Effect of an intravenous acetaminophen/ibuprofen fixed-dose combination on postoperative opioid consumption and pain after video-assisted thoracic surgery: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) often induces significant postoperative pain, potentially leading to chronic pain and decreased quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the acetaminophen/ibuprofen combination effectiveness in reducing analgesic requirements and pain intensity in patients undergoing VATS. STUDY DESIGN: This is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Adult patients scheduled for elective VATS for lung resection were randomized to receive either intravenous acetaminophen and ibuprofen (intervention group) or 100 mL normal saline (control group). Treatments were administered post-anesthesia induction and every 6 h for three cycles. The primary outcome was total analgesic consumption at 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were cumulative analgesic consumption at 2 and 48 h; analgesic-related side effects at 2, 24, and 48 h; quality of recovery at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively; pain intensity at rest and during coughing; and rescue analgesics use. Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) was assessed through telephone interviews 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The study included 96 participants. The intervention group showed significantly lower analgesic consumption at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively (24 h: median difference: - 100 µg equivalent intravenous fentanyl [95% confidence interval (CI) - 200 to - 5 µg], P = 0.037; 48 h: median difference: - 140 µg [95% CI - 320 to - 20 µg], P = 0.035). Compared to the controls, the intervention group exhibited a significantly lower quality of recovery 24 h post-surgery, with no significant difference at 48 h. All pain scores except for coughing at 48 h post-surgery were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the controls. No significant differences were observed between the groups in postoperative nausea and vomiting occurrence, hospital stay length, and CPSP. CONCLUSION: Perioperative administration of acetaminophen/ibuprofen significantly decreased analgesic needs in patients undergoing VATS, providing an effective postoperative pain management strategy, and potentially minimizing the need for stronger analgesics.

Current status of opioid prescription in South Korea using narcotics information management system.

Background: Recognizing the seriousness of the misuse and abuse of medical narcotics, the South Korean government introduced the world's first narcotic management system, the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS). This study aimed to explore the recent one-year opioid prescribing patterns in South Korea using the NIMS database. Methods: This study analyzed opioid prescription records in South Korea for the year 2022, utilizing the dispensing/administration dataset provided by NIMS. Public data from the Korean Statistical Information Service were also utilized to explore prescription trends over the past four years. The examination covered 16 different opioid analgesics, assessed by the total number of units prescribed based on routes of administration, type of institutions, and patients' sex and age group. Additionally, the disposal rate for each ingredient was computed. Results: In total, 206,941 records of 87,792,968 opioid analgesic units were analyzed. Recently, the overall quantity of prescribed opioid analgesic units has remained relatively stable. The most prescribed ingredient was oral oxycodone, followed by tapentadol and sublingual fentanyl. Tertiary hospitals had the highest number of dispensed units (49.4%), followed by community pharmacies (40.2%). The highest number of prescribed units was attributed to male patients in their 60s. The disposal rates of the oral and transdermal formulations were less than 0.1%. Conclusions: Opioid prescription in South Korea features a high proportion of oral formulations, tertiary hospital administration, pharmacy dispensing, and elderly patients. Sustained education and surveillance of patients and healthcare providers is required.

Randomized controlled trial of the effect of general anesthetics on postoperative recovery after minimally invasive nephrectomy.

BACKGROUND: General anesthetic techniques can affect postoperative recovery. We compared the effect of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and desflurane anesthesia on postoperative recovery. METHODS: In this randomized trial, 150 patients undergoing robot-assisted or laparoscopic nephrectomy for renal cancer were randomly allocated to either the TIVA or desflurane anesthesia (DES) group. Postoperative recovery was evaluated using the Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire (QoR-15K) at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was performed to analyze longitudinal QoR-15K data. Fentanyl consumption, pain severity, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and quality of life three weeks after discharge were also compared. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for 70 patients in each group. The TIVA group showed significantly higher QoR-15K scores at 24 and 48 h postoperatively (24 h: DES, 96 [77, 109] vs. TIVA, 104 [82, 117], median difference 8 [95% CI: 1, 15], P = 0.029; 48 h: 110 [95, 128] vs. 125 [109, 130], median difference 8 [95% CI: 1, 15], P = 0.022), however not at 72 h (P = 0.400). The GEE revealed significant effects of group (adjusted mean difference 6.2, 95% CI: 0.39, 12.1, P = 0.037) and time (P < 0.001) on postoperative QoR-15K scores without group-time interaction (P = 0.051). However, there were no significant differences in other outcomes, except for fentanyl consumption, within the first 24 h postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol-based TIVA showed only a transient improvement in postoperative recovery than desflurane anesthesia, without significant differences in other outcomes.

Positive end-expiratory pressure during one-lung ventilation for preventing atelectasis after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a triple-arm, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence regarding the benefits of lung-protective ventilation in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery. This study aimed to determine the optimal level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during one-lung ventilation for minimizing postoperative atelectasis through lung ultrasonography. METHODS: A total of 142 adult patients scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at Seoul National University Hospital between May 2019 and February 2020 were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to different groups: 1) PEEP 3 cmH2O group; 2) PEEP 6 cmH2O group; and 3) PEEP 9 cmH2O group during one-lung ventilation. The lung ultrasound score was used to evaluate lung aeration using ultrasonography 1 hour after surgery. RESULTS: The 1-hour post-surgery lung ultrasound scores were 8.1±2.5, 6.8±2.6, and 5.9±2.6 in the PEEP 3, 6, and 9 cmH2O groups, respectively (P<0.001). The PEEP 3 cmH2O group showed significantly higher lung ultrasound scores than the PEEP 6 (adjusted P=0.034) and 9 cmH2O groups (adjusted P<0.001). The PaO2/FiO2 ratio measured at 10 minutes after the end of one-lung ventilation was significantly lower in the PEEP 3 cmH2O group (392 [331 to 469]) than the PEEP 6 cmH2O (458 [384 to 530], adjusted P=0.018) or PEEP 9 cmH2O groups (454 [374 to 522], adjusted P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Although the optimal level of PEEP during one-lung ventilation was not determined, the application of higher PEEP can prevent aeration loss in the ventilated lung after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery under one-lung ventilation.

Association of Mechanical Energy and Power with Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Lung Resection Surgery: A Post Hoc Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trial Data.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical power (MP), the rate of mechanical energy (ME) delivery, is a recently introduced unifying ventilator parameter consisting of tidal volume, airway pressures, and respiratory rates, which predicts pulmonary complications in several clinical contexts. However, ME has not been previously studied in the perioperative context, and neither parameter has been studied in the context of thoracic surgery utilizing one-lung ventilation. METHODS: The relationships between ME variables and postoperative pulmonary complications were evaluated in this post hoc analysis of data from a multicenter randomized clinical trial of lung resection surgery conducted between 2020 and 2021 (n = 1,170). Time-weighted average MP and ME (the area under the MP time curve) were obtained for individual patients. The primary analysis was the association of time-weighted average MP and ME with pulmonary complications within 7 postoperative days. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the relationships between energy variables and the primary outcome. RESULTS: In 1,055 patients analyzed, pulmonary complications occurred in 41% (431 of 1,055). The median (interquartile ranges) ME and time-weighted average MP in patients who developed postoperative pulmonary complications versus those who did not were 1,146 (811 to 1,530) J versus 924 (730 to 1,240) J (P < 0.001), and 6.9 (5.5 to 8.7) J/min versus 6.7 (5.2 to 8.5) J/min (P = 0.091), respectively. ME was independently associated with postoperative pulmonary complications (ORadjusted, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.16 to 1.80]; P = 0.001). However, the association between time-weighted average MP and postoperative pulmonary complications was time-dependent, and time-weighted average MP was significantly associated with postoperative pulmonary complications in cases utilizing longer periods of mechanical ventilation (210 min or greater; ORadjusted, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.11 to 1.93]; P = 0.007). Normalization of ME and time-weighted average MP either to predicted body weight or to respiratory system compliance did not alter these associations. CONCLUSIONS: ME and, in cases requiring longer periods of mechanical ventilation, MP were independently associated with postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic surgery.

Correlation Between Pain Intensity and Quality of Recovery After Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Lung Cancer Resection.

Purpose: The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire provides a multifaceted assessment of postoperative recovery, and the resulting score is recommended as an endpoint in clinical studies focused on postoperative pain. We aimed to investigate the correlation between the QoR-15 score and postoperative pain intensity in surgical patients. Patients and Methods: Adult patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer resection and were enrolled in a prospective registry or in a previous prospective study were included in this study. Baseline and perioperative data, including the results of assessment using the Korean version of the QoR-15 (QoR-15K) questionnaire at 48 hours postoperatively, were collected from the database. Correlations between the QoR-15K total score, questionnaire dimensions, and postoperative pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively were determined using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). Results: We analyzed a total of 137 eligible patients. Significant negative correlations were noted between the QoR-15K total score and pain intensity at rest (ρ = -0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.57 - -0.31, P < 0.001) and during coughing (ρ = -0.55, 95% CI: -0.65 - -0.42, P < 0.001) at 48 hours postoperatively. The pain dimension and pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively showed significant correlations with physical comfort, emotional state, and physical independence dimensions. Multivariable logistic regression revealed a significant negative association between the pain score at 24 hours postoperatively and good or excellent postoperative recovery. Conclusion: The results support the impact of postoperative pain on the overall postoperative quality of recovery in patients who underwent VATS for lung cancer resection. Moreover, the QoR-15K score may be considered as a primary endpoint in clinical studies on postoperative pain control.

Norepinephrine preserved flap blood flow compared to phenylephrine in free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap breast reconstruction surgery: A randomized pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Vasopressors are used in up to 85% of cases during free flap surgery. However, their use is still debated with concerns of vasoconstriction-related complications, with rates up to 53% in minor cases. We investigated the effects of vasopressors on flap blood flow during free flap breast reconstruction surgery. We hypothesized that norepinephrine may preserve flap perfusion better than phenylephrine during free flap transfer. METHODS: A randomized pilot study was performed in patients undergoing free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. Patients with peripheral artery disease, allergies to study drugs, previous abdominal operations, left ventricular dysfunction, or uncontrolled arrhythmias were excluded. Twenty patients were randomized to receive either norepinephrine (0.03-0.10 µg/kg/min) or phenylephrine (0.42-1.25 µg/kg/min) (each n = 10) to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 65-80 mmHg. The primary outcome was differences in mean blood flow (MBF) and pulsatility index (PI) of flap vessels after anastomosis measured using transit time flowmetry in the two groups. Secondary outcomes included flap loss, necrosis, thrombosis, wound infection, and reoperation within 7 days postoperatively. RESULTS: After anastomosis, MBF showed no significant change in the norepinephrine group (mean difference, -9.4 ± 14.2 mL/min; p = 0.082), whereas it was reduced in the phenylephrine group (-7.9 ± 8.2 mL/min; p = 0.021). PI did not change in either group (0.4 ± 1.0 and 1.3 ± 3.1 in the norepinephrine and phenylephrine groups; p = 0.285 and 0.252, respectively). There were no differences in secondary outcomes between the groups. CONCLUSION: During free TRAM flap breast reconstruction, norepinephrine seems to preserve flap perfusion compared to phenylephrine. However, further validation studies are required.

Effect of a repeated verbal reminder of orientation on emergence agitation after general anaesthesia for minimally invasive abdominal surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: An orientation strategy providing repeated verbal reminders of time, place, and person has been widely used for the non-pharmacological management of delirium. We hypothesised that using this strategy could reduce emergence agitation and improve recovery profiles. METHODS: This prospective observer-blinded RCT included male and female patients aged 18-70 yr undergoing minimally invasive abdominal surgery. During emergence from general anaesthesia, subjects in the orientation group (n=57) were provided a repeated reminder, including orientation: '(Patient's name), you are now recovering from general anaesthesia after surgery at Seoul National University Hospital, open your eyes!' via noise-cancelling headphones, whereas those in the control group (n=57) only heard their name: '(Patient's name), open your eyes!'. The primary outcome was the incidence of emergence agitation (Riker sedation agitation scale [SAS] ≥5). The incidence of dangerous agitation (SAS=7), maximal SAS score in the operating room, and recovery profile until 24 h postoperatively were evaluated as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The incidence of emergence agitation in the operating room was significantly lower in the orientation group than in the control group (16/57 [28.1%] vs 38/57 [66.7%]; relative risk [95% confidence interval], 0.5 [0.3-0.7]; P<0.001). The incidence of dangerous agitation (0 [0.0%] vs 10 [17.5%], P=0.001) and the median maximal SAS score (4 [4-5] vs 5 [4-6], P<0.001) were also lower in the orientation group. Secondary outcomes, other than agitation-related variables, were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated verbal stimulation of orientation may serve as a simple and easily applicable strategy to reduce emergence agitation after general anaesthesia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05105178.

Impact of Propofol-based Total Intravenous Anesthesia Versus Inhalation Anesthesia on Long-term Survival After Cancer Surgery in a Nationwide Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus inhalational anesthesia (IA) on the overall survival following cancer surgery. BACKGROUND: The association between intraoperative anesthetics and patients' long-term outcomes following cancer surgery remains controversial. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used nationwide data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Adult patients who underwent cancer resection surgery (breast, gastric, lung, liver, kidney, colorectal, pancreatic, esophageal, and bladder cancer) under general anesthesia between January 2007 and December 2016 were included. Patients were divided into propofol-based TIVA or IA groups according to the type of anesthesia received. A total of 312,985 patients (37,063 in the propofol-based TIVA group and 275,922 patients in the IA group) were eligible for analysis. The primary outcome was the comparison of overall survival following surgery between the groups in each cancer type. We compared the all-cause mortality between the 2 groups, stratified by cancer type using time-dependent Cox regression after propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting. We further examined the comparison of overall survival in a meta-analysis using data from our study and previously published data comparing propofol-based TIVA with IA after cancer surgery. RESULTS: The number of deaths in the propofol-based TIVA and IA groups was 5037 (13.6%) and 45,904 (16.6%), respectively; the median (interquartile range) follow-up duration was 1192 (637-2011) days. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed no significant association between the type of general anesthesia and overall survival after cancer surgery in the weighted cohort for each cancer type (all P >0.05) and for total population [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-1.04]. In a meta-analysis, single-center studies showed higher overall survival in the TIVA group than in the IA group (pooled adjusted HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.91, P =0.01), while multicenter studies showed insignificant pooled adjusted HRs (pooled adjusted HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.82-1.33, P =0.71). CONCLUSIONS: There is no association between the type of general anesthesia used during cancer surgery and postoperative overall, 1-, and 5-year survival.

Driving pressure-guided ventilation and postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic surgery: a multicentre randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Airway driving pressure, easily measured as plateau pressure minus PEEP, is a surrogate for alveolar stress and strain. However, the effect of its targeted reduction remains unclear. METHODS: In this multicentre trial, patients undergoing lung resection surgery were randomised to either a driving pressure group (n=650) receiving an alveolar recruitment/individualised PEEP to deliver the lowest driving pressure or to a conventional protective ventilation group (n=650) with fixed PEEP of 5 cm H2O. The primary outcome was a composite of pulmonary complications within 7 days postoperatively. RESULTS: The modified intention-to-treat analysis included 1170 patients (mean [standard deviation, sd]; age, 63 [10] yr; 47% female). The mean driving pressure was 7.1 cm H2O in the driving pressure group vs 9.2 cm H2O in the protective ventilation group (mean difference [95% confidence interval, CI]; -2.1 [-2.4 to -1.9] cm H2O; P<0.001). The incidence of pulmonary complications was not different between the two groups: driving pressure group (233/576, 40.5%) vs protective ventilation group (254/594, 42.8%) (risk difference -2.3%; 95% CI, -8.0% to 3.3%; P=0.42). Intraoperatively, lung compliance (mean [sd], 42.7 [12.4] vs 33.5 [11.1] ml cm H2O-1; P<0.001) and Pao2 (median [inter-quartile range], 21.5 [14.5 to 30.4] vs 19.5 [13.5 to 29.1] kPa; P=0.03) were higher and the need for rescue ventilation was less frequent (6.8% vs 10.8%; P=0.02) in the driving pressure group. CONCLUSIONS: In lung resection surgery, a driving pressure-guided ventilation improved pulmonary mechanics intraoperatively, but did not reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications compared with a conventional protective ventilation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04260451.

Effect of pre-operative carbohydrate loading on aspiration risk evaluated with ultrasonography in type 2 diabetes patients: a prospective observational pilot study.

Owing to concerns about delayed gastric emptying or hyperglycemia, evidence is lacking regarding whether pre-operative carbohydrate loading can be routinely administered to patients with type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the aspiration risk and gastric volume after pre-operative carbohydrate loading in patients with type 2 diabetes. A prospective, single-center, observational cohort study. The study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea, from May 2020 to May 2021. Patients (n = 49) with type 2 diabetes underwent elective noncardiac surgery. All patients were administered carbohydrate loading two hours before surgery. Once in the operating room, they underwent gastric ultrasonography to determine gastric volume. The anesthesiologists monitored the patients' glucose concentrations during and after surgery. The primary outcome was the predicted risk of aspiration. The secondary outcomes were gastric volume, antral grade, satisfaction score, and perioperative glucose profile. Forty-nine patients were analyzed. All patients had a low risk of aspiration after carbohydrate loading, as follows: 33 (67.3%) patients classified as antral grade 0 and 16 (32.7%) patients classified as antral grade 1. The median time from carbohydrate drink ingestion to ultrasound examination was 120 min (IQR 115-139). After carbohydrate loading, the median gastric volume in the right-lateral position after carbohydrate loading was 2.64 ml (IQR 0.00-32.05). The mean glucose concentrations (SD) were 134 (24) mg/dl, 159 (37) mg/dl, 150 (32) mg/dl, and 165 (36) mg/dl at baseline, after induction, 30 min after surgery, and in the post anesthesia care unit, respectively. The median satisfaction score of the patients was 5 (IQR 4-5). Pre-operative carbohydrate loading may be feasible for patients with type 2 diabetes and without complications.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04456166). Registered on 2 July 2020.

Effect of Continuous Infusion of Intravenous Nefopam on Postoperative Opioid Consumption After Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Although nefopam has been reported to have opioid-sparing and analgesic effects in postsurgical patients, its effectiveness in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the opioid-sparing and analgesic effects of perioperative nefopam infusion for lung resection. STUDY DESIGN: Double-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Operating room, postoperative recovery room, and ward at a single tertiary university hospital. METHODS: Ninety patients scheduled for elective VATS for lung resection were randomized to either the nefopam (group N) or control group (group C). Group N received 20 mg nefopam over 30 minutes immediately after the induction of anesthesia. Nefopam was administered continuously for 24 hours postoperative, using a dual-channel elastomeric infusion pump combined with fentanyl-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. Group C received the same volume of normal saline as nefopam solution administered in the same manner. The primary outcome measure was fentanyl consumption for the first postoperative 24 hours. The secondary outcome measures were the cumulative fentanyl consumption during the first postoperative 48 hours, pain intensity at rest and during coughing evaluated using an 11-point numeric rating scale, quality of recovery at postoperative time points 24 hours and 48 hours, and the occurrence of analgesic-related side effects during the first postoperative 24 hours and postoperative 24 to 48 hour period. Variables related to chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) were also investigated by telephone interviews with patients at 3 months postoperative. This prospective randomized trial was approved by the appropriate institutional review board and was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were enrolled. Group N showed significantly lower fentanyl consumption during the first postoperative 24 hours and 48 hours (24 hours: median difference: -270 µg [95%CI, -400 to -150 µg], P < 0.001); 48 hours: median difference: -365 µg [95% CI: -610 to -140 µg], P < 0.001). Group N also showed a significantly lower pain score during coughing at 24 hours postoperative (median difference, -1 [corrected 95% CI: -2.5 to 0], adjusted P = 0.040). However, there were no significant between-group differences in the postoperative quality of recovery, occurrence of analgesic-related side effects, length of hospital stay, and occurrence of CPSP. LIMITATIONS: Despite the significant opioid-sparing effect of perioperative nefopam infusion, it would have been difficult to observe significant improvements in other postoperative outcomes owing to the modest sample size. CONCLUSION: Perioperative nefopam infusion using a dual-channel elastomeric infusion pump has a significant opioid-sparing effect in patients undergoing VATS for lung resection. Therefore, it could be a feasible option for multimodal analgesia in these patients.

Propofol abuse among healthcare workers: an analysis of criminal cases using the database of the Supreme Court of South Korea's judgments.

BACKGROUND: Due to its abuse potential, propofol has been classified as a controlled substance since February 2011 in South Korea. Healthcare workers are exposed to propofol abuse considering their easy access to this substance in hospitals. Therefore, we aimed to investigate propofol abuse among healthcare workers through the database of the Supreme Court in South Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed adjudicated criminal cases related to propofol abuse among healthcare workers from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, using the database of the Supreme Court of South Korea's judgments. We collected the clinical characteristics and punishment-related information of healthcare workers who abused propofol. RESULTS: Of the 194 cases collected using the search term 'propofol,' 20 were included in the final analysis. The most common healthcare workers who abused propofol were nursing aides (n = 15). Among them, 40% (n = 8) of the defendants had previously been punished for substance abuse, and 35% (n = 7) had a history of psychological disease. Of the defendants, 65% (n = 13) self-administered propofol more than twice, and the median number of self-administrations was three. Except for two, the defendants were sentenced to imprisonment, including suspended sentences, and the median values of their duration of prison and probation were 9 months and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Despite propofol being strongly regulated as a controlled substance in South Korea, its abuse among healthcare workers remains. Healthcare workers should be vigilant against its abuse among themselevs.

An Analysis of Judicial Cases Concerning Analgesic-Related Medication Errors in the Republic of Korea.

OBJECTIVES: Analgesic-related medication errors can be a threat to patient safety. This study aimed to identify and describe medication errors that can cause serious adverse drug events (ADEs) related to analgesic use. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, medicolegal study analyzed closed cases concerning complications induced by medication errors involving 3 commonly used analgesics: opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen (AAP). Cases closed between 1994 and 2019 that were available in the Korean Supreme Court judgment database system were included. Medication errors were categorized using a classification system (developed by our group) based on the stage of drug administration. Clinical characteristics and judgment statuses were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 71 cases were included in the final analysis (opioids, n = 30; NSAIDs, n = 35; AAP, n = 6). Among them, 43 claims (60.6%) resulted in payments to the plaintiffs, with a median payment of $86,607 (interquartile range, $34,554-$193,782). The severity of ADEs was high (National Association of Insurance Commissioners scale ≥6) in 88.7% (n = 63) of claims, with a total of 44 (62%) deaths. The most common types of ADEs associated with opioid, NSAID, and AAP use were respiratory depression, anaphylactic shock, and fulminant hepatitis, respectively. The most common recognized medication errors associated with opioid, NSAIDs, and AAP were inappropriate patient monitoring (n = 10; 33.3%), improper analgesic choice (n = 15; 42.9%), and inappropriate treatment after ADEs (n = 3; 50%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that efforts should be made to reduce medication errors related to analgesic use to prevent permanent injury and potential malpractice claims.

Effect of postoperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on anastomotic leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although the association between an increase in anastomotic leakage (AL) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been reported in gastrointestinal surgeries, this issue has rarely been addressed for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We aimed to investigate the association between postoperative NSAIDs administration and clinically relevant AL (CR-AL) following PD. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 2,163 consecutive patients who underwent PD between 2007 and 2019. The patients were divided into two groups; patients who received and did not receive NSAIDs by postoperative day (POD) 5. We conducted a propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust the baseline differences between both groups. We compared the occurrence of CR-AL and other postoperative outcomes before and after IPTW. Further, we used the multivariable binary logistic regression method for a sensitivity analysis for CR-AL. RESULTS: A total of 2,136 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 222 (10.4%) received NSAIDs by POD 5. The overall occurrence rate of CR-AL was 14.9%. After IPTW, postoperative NSAIDs were significantly associated with CR-AL (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24, 95% CI [1.05, 1.47], P = 0.012), prolonged postoperative hospitalization (OR: 1.31, 95% CI [1.14, 1.50], P < 0.001), and unplanned readmission within 30 days postoperatively (OR 1.48: 95% CI [1.15, 1.91], P = 0.002). However, this association was not consistent in the sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative NSAIDs use was significantly associated with an increase in CR-AL incidence following PD. However, sensitivity analysis failed to show its association, which precludes a firm conclusion of its detrimental effect.

Ultrasound-guided bilateral subcostal transversus abdominis plane block in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy: a randomised-controlled double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of subcostal transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) in laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery is unknown. We aimed to investigate its opioid-sparing and pain-relief effects in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHOD: One hundred and twelve patients undergoing elective laparoscopic gastrectomy were randomised to the TAPB or control group. The TAPB group received ultrasound-guided bilateral subcostal TAPB at the end of surgery, while the control group did not. We investigated fentanyl consumption administered via intravenous patient-controlled analgesia and as a rescue analgesic, the numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores at rest and during coughing, and the opioid-related side effects at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. The primary outcome was cumulative fentanyl consumption at 24 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The study included 53 patients in each group. The cumulative fentanyl consumption 24 h postoperatively was significantly lower in the TAPB group than in the control group (median difference -170 mcg, P = 0.03, 95% CI -360 to -15 mcg). Subcostal TAPB also significantly reduced the resting NRS score at 48 h postoperatively (median difference -1, 95% CI -1 to 0, P = 0.01) and coughing NRS score at all time points (all median difference -1, 95% CI -2 to 0, P < 0.01, P  = 0.02, 0.01, and 0.01, respectively). However, it did not reduce the occurrence of opioid-related side effects, except the use of antiemetics during the first 6 h postoperatively (TAPB, 1.9% vs. Control, 15.1%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided bilateral subcostal TAPB provides efficient postoperative analgesia with an opioid-sparing effect after laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Effect of sugammadex on the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after open pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between sugammadex use and the occurrence of delayed passage of first flatus and oral intake tolerance following open pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: We reviewed consecutive patients who underwent open PD between 2015 and 2019; subsequently, they were divided into the sugammadex (group S) and neostigmine with anticholinergics (group N) groups based on the reversal agent used. We performed stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis to adjust for baseline differences between the groups. We compared the delayed passage of first flatus, oral intake tolerance, and other postoperative outcomes between the groups before and after IPTW. RESULTS: Of the 736 included patients, 309 (42.0%) received sugammadex. Stabilized IPTW revealed a significantly lower occurrence of delayed passage of first flatus in group S (19.3%) compared to group N (28.3%) (OR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.86, P=0.005). Further, there was a significantly lower occurrence of delayed oral intake tolerance in group S (19.9%) than in group N (27.7%) (OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.46-0.92, P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to previous reversal agents, sugammadex use was significantly associated with a decrease in the occurrence of prolonged time to first flatus and oral intake tolerance following open PD.

Detrimental effect of intraoperative hypothermia on pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-centre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although perioperative hypothermia was found to be associated with gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage in preclinical studies, its association with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) following pancreaticoduodenectomy was never evaluated. We investigated the association between intraoperative hypothermia and clinically relevant (CR)-POPF following pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 2163 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy during 2007-2019. Based on intraoperative time-weighted average core temperature, patients were grouped into normothermia (36.0-37.5°C), mild hypothermia (35.0-<36.0°C), and severe hypothermia (<35°C). We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis for CR-POPF, a propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust the baseline differences between the three groups, followed by multivariable logistic regression with IPTW for CR-POPF. RESULTS: Among the 2008 patients analysed, 1118 (55.7%) and 120 (6.0%) had mild and severe hypothermia, respectively, and 14.2% overall incidence of CR-POPF. Severe intraoperative hypothermia was significantly associated with CR-POPF before and after IPTW (before: odds ratio [OR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-3.09, P = .038; after: OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.28-4.81, P = .007); however, mild hypothermia had no significant associations. CONCLUSION: Severe intraoperative hypothermia is significantly associated with the occurrence of CR-POPF following pancreaticoduodenectomy, suggesting that hypothermia is deleterious on pancreaticojejunal anastomotic healing.

Repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli to operative lung reduce hypoxemia during subsequent one-lung ventilation for thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: An intervention to potentiate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction may reduce intrapulmonary shunt and hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation. Previous animal studies reported that repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli potentiated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, but no clinical study has examined the effects of this intervention on hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation. We thus performed a single-center, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to investigate whether repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli to the operative lung reduce hypoxemia during the subsequent one-lung ventilation for thoracoscopic surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing one-lung ventilation were randomized into two groups (n = 68 each). Before one-lung ventilation, in the intermittent hypoxia group, the nondependent lung was not ventilated for 2 min and then ventilated for 2 min while the dependent lung was continuously ventilated. This was repeated five times. In the continuous normoxia group, both lungs were ventilated for 20 min. We measured SpO2, PaO2, FiO2, PaCO2, SaO2, and central venous oxygen saturation during one-lung ventilation. The primary outcome was the number of patients with hypoxemia defined as a SpO2 <95% during one-lung ventilation, which was analyzed with a chi-squared test. RESULTS: Hypoxemia was less frequent in the intermittent hypoxia group than in the continuous normoxia group during OLV [6/68 (8.8%) vs 17/68 (25.0%), risk ratio (95% CI) 0.35 (0.15-0.84), p = 0.012]. The PaO2 (p = 0.008 for 30 min and 0.007 for 60 min) and PaO2/FiO2 (p = 0.008 for both) were higher 30 and 60 min after starting one-lung ventilation, and the alveolar-arterial pressure gradient (p = 0.010) and shunt index (p = 0.008) were lower 30 min after starting one-lung ventilation in the intermittent hypoxia group than in the continuous normoxia group. Postoperative adverse events did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli to the operative lung seemed to potentiate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and thus reduced hypoxemia during the subsequent one-lung ventilation.

A prediction model of health-related quality of life in young adult patients with stroke.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish and test a predictive model for explaining the health-related quality of life of young adult patients with stroke. BACKGROUND: Individual characteristics, biological and physiological variables, social support, emotional and cognitive symptoms, physical function disability and general health perception may be interrelated and may directly or indirectly affect the health-related quality of life of young adult patients with stroke. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: 237 young outpatients with stroke were recruited and surveyed. Data collection used a structured questionnaire from July-November 2018. The collected data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0® and AMOS 23.0. This study is based on STROBE guidelines. RESULTS: The hypothetical model's fit indices were adequate. Stroke severity, social support, fear of stroke recurrence, physical function disability and general health perceptions directly affected the health-related quality of life. Additionally, stroke severity, depression and fear of stroke recurrence also indirectly affected it. These variables explained 60.3% of the variance in this quality. CONCLUSIONS: Variables such as severity of stroke, depression, fear of stroke recurrence, social support, physical function disability and general health perception were found to be related to the HRQoL of young adult patients with stroke. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A variety of physical, psychological, functional and social factors related to health-related quality of life should be systematically monitored. Furthermore, nurses need to develop and apply detailed nursing interventions that take into account all these variables.