Preoperative Patient Evaluation: Newer Hypoglycemic Agents.

New medications in the treatment of diabetes are an active area of research and drug development. Although many hypoglycemic therapies have been in use for decades, new evidence continues to emerge highlighting benefits of these medications for other indications. In this article, the authors review the classes of newer hypoglycemic agents and summarize medications currently in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. The literature to support specific recommendations for perioperative management is scant, however, where it exists, we have included it. In other instances, the authors have noted a reasonable approach based on pharmacokinetics and principles of perioperative medication management.

Preoperative Management of Gastrointestinal and Pulmonary Medications: Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Consensus Statement.

Perioperative medication management is integral to preoperative optimization but remains challenging because of a paucity of literature guidance. Published recommendations are based on the expert opinion of a small number of authors without collaboration from multiple specialties. The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) recognized the need for consensus recommendations in this area as well as the unique opportunity for its multidisciplinary membership to fill this void. In a series of articles within this journal, SPAQI provides preoperative medication management guidance based on available literature and expert multidisciplinary consensus. The aim of this consensus statement is to provide practical guidance on the preoperative management of gastrointestinal and pulmonary medications. A panel of experts with anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, hospital medicine, general internal medicine, and medical specialty experience was drawn together and identified the common medications in each of these categories. The authors then used a modified Delphi approach to review the literature and to generate consensus recommendations.

Preoperative Management of Endocrine, Hormonal, and Urologic Medications: Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Consensus Statement.

Perioperative medical management is challenging due to the rising complexity of patients presenting for surgical procedures. A key part of preoperative optimization is appropriate management of long-term medications, yet guidelines and consensus statements for perioperative medication management are lacking. Available resources utilize the recommendations derived from individual studies and do not include a multidisciplinary focus or formal consensus. The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) identified a lack of authoritative clinical guidance as an opportunity to utilize its multidisciplinary membership to improve evidence-based perioperative care. SPAQI seeks to provide guidance on perioperative medication management that synthesizes available literature with expert consensus. The aim of this Consensus Statement is to provide practical guidance on the preoperative management of endocrine, hormonal, and urologic medications. A panel of experts with anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, hospital medicine, general internal medicine, and medical specialty experience was drawn together and identified the common medications in each of these categories. The authors then utilized a modified Delphi approach to critically review the literature and generate consensus recommendations.

The effect of intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative nausea and vomiting after Cesarean delivery with intrathecal morphine: a randomized-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Intrathecal morphine administered during spinal anesthesia for Cesarean delivery is associated with a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Small studies performed to date provide conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of dexamethasone as prophylaxis in this setting, raising the possibility that efficacy may be linked to dose timing. This study hypothesized that intravenous dexamethasone given prior to intrathecal morphine during spinal anesthesia may reduce the incidence of PONV. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 108 patients undergoing Cesarean delivery were randomized to receive 8 mg dexamethasone or placebo prior to spinal anesthesia that included 0.2 mg intrathecal morphine. Outcomes were assessed on postanesthesia care unit arrival, as well as at postoperative hours one, three, six, 24, and 48. The primary outcome was the total number of subjects experiencing PONV during the study period of 48 hr postpartum. Secondary outcomes included severity of pain via the numeric rating scale pain score, and the use of rescue antiemetics and analgesics. RESULTS: No significant difference in the number of patients experiencing PONV was found between the treatment (n = 44, 80.0%) and control groups (n = 45, 84.9%) (difference -4.9%; 95% confidence interval, -19.2 to 9.4; P = 0.50), nor for median numeric rating scale pain scores (P = 0.24), total consumption of rescue antiemetics (P = 0.40), or opioid analgesics (P = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: This trial does not support the use of dexamethasone prior to intrathecal morphine for PONV prophylaxis in Cesarean delivery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01734161); registered 27 November, 2012.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: La morphine intrathécale administrée au cours de la rachianesthésie pour un accouchement par césarienne est associée à une forte incidence de nausées et vomissements postopératoires (PONV). Les petites études menées à ce jour ont fourni des données probantes contradictoires sur l'efficacité de la prophylaxie par dexaméthasone dans ce contexte, soulevant la possibilité que son efficacité soit liée au moment de l'administration. Les auteurs de cette étude ont fait l'hypothèse que la dexaméthasone intraveineuse administrée avant la morphine intrathécale au cours d'une rachianesthésie pouvait réduire l'incidence des PONV. MéTHODES: Dans cette étude en double insu, contrôlée contre placebo, 108 patientes subissant un accouchement par césarienne ont été randomisées pour recevoir 8 mg de dexaméthasone ou un placebo avant une rachianesthésie qui incluait 0,2 mg de morphine intrathécale. Les résultats ont été évalués à l'arrivée dans l'unité de soins post anesthésie ainsi qu'à 1, 3, 6, 24 et 48 heures postopératoires. Le critère d'évaluation principal était le nombre de patientes éprouvant des PONV au cours de la période d'étude de 48 heures post-partum. Les critères d'évaluation secondaires étaient, notamment, la sévérité de la douleur établie par le score de douleur sur une échelle d'évaluation numérique, et le recours aux antiémétiques et analgésiques de secours. RéSULTATS: Aucune différence significative n'a été constatée sur le nombre de patientes éprouvant des PONV entre le groupe recevant le traitement (n = 44; 80,0 %) et le groupe contrôle (n = 45; 84,9 %) (différence -4,9 %; intervalle de confiance à 95 % : -19,2 % à 9,4%; P = 0,50). Il n'y a pas eu non plus de différences dans les scores de douleur avec l'échelle d'évaluation numérique (P = 0,24) et la consommation totale de médicaments de secours, antiémétiques (P = 0,40) ou narcotiques (P = 0,26). CONCLUSIONS: Cette étude ne soutient pas l'utilisation de dexaméthasone avant l'administration de morphine intrathécale pour la prophylaxie des PONV dans l'accouchement par césarienne. ENREGISTREMENT DE L'ESSAI CLINIQUE: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01734161); enregistré le 27 novembre 2012.

Preoperative Pulmonary Evaluation.

The preanesthesia evaluation is an opportunity to elucidate a patient's underlying medical disease, determine if the patient is optimized, treat modifiable conditions, screen for potentially unrecognized disorders, and present the clear picture of the patient's overall risk for perioperative complications. This article presents the preoperative assessment of pulmonary patients in 2 sections. First, the components of a thorough assessment of patients presenting for preanesthesia evaluation, which should occur for all patients, regardless of the presence of pulmonary pathology, are discussed. Then, the considerations unique to patients with pulmonary diseases commonly encountered are described.

New trends in interventional pulmonology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As the field of interventional pulmonology continues to expand and develop at a rapid pace, anesthesiologists are increasingly called upon to provide well tolerated anesthetic care during these procedures. These patients may not be candidates for surgical treatment and often have multiple comorbidities. It is important for anesthesiologists to familiarize themselves with these procedures and their associated risks and complications. RECENT FINDINGS: The scope of the interventional pulmonologist's practice is varied and includes both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Bronchial thermoplasty is now offered as endoscopic treatment of severe asthma. Endobronchial lung volume reduction procedures are currently undergoing clinical trials and may become more commonplace. Interventional pulmonologists are performing medical thoracoscopy for the treatment and diagnosis of pleural disorders. Interventional radiologists are performing complex pulmonary procedures, often requiring anesthesia. SUMMARY: The review summarizes the procedures now commonly performed by interventional pulmonologists and interventional radiologists. It discusses the anesthetic considerations for and common complications of these procedures to prepare anesthesiologists to safely care for these patients. Investigational techniques are also described.

Increased cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production in pressurized renal medullary interstitial cells.

Renal medullary interstitial cells (RMICs) are subjected to osmotic, inflammatory, and mechanical stress as a result of ureteral obstruction, which may influence the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2). Inflammatory stress strongly induces COX-2 in RMICs. To explore the direct effect of mechanical stress on the expression and activity of COX-2, cultured RMICs were subjected to varying amounts of pressure over time using a novel pressure apparatus. COX-2 mRNA and protein were induced following 60 mmHg pressure for 4 and 6 h, respectively. COX-1 mRNA and protein levels were unchanged. PGE(2) production in the RMICs was increased when cells were subjected to 60 mmHg pressure for 6 h and was prevented by a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Pharmacological inhibition indicating that pressure-induced COX-2 expression is dependent on p38 MAPK and biochemical knockdown experiments showed that NF-kappaB might be involved in the COX-2 induction by pressure. Importantly, terminal deoxyneucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and methylthiazoletetetrazolium assay studies showed that subjecting RMICs to 60 mmHg pressure for 6 h does not affect cell viability, apoptosis, and proliferation. To further examine the regulation of COX-2 in vivo, rats were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) for 6 and 12 h. COX-2 mRNA and protein level was increased in inner medulla in response to 6- and 12-h UUO. COX-1 mRNA and protein levels were unchanged. These findings suggest that in vitro application of pressure recapitulates the effects on RMICs found after in vivo UUO. This directly implicates pressure as an important regulator of renal COX-2 expression.