Play distraction versus pharmacological treatment to reduce anxiety levels in children undergoing day surgery: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative experience can be one of the most distressful experiences in a child's life if not managed properly by healthcare professionals. Its consequences can extend well beyond surgery and recovery into the child's future life. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to decrease the anxiety associated with this experience, improve the child's and the parent's experience and prevent negative consequences. This has traditionally been performed through pharmacological treatment which might have negative side effects. More developmentally appropriate distraction methods are currently being trialled globally to augment the evidence that supports their use as a similarly efficient alternative. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the efficiency of storytelling, pictures and colouring activities as an anxiolytic intervention in comparison to the traditional pharmacological premedication technique in a non-inferiority study. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized non-inferiority controlled trial was carried out in 168 children scheduled for day surgery. Children's perioperative anxiety was assessed by a trained anaesthetist using the modified Yale Preoperative Assessment Scale and by parents using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Children's vital signs were also collected preoperatively during the induction period and during the recovery period. RESULTS: The primary endpoint, which is non-inferiority in terms of anxiety as per Yale Preoperative Assessment Scale survey between play distraction and preoperative medication, was met [average score 10.95 vs. 10.94, respectively, 95% confidence interval (-0.35; 0.37); P = 0.941]. Moreover, anxiety scores of both the intervention and the control group were quite comparable as per STAIC survey [20.90 vs. 20.73, respectively, 95% confidence interval (-0.52; 0.88); P = 0.708] and in terms of vital signs. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the distraction technique employed can be considered as an efficient alternative to traditional pharmacological premedication for children undergoing day surgery.

Low-dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia for percutaneous nephrolithotomy: the suitability and impact of adding intrathecal fentanyl.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral spinal anaesthesia has been used for lower limb surgery with a stable cardiovascular state and a short recovery unit stay. We sought to test the suitability of low-dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia for percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a procedure hitherto performed under general anaesthesia. Furthermore, we hypothesized that adding intrathecal fentanyl to bupivacaine may improve the quality of anaesthesia. METHODS: We randomly allocated, through computer-generated randomization, 108 patients subjected to percutaneous nephrolithotomy to receive either 7.5 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine 5 mg/ml alone or with the addition of 10 microg of fentanyl. Drugs were given at the L(2)-L(3) interspace with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The patients remained in this position for 10 min, after which the sensory and motor blocks were assessed. Intra-operative analgesic supplementation, when deemed necessary, was achieved with intravenous fentanyl boluses (25 microg). RESULTS: The sensory and motor blocks after intrathecal bupivacaine and bupivacaine-fentanyl were similar. Sensory block, in both groups, reached the fifth and eighth thoracic dermatomes on the operative and non-operative sides, respectively. Deep motor block occurred on the operative side in all patients and in nearly 50% of patients on the non-operative side. The patients in the bupivacaine-fentanyl group required less intra-operative and post-operative analgesics, and both patients and endoscopists were better satisfied. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated, for the first time, that intrathecal low-dose bupivacaine and fentanyl offers a reliable neuraxial block for patients subjected to percutaneous nephrolithotomy, with stable haemodynamics, good post-operative analgesia and acceptable patient and endoscopist satisfaction.

Comprehensive analysis of tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty in primary and re-operative hypospadias.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively review our experience of the tubularized incised-plate (TIP) urethroplasty over the last 4 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1998 to December 2001, 133 patients (mean age 7 years, sd 4, range 1-22), had a TIP urethroplasty by one surgeon for primary (103) and re-operative (30) hypospadias; the defects included 106 (79%) distal and mid-shaft, and 27 (21%) posterior shaft. The neourethra was covered by a subcutaneous flap in 66 (50%) patients or by corpus spongiosa (spongioplasty) in 31 (23%), with no cover in the remaining 36 (27%). In the last 20 patients (15%) a modified meatoplasty was used; the site and size of the new meatus was predetermined on the glans around a suitable catheter before any incision. Urethral stents were not used after repair in 39 (29%) patients, and regular meatal dilation was used only in patients with voiding difficulty and obvious tendency to stenosis. The presence of complications requiring re-operation and overall general appearance were recorded. RESULTS: The mean (sd) follow-up was 10 (5) months; there were 24 complications in 20 patients (15%), including a small fistula in 12 (9%), complete disruption of the repair in 4 (3%), meatal stenosis in seven (5%) and neourethral stricture in one (0.8%). Complications were not significantly different between primary and re-operative cases, and unaffected by the use of the stents. On univariate analysis complications were significantly higher with running than interrupted sutures, in repairs in the first 2 years of the study, in patients with posterior hypospadias, and in those with no neourethral coverage. However, the last two factors were the only significant independent risk factors in a multivariate analysis. Regular urethral dilatation was indicated in 43 patients (32%). Modified meatoplasty was associated with a significantly lower requirement for regular dilatation (P < 0.05) and no meatal stenosis. In the 113 complication-free patients the operation gave an excellent cosmetic appearance with a vertical slit meatus on the tip of conical glans in 110 (97%); there was slight meatal retraction in the remaining three patients. CONCLUSION: The TIP repair is a reliable method for treating both distal and proximal penile shaft hypospadias, is suitable for both primary and re-operative cases, and is more versatile than other repairs. Covering the neourethra with a flap or spongioplasty significantly improves the results. Regular urethral dilatation is required in a third of patients but modified meatoplasty obviates the need for regular dilatation and eliminates the risk of meatal stenosis.

Development of a difficulty score for spinal anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Multiple attempts at spinal puncture may be hazardous. Accurate preoperative prediction of difficulty adds to the delivery of high quality care. This clinical trial was designed to: (i). determine the predictive performance of difficulty variables; (ii). compare senior and junior anaesthetists; (iii). develop a score to predict difficulty during the performance of spinal anaesthesia. METHODS: A total of 300 patients subjected to urological procedures and scheduled for spinal anaesthesia were independently assessed and stratified according to the categories of the difficulty predictors of spinal anaesthesia into one of nine grades (0-8) and randomized according to the experience of the anaesthetist into two groups (group A, staff with more than 15 yrs' experience; group B, resident with more than 6 months but less than 1 yr in training). The number of attempts and levels, and success rate of the technique were the outcome variables. Data were analysed by multivariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The bony landmarks of the back and the radiological characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae were two independent predictors of difficulty. Multivariate analysis indicated differences between junior and senior staff but ROC curves indicated no difference. Grade 4 was the difficulty score at or above which difficulty was expected whether or not radiological characteristics of the vertebrae were included. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal bony landmarks and radiological characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae are independent predictors of difficulty during spinal anaesthesia. There is no difference between senior and junior anaesthetists. Grade 4 is the difficulty score at or above which difficulty is expected.

Total intravenous anaesthesia with ketamine-midazolam versus halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia for prolonged abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with ketamine-midazolam (KM) can be used for prolonged abdominal surgery. We compared this technique with halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia using haemodynamic and endocrine stress responses as primary outcomes and adequacy of operating conditions and recovery profile as secondary outcomes. METHODS: Fifty adult patients undergoing radical cystectomy and bladder substitution were randomly assigned to receive either TIVA with KM (n = 25) or halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen anaesthesia (n = 25). Invasive haemodynamic and oxygenation variables were monitored along with plasma cortisol and growth hormone concentrations. Operative conditions and recovery profiles were registered. RESULTS: Cardiac index and vascular resistance remained stable during and after surgery. Cortisol concentrations doubled during surgery and remained elevated in the recovery period. Growth hormone increased after induction, peaked during surgery and decreased during recovery. Neither the haemodynamic variables nor the plasma hormone concentrations differed significantly between the two groups. Intestinal loops were collapsed in the KM groups providing better operative conditions and a reduced need for postoperative analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: The stress responses during KM anaesthesia for prolonged abdominal surgery were comparable to those during halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia. However, KM anaesthesia provided better surgical conditions and better recovery.