event occurring during the study. RESULTS: : One hundred and fifty-three children, aged three to 16 years, were randomized to Group A and 162 to Group B. The overall incidence of POV did not differ significantly between the two groups, with 16 patients in Group A (10.5%) and 18 in Group B (11.1%) presenting with one or more episodes of POV, P =0.86. Fewer patients presented with adverse events in Group A (2%) compared with Group B (8%), P =0.01. Drowsiness and headache were the principal adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS: : The addition of DRO to a combination of OND and DEX did not decrease POV frequency below that obtained with the two-drug combination in children at high risk of POV, but increased the risk of drowsiness. The combination of DEX and OND should be recommended in children with a high risk of POV. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION.: NCT01739985.

[About laryngeal mask: is the lowest price material the better cost-efficacy choice?]. / Comparaison de quatre masques laryngés à usage unique pour la chirurgie carcinologique du sein: une approche médico-économique.

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this study was to achieve a medico-economic comparison between four disposable laryngeal masks (LM) (LMA-Unique™, Ambu AuraOnce™, I-Gel™ and LMA-Suprême™). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, monocentre study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a center, using routinely LMA-Unique masks, scheduled breast surgery patients were allocated into four groups according to the LM model. After the induction, the modalities of use were collected, as well as the intraoperative events that required additional anesthetic equipment. The real cost of each model was calculated (cost of the mask+extra cost related to complications). Using the LMA-Unique as a reference, we performed a cost-efficacy analysis. We realized a cost-efficiency analysis putting in parallel the impact on the cost and the incidence of the events. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients were included. According to the cost-efficacy analysis, the dominant model was the Ambu AuraOnce™ (Δreal cost: -34.2%, Δevents: -30.6%). The LMA-Unique™ was dominated because of a high morbidity rate. The I-Gel™ and LMA-Suprême™ models were more efficient but more expensive (Δreal cost: +16% and +22.5% respectively). To compensate for additional costs, it would be necessary to apply a price reduction of at least 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their better efficiency and safety, the latest generation laryngeal masks are still expensive in spite of a low rate of complication. These results do not take into account very rare and severe complications not met in this study in the limited size; then the economic and medical impact can influence the choice beyond the simple analysis cost-efficiency.

[General anaesthesia in children: a French survey of practices]. / Anesthésie générale chez l'enfant : quid des pratiques en 2010 ?

INTRODUCTION: The practice of pediatric anesthesia requires a regular update of scientific knowledge and technical skills. To provide the most adequate Continuing Medical Education programs, it is necessary to assess the practices of pediatric anesthesiologists. Thus, the objective of this survey was to draw a picture of the current clinical practices of general anesthesia in children, in France. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One thousand one hundred and fifty questionnaires were given to anesthesiologists involved in pediatric cases. These questionnaires collected information on various aspects of clinical practice relative to induction, maintenance, recovery from general anaesthesia and also classical debated points such as children with Upper Respiratory Infection (URI), emergence agitation, epileptoid signs or anaesthetic management of adenoidectomy. Differences in practices between CHG (general hospital), CHU (teaching hospital), LIBERAL (private) and PSPH (semi-private) hospitals were investigated. RESULTS: There were 1025 questionnaires completed. Fifty-five percent of responders worked in public hospitals (CHG and CHU); 77% had a practice that was 25% or less of pediatric cases. In children from 3 to 10 years: 72% of respondents used always premedication and two thirds performed inhalation induction in more than 50% of cases. For induction, 53% used sevoflurane (SEVO) at 7 or 8%. Respondents from LIBERAL used higher SEVO concentrations. Tracheal intubation was performed with SEVO alone (37%), SEVO and propofol (55%) and SEVO with myorelaxant (8%), 93% of respondents used a bolus of opioid. For maintenance, the majority of respondents used SEVO associated with sufentanil; desflurane and remifentanil were more frequently used in CHU. Two thirds of respondents used N(2)O. Depth of anesthesia was commonly assessed by hemodynamic changes (52%), end tidal concentration of halogenated (38%) or automated devices based on EEG (7%). In children with URI, 98% of respondents used SEVO for anesthesia. To control the airway 42% used a tracheal tube, 30% a laryngeal mask and 20% a facial mask. Emergence agitation was an important concern for two thirds of respondents, while epileptoid signs were considered as important by only 20%. Eighty-nine percent of respondents practiced anesthesia for adenoidectomy. Anesthesia was induced by inhalation of SEVO 7-8% (41%), 6% (39%) or 4% (12%), 66% put an intravenous line (less frequently in LIBERAL). 67% of the responders managed adenoidectomy without any device to control the airway (more frequently in LIBERAL), 32% administrated a bolus of opioid (less frequently in LIBERAL). DISCUSSION: This survey demonstrated that the practices regarding general anesthesia in children are relatively homogenous. Most of the differences appeared between LIBERAL and the others structures; the anaesthetic management for adenoidectomy illustrates these findings.

Minimal alveolar concentration of sevoflurane inhibiting the reflex pupillary dilatation after noxious stimulation in children and young adults.

BACKGROUND: In children, sevoflurane is the most commonly used anaesthetic. Its excellent haemodynamic tolerance gives it a wide therapeutic index. This halogenated agent can abolish movement [minimal alveolar concentration (MAC)] or haemodynamic responses (MACBAR) to noxious stimulus in children as in adults. Reflex pupillary dilatation (RPD) has been demonstrated as a very sensitive measure of noxious stimulation. In order to investigate the effect of sevoflurane on the RPD, a subcortical reflex, we determined the MAC of sevoflurane inhibiting the RPD in 50% of the subjects in response to skin incision (MACpup) in pre- and post-pubertal subjects. METHODS: We included 30 pre-pubertal children and 19 post-pubertal subjects. Patients received sevoflurane at preselected concentrations according to an 'up and down' design, and after a steady-state period, skin incision was performed. The RPD was considered as significant when the pupillary diameter increased by more than 100%. Heart rate (HR) and bispectral index (BIS) changes were analysed according to the pupillary response. RESULTS: The MACpup of sevoflurane was 4.8% (95% confidence interval, 4.6-5.1%) in pre-pubertal children vs 3.4% (3.5-3.3%) in post-pubertal subjects (P<0.001). Inhibition of RPD was always associated with lack of significant HR response. In pre-pubertal children receiving high concentrations of sevoflurane, RPD in response to noxious stimulation was frequently associated with lack of HR response and low BIS values. CONCLUSIONS: MACpup was higher than MAC and close to the MACBAR. Inhibition of RPD in pre-pubertal children required higher sevoflurane concentrations compared with post-pubertal subjects, suggesting that the relationship between the brain structure sensitivities may differ with brain maturation.

[Ischaemic and pharmacologic preconditioning: desflurane reduces renal reperfusion injury in rabbits]. / Préconditionnement rénal ischémique et pharmacologique par le desflurane: une étude histologique expérimentale.

BACKGROUND: Anaesthetic preconditioning, i.e. administration of volatile agents before ischemia, is known to have protective effects on several organs, but remains uncertain on the kidney. We developed a rabbit model for acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and examined a possible protective effect of desflurane preconditioning on the kidney. METHODS: Forty New Zealand male rabbits, 3 months old, weighing 2-3 kg, were anaesthetized by titrated intramuscular injections of xylazine-ketamine, mechanically ventilated and monitored. They were randomly assigned into four groups: group ischaemia (I), group ischaemic preconditioning (IPC), group desflurane preconditioning (DPC), and group SHAM (S). Groups I, IPC and DPC were subjected to 45 minutes of bilateral renal ischaemia followed by 3 hours reperfusion. Group IPC was subjected to 3 x 3 minutes ischaemia, 5 minutes before the 45-minute clamping period. Group DPC was administered one MAC desflurane for 30 minutes, before a 30-minute wash-out period. Histological analysis of the cortical zone of both kidneys were blindly performed. Tubular cell damage was graded from 1 (no lesion) to 4 (>50 % cell necrosis). Pycnotic nuclei and intratubular hyaline casts were counted on each section. RESULTS: DPC (1[1-2]) and S (1[1-1]) groups displayed lower histological grades than group 1(4[3-4]) (p<0.01); IPC had a grade of 3 (2-3), I and IPC groups had higher scores of pycnotic nuclei and hyaline casts than DPC and S. CONCLUSION: Desflurane preconditioning was associated with a diminution of tubular cell damage. Ischaemic preconditioning did not show a significant renal protective effect.

[Anaesthesia for a non cardiac surgery in a patient with an Eisenmenger syndrome. Interest of a non invasive haemodynamic monitoring]. / Anesthésie pour une chirurgie non cardiaque chez une patiente avec un syndrome d'Eisenmenger. Intérêt de la surveillance hémodynamique non invasive.

Patients with an Eisenmenger syndrome have an instuble hemodynamic status. During a general anaesthesia, the intracardiac shunt has to maintain the correct orientation and volume, adapted to each patient, in such a condition, to avoid the risk of hypoxemia and cardiac failure. The haemodynamic monitoring with a Swan Ganz catheter could be useful. But it is necessary to evaluate the advantage and the risks when the technique is used in these pathological circumstances. Moreover, when the cardiac output is measured with the thermodilution technique, the right-left intra cardiac shunt volume, is not taking into account. The continuous haemodynamic monitoring, with a simplified transoesophageal echo-Doppler system, as it was done in this case, allows appreciate the real quantitative variations of the shunt. In this way the more adequate calculation of some others haemodynamic parameters, over all the total systemic vascular resistances, allows a more precise therapeutic approach.