Intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine for the prevention of emergence agitation and postoperative delirium in thoracic surgery: a randomized-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We investigated whether preventive use of dexmedetomidine during surgery was effective for reducing emergence agitation and postoperative delirium. METHODS: In this double-blind randomized-controlled trial, 143 patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection surgery were randomly assigned to the dexmedetomidine-sevoflurane (DEX-Sevo, n = 73) or sevoflurane (Sevo, n = 70) groups. Dexmedetomidine or saline administration was started after inducing anesthesia and continued until the end of surgery at a fixed dose (0.5 µg·kg-1·hr-1). The primary endpoint was the incidence of delirium up until the end of postoperative day 3. Emergence agitation and postoperative delirium were measured with the Riker sedation agitation scale and the confusion assessment method, respectively. The secondary endpoints were serum cytokine and catecholamine levels. RESULTS: The DEX-Sevo group showed less frequent emergence agitation than the Sevo group (13% vs 35%, respectively; relative risk, 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 0.79; P = 0.011) but the incidence of delirium after discharge from the postanesthesia care unit was not different (25% vs 25%, DEX-Sevo vs Sevo). Both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were lower in the DEX-Sevo group than in the Sevo group. Nevertheless, the interleukin (IL)6/IL10 ratio (median difference, 5.8; 95% CI,1.8 to 10.0; P = 0.012) and IL8/IL10 ratio (median difference, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.3; P = 0.007) were higher in the DEX-Sevo group than in the Sevo group, indicating a pro-inflammatory cytokine balance in the DEX-Sevo group. Norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were lower in the DEX-Sevo group than in the Sevo group (both, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative dexmedetomidine reduced emergence agitation but not postoperative delirium in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Dexmedetomidine seemed to affect emergence agitation through catecholamines, but not through an anti-inflammatory action. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service (KCT 0001877); registered 7 April, 2016.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avons cherché à savoir si l'utilisation préventive de dexmédétomidine au cours de la chirurgie pouvait réduire la survenue de l'agitation au réveil et du delirium postopératoire. MéTHODES: Dans cette étude randomisée, contrôlée à double insu, 143 patients subissant une résection pulmonaire par thoracoscopie ont été randomisés dans un groupe recevant dexmédétomidine-sévoflurane (DEX-Sévo, n = 73) ou dans un groupe recevant seulement du sévoflurane (Sévo, n = 70). L'administration de dexmédétomidine ou de solution saline a débuté après l'induction de l'anesthésie et a continué jusqu'à la fin de l'intervention à une dose fixe de 0,5 µg·kg−1·h−1. Le critère d'évaluation principal était l'incidence du delirium jusqu'à la fin du 3e jour postopératoire. La survenue de l'agitation au réveil et du delirium postopératoire a été mesurée avec, respectivement, l'échelle d'agitation sous sédation de Riker et la méthode d'évaluation de la confusion. Les critères d'évaluation secondaires étaient les taux sériques de cytokines et de catécholamines. RéSULTATS: La survenue d'une agitation au réveil a été moins fréquente dans le groupe DEX-Sévo que dans le groupe Sévo (respectivement, 13 % contre 35 %; risque relatif, 0,38; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 % : 0,18 à 0,79; P = 0,011), mais l'incidence du delirium après congé de la salle de réveil n'a pas été différente entre les groupes (DEX-Sévo 25 % contre Sévo 25 %). Les taux de cytokines pro- et anti-inflammatoires ont tous deux été plus bas dans le groupe DEX-Sévo que dans le groupe Sévo. Néanmoins, les ratios d'interleukines (IL) IL-6/IL-10 (différence entre médianes, 5,8; IC à 95 %, 1,8 à 10,0; P = 0,012) et IL-8/IL-10 (différence des médianes, 0,8; IC à 95 %, 0,2 à 1,3; P = 0,007) ont été plus élevés dans le groupe DEX-Sévo que dans le groupe Sévo indiquant un équilibre des cytokines pro-inflammatoires dans le groupe DEX-Sévo. Les taux de norépinéphrine et d'épinéphrine ont été inférieurs dans le groupe DEX-Sévo que dans le groupe Sévo (P < 0,001 pour les deux). CONCLUSIONS: La dexmédétomidine peropératoire a réduit la survenue de l'agitation au réveil, mais pas du delirium postopératoire chez des patients subissant une chirurgie thoracique. La dexmédétomidine a semblé interférer sur la survenue de l'agitation par le biais des catécholamines, mais pas par un effet anti-inflammatoire. Enregistrement de l'essai clinique Service d'information sur la recherche clinique (KCT 0001877); enregistré le 7 avril 2016.

Comparison of Safety Profiles between Non-operating Room Anesthesia and Operating Room Anesthesia: a Study of 199,764 Cases at a Korean Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Despite expanding demands for non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) worldwide, studies in this field are scarce. We compared the overall characteristics and the nature of deaths occurring within 48 hours after surgery between NORA and operating room anesthesia (ORA) cases at a Korean tertiary hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent surgical procedures under anesthesia services in and outside the operating room from January 2013 to November 2017. All of the mortalities were categorized by principal cause into groups such as patient disease or condition, surgery, anesthesia, and others. RESULTS: Overall, 16,383 NORA cases and 183,381 ORA cases were analyzed. Eighty-six deaths were identified. The mortality rate of NORA cases was similar to that of ORA cases (4.9 per 10,000 cases [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.1-9.6] vs. 4.3 per 10,000 cases [95% CI, 3.4-5.3], respectively). Similar to ORA cases, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status and very young age (< 2 years) were significantly associated with mortality in NORA cases. A patient's disease or condition was the most important cause of mortality (65/86, 75.6%), followed by surgery-related causes (16/86, 18.6%). Two cases of anesthesia-related mortality were only identified in the ORA cases, resulting in an overall anesthesia-related mortality of 0.1 per 10,000 cases (95% CI, 0.0-0.4). CONCLUSION: Although NORA cases showed an equivalent perioperative mortality rate compared to ORA cases, there may be more room for improving patient safety when considering their favorable characteristics (healthier patients, less invasive and shorter procedures). Trial registry at Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0002719.

Improvement of laryngoscopic view by hand-assisted elevation and caudad traction of the shoulder during tracheal intubation in pediatric patients.

Pediatric patients have large heads and relatively small bodies, making it difficult to perform intubation even in the sniffing position. Therefore, this study was planned on the assumption that hand-assisted elevation and caudad traction of the shoulder (HA-ECTS) would compensate for the laryngoscopic view. In this observational study, 45 pediatric patients aged 0-36 months with an ASA physical status of I-III and scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. HA-ECTS was defined as hand-assisted personalized traction in the upper and caudad directions with both hands under the lower cervical area. The POGO (percentage of glottis opening) score, MO (mouth opening), and LHS (laryngoscopic handling score) were compared before and after HA-ECTS. The median [range] POGO score was 30[10-50]% and 60[15-80]% before and after HA-ECTS, respectively (median difference, 20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 10 to 25%; P = 0.002). MO was 1.0[0.8-1.9] cm and 1.8[1.3-2.0] cm before and after HA-ECTS, respectively (median difference, 0.45 cm; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.60; P < 0.001). The ease of laryngoscopic handling was improved after HA-ECTS(P < 0.001). The application of HA-ECTS to pediatric patients younger than 3 years improved POGO score, MO, and LHS and could prove to be an assistive technique for tracheal intubation.