The effect of prior tetanic stimulation on train-of-four monitoring in paediatric patients: A randomised open-label controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In clinical research, neuromuscular monitoring must present a stable response for a period of 2 to 5 min before administration of a neuromuscular blocking agent. The time required to reach this stable response may be shortened by applying a 5-s tetanic stimulus. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test whether tetanic stimulation interferes with onset and recovery times after a single dose of rocuronium 0.6 mg kg followed by spontaneous recovery. DESIGN: A randomised, open-label, controlled trial. SETTING: A single-centre trial, study period from January 2014 to July 2015. PATIENTS: Fifty children aged 2 to 11 years scheduled for elective paediatric surgery. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly allocated to receive either tetanic stimulation (group T) or not (group C) before calibration of the neuromuscular monitor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Onset and recovery times. Initial and final T1 height, time to obtain initial T1 height stability and monitor settings were also analysed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean onset time [(C: 57.5 (± 16.9) vs. T: 58.3 (± 31.2) s; P = 0.917]. Mean times to normalised train-of-four (TOF) ratios of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9 were significantly shorter in the tetanic stimulation group [C: 40.1 (±7.9) vs. T: 34.8 (±10) min; P = 0.047, C: 43.8 (±9.4) vs. T: 37.4 (±11) min; P = 0.045 and C: 49.9 (±12.2) vs. T: 41.7 (±13.1) min; P = 0.026, respectively]. The mean time required for T1 height stabilisation was similar in the two groups [C: 195.0 (± 203.0) vs. T: 116.0 (± 81.6) s; P = 0.093], but the initial and final T1 height values were significantly lower in the tetanic stimulation group (C: 98.0 vs. T: 82.7%; P < 0.001 and C: 95.3 vs. T: 69.3%; P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Tetanic stimulation shortened the mean times to normalised TOF ratios of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9, but there was no difference in the mean onset time or the mean time required for T1 height stabilisation after a single dose of rocuronium 0.6 mg kg followed by spontaneous recovery in children aged 2 to 11 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov. identifier: NCT02498678.

Restrictive versus Liberal Fluid Therapy for Post-Cesarean Acute Kidney Injury in Severe Preeclampsia: a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a restrictive compared to a liberal fluid therapy will increase postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with severe preeclampsia. METHODS: A total of 46 patients (mean age, 32 years; standard deviation, 6.8 years) with severe preeclampsia were randomized to liberal (1500 ml of lactated Ringer's, n=23) or restrictive (250 ml of lactated Ringer's, n=23) intravenous fluid regimen during cesarean section. The primary outcome was the development of a postoperative renal dysfunction defined by AKI Network stage ≥1. Serum cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were evaluated at postoperative days 1 and 2. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02214186. RESULTS: The rate of postoperative AKI was 43.5% in the liberal fluid group and 43.5% in the restrictive fluid group (p=1.0). Intraoperative urine output was higher in the liberal (116 ml/h, IQR 69-191) than in the restrictive fluid group (80 ml/h, IQR 37-110, p<0.05). In both groups, serum cystatin C did not change from postoperative day 1 compared to the preoperative period and significantly decreased on postoperative day 2 compared to postoperative day 1 (p<0.05). In the restrictive fluid group, NGAL levels increased on postoperative day 1 compared to the preoperative period (p<0.05) and decreased on postoperative day 2 compared to postoperative day 1 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among patients with severe preeclampsia, a restrictive fluid regimen during cesarean section was not associated with increased postoperative AKI.

[Lean Six Sigma and anesthesia]. / Lean Seis Sigma e anestesia.

BACKGROUND: Demands for health services have been growing sharply. Consequently, the costs of the institutions for their operational maintenance and investments also increase. The challenge of hospital management is to achieve standards of quality and safety for patients, increasing their productivity and minimizing costs. Lean Six Sigma is a well-structured methodology that aims to eliminate waste and activities that do not add value, focused on reducing process variation, eliminating the causes of the defect, and improving performance. As a result, cost reduction, higher quality, and customer satisfaction are observed. OBJECTIVES: To define Lean Six Sigma methodology and search references in the literature on its use in Health and specifically in Anesthesiology. CONTENT: How often the waste of medicines, materials and time (rework), as well as the errors that happen in the day-to-day of the anesthesiologist are reported. Anesthesiologists must know the impact of their professional practice, with the purpose of making more appropriate choices, thus reducing the damage to the environment, improving overall health, and reducing costs with health care. The use of the Lean Six Sigma methodology is suggested to make the anesthesia field more sustainable, improving the processes without prejudice to the patient. CONCLUSION: Lean Six Sigma methodology is a new business management strategy in the health area. It is perfectly inserted in the current context of quality and safety to the patient; therefore, relevant in the practice of anesthesiology.

[Reversal of neuromuscular block with sugammadex in five heart transplant pediatric recipients]. / Reversão do bloqueio neuromuscular com sugamadex em cinco receptores pediátricos de transplante cardíaco.

Heart transplantation is a frequent procedure in the treatment of end-stage cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, these patient populations will also be more frequent exposed to other more common surgical procedures after their transplantation. Anesthesiologist should be aware in their assessment of these patients, especially regarding some specific issues related to patients with a history of heart transplantation, like reversal of neuromuscular block. Several reports described that cholinesterase inhibitors drugs, like neostigmine, may produce a dose-dependent life-threatening bradycardia in heart transplant recipients while other publication described the safe use of neostigmine. Reversal of neuromuscular block with sugammadex is another possibility, but limited data exists in literature. We describe five cases in which successful reversal of neuromuscular block was performed with sugammadex in heart transplant pediatric recipients without sequelae and discuss the reversal of neuromuscular block in this patient population.

[Rocuronium and sugammadex in a 3 days old neonate for draining an ovarian cyst. Neuromuscular management and review of the literature]. / Rocurônio e sugamadex em recém-nascido de 3 dias para drenagem de um cisto ovariano. Controle neuromuscular e revisão da literatura.

A case is reported in which a 3-days old neonate with a giant ovarian cyst was scheduled for surgery. The patient received a dose of sugammadex to reverse a rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. A fast and efficient recovery from neuromuscular block was achieved within 90s. No adverse events or other safety concerns were observed. Furthermore, a review of the literature on the use of sugammadex in neonates was performed.

Oxytocin in cesarean-sections. What's new?

Oxytocin is the uterotonic agent of choice in the prevention and treatment of postpartum uterine atony. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the optimal dose and rate for use in cesarean sections. The use of high bolus doses (e.g., 10IU of oxytocin) can determine deleterious cardiovascular changes for the patient, especially in situations of hypovolemia or low cardiac reserve. Furthermore, high doses of oxytocin for prolonged periods may lead to desensitization of oxytocin receptors in myometrium, resulting in clinical inefficiency.

Rocuronium and sugammadex in a 3 days old neonate for draining an ovarian cyst. Neuromuscular management and review of the literature.

A case is reported in which a 3-days old neonate with a giant ovarian cyst was scheduled for surgery. The patient received a dose of sugammadex to reverse a rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. A fast and efficient recovery from neuromuscular block was achieved within 90s. No adverse events or other safety concerns were observed. Furthermore, a review of the literature on the use of sugammadex in neonates was performed.

[Oxytocin in cesarean-sections. What's new?]. / Ocitocina em cesarianas. O que há de novo?

Oxytocin is the uterotonic agent of choice in the prevention and treatment of postpartum uterine atony. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the optimal dose and rate for use in cesarean sections. The use of high bolus doses (e.g., 10 IU of oxytocin) can determine deleterious cardiovascular changes for the patient, especially in situations of hypovolemia or low cardiac reserve. Furthermore, high doses of oxytocin for prolonged periods may lead to desensitization of oxytocin receptors in myometrium, resulting in clinical inefficiency.

Sevoflurane preconditioning during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion reduces infarct size and preserves autonomic control of circulation in rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion with sevoflurane anesthetic preconditioning (APC) would present beneficial effects on autonomic and cardiac function indexes after the acute phase of a myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were allocated in three groups: control (CON, n=10), myocardial infarction with sevoflurane (SEV, n=5) and infarcted without sevoflurane (INF, n=5). Myocardial ischemia (60 min) and reperfusion were performed by temporary coronary occlusion. Twenty-one days later, the systolic and diastolic function were evaluated by echocardiography; spectral analysis of the systolic arterial pressure (SAPV) and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed. After the recording period, the infarct size (IS) was evaluated. RESULTS: The INF group presented greater cardiac dysfunction and increased sympathetic modulation of the SAPV, as well as decreased alpha index and worse vagal modulation of the HRV. The SEV group exhibited attenuation of the systolic and diastolic dysfunction and preserved vagal modulation (square root of the mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals and high frequency) of HRV, as well as a smaller IS. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane preconditioning better preserved the cardiac function and autonomic modulation of the heart in post-acute myocardial infarction period.

Restrictive versus liberal fluid therapy for post-cesarean acute kidney injury in severe preeclampsia: a pilot randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a restrictive compared to a liberal fluid therapy will increase postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with severe preeclampsia. METHODS: A total of 46 patients (mean age, 32 years; standard deviation, 6.8 years) with severe preeclampsia were randomized to liberal (1500 ml of lactated Ringer's, n=23) or restrictive (250 ml of lactated Ringer's, n=23) intravenous fluid regimen during cesarean section. The primary outcome was the development of a postoperative renal dysfunction defined by AKI Network stage ≥1. Serum cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were evaluated at postoperative days 1 and 2. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02214186. RESULTS: The rate of postoperative AKI was 43.5% in the liberal fluid group and 43.5% in the restrictive fluid group (p=1.0). Intraoperative urine output was higher in the liberal (116 ml/h, IQR 69-191) than in the restrictive fluid group (80 ml/h, IQR 37-110, p<0.05). In both groups, serum cystatin C did not change from postoperative day 1 compared to the preoperative period and significantly decreased on postoperative day 2 compared to postoperative day 1 (p<0.05). In the restrictive fluid group, NGAL levels increased on postoperative day 1 compared to the preoperative period (p<0.05) and decreased on postoperative day 2 compared to postoperative day 1 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among patients with severe preeclampsia, a restrictive fluid regimen during cesarean section was not associated with increased postoperative AKI.

[Anesthesiology Journal club assessment by means of semantic changes]. / Avaliação do clube de revista de anestesiologia por meio de mudanças semânticas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The interactive approach of a journal club has been described in the medical education literature. The aim of this investigation is to present an assessment of journal club as a tool to address the question whether residents read more and critically. METHODS: This study reports the performance of medical residents in anesthesiology from the Clinics Hospital - University of São Paulo Medical School. All medical residents were invited to answer five questions derived from discussed papers. The answer sheet consisted of an affirmative statement with a Likert type scale (totally disagree-disagree-not sure-agree-totally agree), each related to one of the chosen articles. The results were evaluated by means of item analysis - difficulty index and discrimination power. RESULTS: Residents filled one hundred and seventy three evaluations in the months of December 2011 (n=51), July 2012 (n=66) and December 2012 (n=56). The first exam presented all items with straight statement, second and third exams presented mixed items. Separating "totally agree" from "agree" increased the difficulty indices, but did not improve the discrimination power. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a journal club assessment with straight and inverted statements and by means of five points scale for agreement has been shown to increase its item difficulty and discrimination power. This may reflect involvement either with the reading or the discussion during the journal meeting.

Anesthesiology Journal club assessment by means of semantic changes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: the interactive approach of a journal club has been described in the medical education literature. The aim of this investigation is to present an assessment of journal club as a tool to address the question whether residents read more and critically. METHODS: this study reports the performance of medical residents in anesthesiology from the Clinics Hospital - University of São Paulo Medical School. All medical residents were invited to answer five questions derived from discussed papers. The answer sheet consisted of an affirmative statement with a Likert type scale (totally disagree-disagree-not sure-agree-totally agree), each related to one of the chosen articles. The results were evaluated by means of item analysis - difficulty index and discrimination power. RESULTS: residents filled one hundred and seventy three evaluations in the months of December 2011 (n=51), July 2012 (n=66) and December 2012 (n=56). The first exam presented all items with straight statement, second and third exams presented mixed items. Separating "totally agree" from "agree" increased the difficulty indices, but did not improve the discrimination power. CONCLUSIONS: the use of a journal club assessment with straight and inverted statements and by means of five points scale for agreement has been shown to increase its item difficulty and discrimination power. This may reflect involvement either with the reading or the discussion during the journal meeting.

Lean Six Sigma and anesthesia / Lean Seis Sigma e anestesia

Abstract Background: Demands for health services have been growing sharply. Consequently, the costs of the institutions for their operational maintenance and investments also increase. The challenge of hospital management is to achieve standards of quality and safety for patients, increasing their productivity and minimizing costs. Lean Six Sigma is a well-structured methodology that aims to eliminate waste and activities that do not add value, focused on reducing process variation, eliminating the causes of the defect, and improving performance. As a result, cost reduction, higher quality, and customer satisfaction are observed. Objectives: To define Lean Six Sigma methodology and search references in the literature on its use in Health and specifically in Anesthesiology. Content: How often the waste of medicines, materials and time (rework), as well as the errors that happen in the day-to-day of the anesthesiologist are reported. Anesthesiologists must know the impact of their professional practice, with the purpose of making more appropriate choices, thus reducing the damage to the environment, improving overall health, and reducing costs with health care. The use of the Lean Six Sigma methodology is suggested to make the anesthesia field more sustainable, improving the processes without prejudice to the patient. Conclusion: Lean Six Sigma methodology is a new business management strategy in the health area. It is perfectly inserted in the current context of quality and safety to the patient; therefore, relevant in the practice of anesthesiology.

Resumo Justificativa: As demandas por serviços de saúde têm crescido de forma acentuada. Consequentemente, crescem também os custos das instituições para sua manutenção operacional e investimentos. O desafio da gestão hospitalar é conseguir conquistar padrões de qualidade e segurança para o paciente, aumentar sua produtividade e minimizar os custos. Lean Seis Sigma é uma metodologia bem estruturada que visa a eliminar os desperdícios e atividades que não agregam valor, focada na redução da variação nos processos, elimina as causas do defeito, melhora o desempenho. Como resultado, observa-se redução de custo, maior qualidade e satisfação do consumidor. Objetivos: Definir metodologia Lean Seis Sigma e buscar na literatura referências do uso da metodologia em saúde e especificamente na anestesiologia. Conteúdo: Descreve-se como são frequentes os desperdícios de medicamentos, materiais e tempo (retrabalho), bem como os erros que acontecem no dia a dia do anestesiologista. O anestesiologista deve conhecer o impacto de sua prática profissional, com o objetivo de fazer escolhas mais apropriadas e reduzir assim o dano ao ambiente, melhorar a saúde global e reduzir os custos com assistência à saúde. Sugere-se o uso da metodologia Lean Seis Sigma para tornar a anestesia mais sustentável, com melhoria dos processos, sem prejuízo ao paciente. Conclusão: A metodologia Lean Seis Sigma é uma estratégia de gerenciamento de negócio de fato nova na área da saúde. Insere-se perfeitamente no contexto atual de qualidade e segurança ao paciente, relevante, portanto, na prática da anestesiologia.

Chronic pain after cesarean section. Influence of anesthetic/surgical technique and postoperative analgesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Brazil ranks second among countries with the highest rates of cesarean section in the world. Little is known about the future consequences of this procedure on maternal health. This study investigated the influence of anesthetic/surgical technique and postoperative analgesia on the onset of chronic pain after three months of cesarean section. METHOD: This is a prospective randomized study of 443 patients undergoing cesarean section (elective and emergency), with different doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% and opioids in spinal anesthesia. Patients were alocated into five groups as follow: G1 received hyperbaric bupivacaine (8 mg), sufentanil (2.5 µg), and morphine (100 µg); G2 received hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg), sufentanil (2.5 µg), and morphine (100 µg); G3 received hyperbaric bupivacaine (12.5 mg) and morphine (100 µg); G4 received hyperbaric bupivacaine (15 mg) and morphine (100 µg); G5 received hyperbaric bupivacaine (12.5 mg) and morphine (100 µg), without perioperative anti-inflammatory. Pain at rest and in movement were evaluated in the immediate postoperative period. Phone contact was made after three months of surgery for identification of patients with chronic pain. RESULTS: The incidence of chronic pain in the groups was G1=20%; G2=13%; G3=7.1%; G4=2.2%, and G5=20.3%. Patients who reported higher pain scores in the postoperative period had a higher incidence of chronic pain (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The incidence of chronic pain decreases with higher doses of local anesthetics and use of anti-inflammatory drugs. The higher pain scores in the postoperative period were associated with chronic pain development after three months of cesarean section.

Anesthesiology teaching during undergraduation through an academic league: what is the impact in students' learning?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Academic leagues have been consolidated as instruments of medical teaching and for the introducing of medical students to practice of specialties, including anesthesiology. As the role of leagues in the development process of competencies and learning of their students is not well known, the learning of members of an anesthesiology academic league was evaluated after participating in its activities for one year. METHOD: Students of an anesthesiology academic league were followed up from March to December 2010 and evaluated through objective cognitive tests of multiple choice applied before the beginning of activities and after their conclusion. Attendance in activities and epidemiologic profile of students were correlated with the tests results. RESULTS: Twenty medical students from 3rd to 6th year were analyzed, with an average age of 22.8 (21-26) years. The average participation in the proposed activities was 10.4/13 (80%). The average of right answers on the first test was 8.1/17 (47.6%), and 3rd year students had lower grades (p<0.02) compared with other students. In the post league test, the average of right answers was 11.9/17 (70%), showing an improvement in performance (p<0.05), and there was no difference between grades of different years of the medical undergraduation. A strong relationship between participation in activities and improved grades was found (r=0.719; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Students who participated in the league had improvement in knowledge evaluation tests, suggesting that the league is a useful teaching instrument that can provide improved learning of anesthesiology. Participation in activities was connected with improved performance. Activities developed in leagues may have a positive role in students' academic education, more specifically in this article, in anesthesiology.

Correlation between the body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women and the development of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Very few publications correlate hypotension in obese pregnant women, and especially morbidly obese, after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of hypotension according to the BMI. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with pregestational BMI below 25 kg.m(-2) were included in the Eutrophia group, and 51 patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg.m(-2) were included in the Overweight group. After spinal anesthesia, blood pressure, volume of crystalloid infused, and dose of vasopressors used until delivery were recorded. A fall in systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg or 10% reduction of the initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) was considered as hypotension and it was corrected by the administration of vasopressors. RESULTS: Episodes of hypotension were fewer in the Eutrophia group (5.89 ± 0.53 vs. 7.80 ± 0.66, p = 0.027), as well as the amount of crystalloid administered (1,298 ± 413.6 mL vs. 1,539 ± 460.0 mL; p = 0.007), and use of vasopressors (5.87 ± 3.45 bolus vs. 7.70 ± 4.46 bolus; p = 0.023). As for associated diseases, we observed higher incidence of diabetes among obese pregnant women (29.41% vs. 9.76%, RR 1.60, 95%CI: 1.15-2.22, p = 0.036), however, differences in the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) were not observe between both groups (overweight: 21.57%, normal weight: 12.20%, RR 1.30, 95%CI: 0.88-1.94, p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: In the study sample, pregestational BMI ≥ 25 kg.m(-2) was a risk factor for hypotension after spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section. The same group of patients required higher doses of vasopressors. Those results indicate that the anesthetic techniques in those patients should be improved to reduce the consequences of post-spinal anesthesia hypotension, both in pregnant women and fetuses.

Oxytocin in cesarean-sections. What's new? / Ocitocina em cesarianas. O que há de novo?

Abstract Oxytocin is the uterotonic agent of choice in the prevention and treatment of postpartum uterine atony. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the optimal dose and rate for use in cesarean sections. The use of high bolus doses (e.g., 10 IU of oxytocin) can determine deleterious cardiovascular changes for the patient, especially in situations of hypovolemia or low cardiac reserve. Furthermore, high doses of oxytocin for prolonged periods may lead to desensitization of oxytocin receptors in myometrium, resulting in clinical inefficiency.

Resumo A ocitocina é o uterotônico de primeira escolha na prevenção e no tratamento da atonia uterina após o parto. Apesar disso, não existe consenso sobre qual a dose e velocidade ideais de seu uso em cesarianas. O uso de altas doses (por exemplo, 10 UI de ocitocina) em bolus pode determinar alterações cardiocirculatórias deletérias para a paciente, especialmente em situações de hipovolemia ou baixa reserva cardíaca. Além disso, altas doses de ocitocina por períodos prolongados podem levar à dessensibilização dos receptores de ocitocina localizados no miométrio e resultar em ineficácia clínica.