Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Residents' Perception of Simulation Training in Four Romanian Centres.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation training offers an opportunity to educate anaesthesia and intensive care (AIC) residents safely. At present, it is not yet a mandatory part of residency curriculum.The aim of the study was to evaluate the residents' perception of the inclusion of simulation-based training in the Romanian AIC residency program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Romanian AlCs in anaesthesia and intensive care from four training centres completed a twenty-question survey regarding their views on simulation during their residency training. Residents were divided into junior, in the first three years, or senior groups, in the last two years of residency training. The questionnaire included Likert-scale multiple-choice, open-ended, and "yes" or "no"questions regarding simulator learning, the frequency of simulation sessions, and the value of the simulation sessions in improving practice, skills or teamwork. The open-ended questions, asked which were the respondents' preferred topics to be included in simulation sessions. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of residents completed and returned the questionnaire. Ninety-eight percent of them considered simulation-learning useful once a month or every three months especially in the first two years of training. All residents thought simulation sessions would improve their skills, communication abilities, and teamwork. Senior residents paid more attention to clinical scenarios (p=0.007), haemodynamic monitoring (p=0.017) and mechanical ventilation (p=0.004) as compared to juniors. All residents considered difficult airway management, and cardiac life support to be very important issues to be included in simulation sessions. CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrated that simulation-based training should play a greater role and eventually became compulsory in training program in AIC academic centres.

The influence of total intravenous anaesthesia and isoflurane anaesthesia on plasma interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 concentrations after colorectal surgery for cancer: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although it has been demonstrated that both surgery and anaesthesia induce immune suppression, it remains unclear whether there are differences between anaesthetic techniques in inducing immune suppression in cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this present study was to compare the effects of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and isoflurane anaesthesia on plasma concentrations of interleukins IL-6 and IL-10 in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. DESIGN: A randomised, controlled, open-label study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy patients undergoing open colorectal surgery with tumour resection were randomised prospectively into one of two groups; 60 patients completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 (n = 30) received TIVA and group 2 (n = 30) received isoflurane. Propofol infusion rate and inspired concentration of isoflurane were titrated to achieve bispectral index values of 40 to 55. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured preoperatively, before surgical incision and at 2 and 24 h postoperatively. The area under the curve (AUC) for IL-6 and IL-10 over 24 h and plasma interleukin concentrations at each time point were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Median (range) AUC for IL-6 was 4657 (1219 to 8427) pg h ml in the TIVA group and 5349 (839 to 8126) pg h ml in the isoflurane group. For IL-10, AUC was 1165 (344 to 5258) pg h ml in the TIVA group and 1405 (463 to 8161) pg h ml in the isoflurane group. When comparing interleukin concentrations between study groups at different time intervals, there were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of IL-6 or IL-10. Intragroup comparisons revealed that IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were significantly increased 2 and 24 h postoperatively in both groups when compared with their baseline values (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01 at 2 and 24 h for the TIVA group and isoflurane group, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found no significant differences between the effects of TIVA and isoflurane anaesthesia on plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 after colorectal cancer surgery during the first 24 h postoperatively. Further studies are needed to determine differences in long-term outcome of these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01902849. The study was registered retrospectively.

Total Intravenous Anesthesia-Target Controlled Infusion for colorectal surgery. Remifentanil TCI vs sufentanil TCI.

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of remifentanil and sufentanil administered for total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) using target-controlled infusion (TCI) on intraoperative hemodynamic response, tracheal intubation and extubation times in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing open colorectal surgery for colorectal tumors or inflammatory diseases were randomized prospectively into one of two groups: remifentanil group R (n = 30) received TIVA-TCI with propofol and remifentanil and sufentanil group S (n = 30) received TIVA-TCI with propofol and sufentanil. Changes of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were compared during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Response to tracheal intubation was assessed as episodes of hypertension, increased HR and bispectral index values, sweating, lacrimation, and coughing. The numbers of target plasma concentration (Cp) adjustments of opioids and propofol due to painful stimulation were recorded during surgery. Recovery time expressed as extubation time was also evaluated. RESULTS: MAP and HR, expressed as area under the curve (AUC), were not significantly different between groups during anesthesia and surgery. During induction of anesthesia, MAP values decrease from baseline, in both groups (p < 0.001). Intergroup comparison revealed that MAP decreased more in the remifentanil than sufentanil group (p = 0.027). HR decreased from baseline values only in the remifentanil group (p = 0.05). The number of target concentration adjustments for propofol and opioid was higher in the remifentanil group as compared with sufentanil group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04). Hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation and extubation times were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: Both remifentanil and sufentanil TCI produced stable hemodynamic conditions during open colorectal surgery but sufentanil TCI was associated with less decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, and required fewer dose adjustments during anesthesia induction.

Implementing fast-track protocol for colorectal surgery: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Fast-track protocols are followed by an enhanced recovery, early return to bowel function and to complete nutrition, and a reduced hospital stay. Our study was designed to implement fast-track protocol in our university hospital. METHODS: The 96 consecutive patients with colorectal neoplasm included in the study were randomized in two equal groups: group 1 (FT) included patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a fast-track protocol, and group 2 (C) included patients undergoing colorectal surgery with a conventional care protocol. As with other fast-track protocols, our protocol included carbohydrate fluids load before operation, early mobilization and oral feeding, regular prokinetics, and multimodal postoperative analgesia. Time to restoration of bowel function, to complete mobilization and feeding, length of hospital stay, and incidence of complications and readmissions were monitored. RESULTS: Time to mobilization, restoring of bowel function, and complete oral feeding were significantly shorter with fast-track protocol (p = 0.001, p = 0.042, and p = 0.01, respectively). Hospital stay also was shorter in the fast-track group (p = 0.001). The incidence of complications did not significantly differ with the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, fast-track protocol resulted in a shorter time to mobilization, complete feeding, and discharge from hospital. Fast-track protocol did not increase the incidence of complications. However, we consider that our data require further confirmation with powered multicenter national studies.