A comparison of postoperative respiratory complications associated with the use of desflurane and sevoflurane: a single-centre cohort study.

Sevoflurane and desflurane are the most commonly used volatile anaesthetics for maintenance of anaesthesia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between choice of volatile anaesthetic and early postoperative respiratory complications, and to address a critical knowledge gap in safety outcomes between these two commonly used agents. We performed a retrospective analysis of adult (non-cardiac surgery) patients who received sevoflurane or desflurane for the maintenance of general anaesthesia at our institution between 2005 and 2018. We evaluated the association between desflurane exposure (when compared with sevoflurane) and the primary outcome of postoperative respiratory complications, defined by early post-extubation desaturation (Sp O2  < 90%) or re-intubation within 7 days postoperatively. Multivariable regression analyses were performed and adjusted for confounding factors, including patient, anaesthetic and surgical factors. Propensity matched, interaction and sub-group analyses were performed to assess outcomes in high-risk groups: morbidly obese (BMI > 35 kg.m-2 ); elderly (age > 65 years); and high risk of respiratory complications as well as the primary outcome at 24 h. Desflurane was used for 23,830 patients and sevoflurane for 84,608 patients. Patients exposed to desflurane did not demonstrate a reduced risk of postoperative respiratory complications when compared with sevoflurane (adjusted odds ratio 0.99, 95%CI 0.94-1.04, p = 0.598). These findings were consistent across all sub-groups of high-risk patients and in the propensity score matched cohort. In summary, desflurane use was not associated with reduced postoperative respiratory complications when compared with sevoflurane. In the context of environmental and cost concerns with volatile anaesthetic agents, our study provides important data to support organisational decisions regarding the use of desflurane.

The development and validation of the Score for the Prediction of Postoperative Respiratory Complications (SPORC-2) to predict the requirement for early postoperative tracheal re-intubation: a hospital registry study.

Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with an increase in mortality, morbidity and healthcare utilisation. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends risk assessment for postoperative respiratory complications in patients undergoing surgery. In this hospital registry study of adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery between 2005 and 2017 at two independent healthcare networks, a prediction instrument for early postoperative tracheal re-intubation was developed and externally validated. This was based on the development of the Score for Prediction Of Postoperative Respiratory Complications. For predictor selection, stepwise backward logistic regression and bootstrap resampling were applied. Development and validation cohorts were represented by 90,893 patients at Partners Healthcare and 67,046 patients at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, of whom 699 (0.8%) and 587 (0.9%) patients, respectively, had their tracheas re-intubated. In addition to five pre-operative predictors identified in the Score for Prediction Of Postoperative Respiratory Complications, the final model included seven additional intra-operative predictors: early post-tracheal intubation desaturation; prolonged duration of surgery; high fraction of inspired oxygen; high vasopressor dose; blood transfusion; the absence of volatile anaesthetic use; and the absence of lung-protective ventilation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the new score was significantly greater than that of the original Score for Prediction Of Postoperative Respiratory Complications (0.84 [95%CI 0.82-0.85] vs. 0.76 [95%CI 0.75-0.78], respectively; p < 0.001). This may allow clinicians to develop and implement strategies to decrease the risk of early postoperative tracheal re-intubation.