Occurrence and outcome of blood-contaminated percutaneous injuries among anesthesia practitioners: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia practitioners are at risk for percutaneous injuries by blood-contaminated needles and sharp objects that may result in the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis viruses. Reporting these injuries is important for the early prevention and management of blood-borne infections. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence, reporting, characteristics and outcome of contaminated percutaneous injuries (CPIs) in anesthesia residents, fellows and faculty. METHOD: A cross-sectional anonymous survey electronically distributed to all 214 anesthesia practitioners at a large academic multihospital-based anesthesia practice in Florida, USA. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 51% (110/214) (60% (50/83) for residents, 50% (8/16) for fellows and 45% (52/115) for anesthesia faculty). Fifty-nine percent (65/110) (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 5068) of participants reported having one or more CPIs during their years of anesthesia practice (residents 42% (95% CI: 2955), fellows 50% and faculty 77% (95% CI: 6688)). The number of CPIs per anesthesia practitioner who answered the survey was 0.58 for residents, 0.75 for fellows and 1.5 for faculty. Within the last 5 years, 35% (95% CI: 2644) of participants had one or more CPIs (39% of residents, 50% of fellows and 29% of faculty). CPIs in the last 5 years in faculty older than 45 years of age were 12% (3/25) compared to 44% (12/27) in faculty younger than 45 years of age.Analyzing data from practitioners who had one CPI revealed that 70% (95% CI: 5585) reported the incident at the time of injury (residents 85%, fellows 100% and faculty 58%). Hollow-bore needles constituted 73.5% (95% CI: 5988) of injuries. As per participants' responses, 17% (18/103) of CPIs received postexposure prophylaxis and there were zero seroconversions. CONCLUSION: Based on our study results, most anesthesia practitioners will sustain a CPI during their years of practice. Despite some improvements compared to historic figures, the occurrence of CPIs continues to be high and reporting of percutaneous injuries remains suboptimal among anesthesia residents. A fifth of injuries in the perioperative setting is from an infected source and requires postexposure prophylaxis. Although no infections were reported due to CPI exposure in this study, findings underscore the need for more education and interventions to reduce occupational blood exposures in anesthesia practitioners and improve reporting.

Anesthetic Management for Cesarean Delivery in a Patient With a Difficult Airway and Risks for Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Case Report.

Neuraxial anesthesia is the preferred anesthesia technique for cesarean delivery, however, conversion to general anesthesia may be required for a variety of clinical scenarios, including massive post-partum hemorrhage. Obstetric patients are known to have otherwise more difficult airways and emergent situations can increase the likelihood of failed intubation with potentially disastrous consequences. We describe a novel anesthesia technique for cesarean delivery using neuraxial anesthesia as the primary anesthetic technique and electively securing the airway for a patient with multiple risk factors for post-partum hemorrhage and features concerning difficult intubation.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome With Concomitant Severe Preeclampsia: A Case Report.

With an estimated 100,000 new cases yearly worldwide, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of flaccid paralysis. GBS is exceedingly rare in pregnancy and carries high maternal and fetal risk. We report a case of a 38-year-old essential primigravida who presented at 38 weeks six days gestational age with ascending paraplegia progressing to dysarthria, dysphagia, and facial weakness. A clinical diagnosis of GBS was made in an outside institution, supported by elevated protein on lumbar puncture. During the antepartum period, a diagnosis of gestational hypertension progressed to preeclampsia with severe features when a sudden rise in liver function tests occurred. The patient underwent an uneventful planned cesarean delivery but could not be extubated due to respiratory failure. After a 20-day critical care admission, she was extubated and had an improvement in neurologic status to near her baseline.

Efficacy and Ease of Use of a Newly Designed Pencil-Point Epidural Needle Compared to Conventional Tuohy Epidural Needle: A Randomized Single-Blind Pilot Study.

Background and objective Accidental dural puncture (ADP) and consequent post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) related to epidural needle use have prompted the design of a pencil-point epidural needle. The aim of this prospective, randomized, single-blind pilot study was to assess the efficacy, ease of use, patient satisfaction, and adverse events associated with this newly designed pencil-point epidural needle compared to a Tuohy conventional epidural needle in parturients receiving combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia for labor. Methods After obtaining the Institutional Research Board approval, 100 parturients were randomized to receive CSE anesthesia with either the new pencil-point epidural needle (Gertie Marx, IMD Inc., Huntsville, UT) (P group) or Tuohy needle (T group). We documented patients' height, weight, loss of resistance (LOR), number of attempts required, onset time of spinal anesthesia, difficulties with insertion of spinal needle, difficulties with insertion of the epidural needle and catheter, duration of the procedure, overall satisfaction of the provider and patient, ADP, PDPH, paresthesia, and pain. Results There was no difference in body mass index (BMI), LOR, number of attempts, and onset time of spinal anesthetic between the study groups. Success in obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on the first attempt was 50/51 (98%) in the T group vs. 44/49 (89.8%) in the P group (p=0.108). The need for subsequent epidural needle readjustment to obtain CSF was higher in the P group (16/49, 32.7%) vs. the T group (3/51, 5.9%, p<0.001). Success on the first attempt with epidural catheter threading was lower with the pencil-point epidural needle compared to the Tuohy needle (69% vs. 98%, p<0.001). The anesthesiologist switched from the assigned pencil-point epidural needle to the Tuohy needle due to technical difficulties in 8/49 (16.3%) cases. The duration of the procedure was longer in the P group (16.43 ±6.33 minutes) compared to the T group (11.49 ±1.87 minutes) (p<0.001). User satisfaction was lower in the P group compared to the T group (34.7% vs. 90.2%, p<0.001). Patient satisfaction was lower with the pencil-point epidural needle compared to the Tuohy needle (75.5% vs. 92.2%, p=0.03). There was no difference in complication rates from the CSE procedure between groups (pain, paresthesia, ADP, and PDPH). Conclusion In this pilot study, the use of the pencil-point epidural needle for CSE was associated with less successful epidural catheter placement as well as low user and patient satisfaction compared to the Tuohy epidural needle. Modifications in the pencil-point epidural needle design are needed to improve efficacy and enhance user acceptance before a larger study can be conducted to evaluate the rates of ADP and PDPH.

Dexamethasone with either granisetron or ondansetron for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic surgery.

In a prospective randomized double-blind study, we compared the effectiveness of dexamethasone 8 mg with either granisetron 1 mg or ondansetron 4 mg in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Hundred ASA I and II patients scheduled for laparoscopic surgery were enrolled in the study and 84 patients completed it. Following induction of anesthesia, group I (n=42) received granisetron 1 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg, group II (n=42) received ondansetron 4 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg. Nausea and vomiting episodes, pain scores as well as side effects were recorded during the first hour and subsequently during the first 6 and 24 hours postoperatively. Satisfaction scores were obtained at discharge. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups during the 1st 24 hours following surgery in regards to pain scores, satisfaction and side effects manifestations. At 0-1 hour interval, 100% of patients in group I and 97.6% in group II had no vomiting. Total response (no moderate or severe nausea and no rescue antiemetics) was 83.3% in group I and 80.95% in group II, and metoclopramide was used in 7.1% of patients in both groups. At 1-6 hours interval, 97.6% of patients in group I and 100% in group II had no vomiting. Total response was 92.8% in group I and 90.9% in group II, and metoclopramide was used in 4.76% of patients in group I and 2.38% in group II. At 6-24 hours no vomiting occurred in 97.6% of patients in group I and 100% in group II. Total response was 95.2% in both groups, and metoclopramide was used in 2.38% of patients in both groups. In conclusion, the combination of dexamethasone 8 mg with either granisetron 1 mg or ondansetron 4 mg following induction of anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery showed no statistically significant difference in antiemetic efficacy with minimal side effects and excellent patient satisfaction.

Anaesthetic management of a parturient with spondylothoracic dysostosis.

Spondylothoracic dysostosis is a rare congenital disorder characterised by multiple vertebral malformations, shortening of the spine and fusion of the ribs at the costovertebral junction. These abnormalities create anaesthetic challenges due to difficult airway, severe restrictive lung disease and spine deformity necessitating a multidisciplinary approach and careful perioperative planning. We present the perianaesthetic management of a parturient with spondylothoracic dysostosis who successfully underwent preterm caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia with awake videolaryngoscopy-assisted tracheal intubation.

Perioperative Management and Preemptive ECMO Cannulation of a Parturient with Cystic Fibrosis Undergoing Cesarean Delivery.

Physiologic changes of pregnancy and cystic fibrosis pathology provide a unique set of circumstances. Pulmonary disease accounts for over 90% of the morbidity and mortality of patients with cystic fibrosis. These abnormalities create anesthetic challenges due to multiple organ systems being affected including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and genitourinary tracts, where patients present with chronic respiratory failure, pancreatic insufficiency, poor nutrition, and cardiac manifestations. We present the perianesthetic management of a parturient with cystic fibrosis who successfully underwent preterm cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia with preemptive bilateral femoral venous sheaths placed for potential extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiation.

The effect of low-dose remifentanil on responses to the endotracheal tube during emergence from general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Emergence from general anesthesia can be associated with coughing, agitation, and hemodynamic disturbances. Remifentanil may attenuate these responses. METHODS: In a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial, we enrolled 60 adult patients undergoing nasal surgery using remifentanil-based anesthesia. During the emergence phase, the remifentanil group had remifentanil reduced to one tenth of the maintenance rate, whereas the control group had remifentanil discontinued. RESULTS: Times to awakening and tracheal extubation were similar between the two groups. During emergence, the remifentanil group (infusion rate 0.014 +/- 0.011 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) had a significantly lower incidence (40% vs 80%, P = 0.002) and less severe coughing compared with the control group, as well as a lower incidence of nonpurposeful movement (3.3% vs 30%, P = 0.006) and slower heart rates. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose remifentanil during emergence did not prolong wake-up but reduced the incidence and severity of coughing from the endotracheal tube.

Excellent intubating conditions with remifentanil-propofol and either low-dose rocuronium or succinylcholine.

PURPOSE: The shortest time to tracheal intubation, the best intubating conditions, and the shortest duration of muscle paralysis are achieved with succinylcholine. During a lidocaine-remifentanil-propofol induction of anesthesia, we compared intubating conditions 90 s after administering low-dose rocuronium (0.3 mg . kg(-1)) with intubating conditions 60 s after administering succinylcholine 1.5 mg . kg(-1). METHODS: The randomized double-blind study included 184 healthy adult patients scheduled for elective surgery. Anesthesia was induced in all patients with lidocaine 1.5 mg . kg(-1), remifentanil 2 microg . kg(-1), and propofol 2 mg . kg(-1) administered over 30 s. In one group, rocuronium 0.3 mg . kg(-1) was administered before the induction sequence, and in the other group, succinylcholine 1.5 mg . kg(-1) was administered after the induction sequence. Laryngoscopy was attempted 90 s after rocuronium administration and 60 s after succinylcholine administration. Intubating conditions were assessed as excellent, good, or poor on the basis of ease of laryngoscopy, position of the vocal cords, and reaction to insertion of the tracheal tube and cuff inflation. RESULTS: There were 92 patients per group. In the rocuronium group, intubating conditions were excellent in 83 patients (90%), good in 8 (9%), and poor in 1 (1%), not significantly different from the intubating conditions in the succinylcholine group, which were excellent in 88 patients (96%), good in 3 (3%), and poor in 1 (1%) (P = 0.3). CONCLUSION: During a lidocaine-remifentanil-propofol induction of anesthesia, rocuronium 0.3 mg . kg(-1) administered before the induction sequence provides intubating conditions comparable to those achieved with succinylcholine 1.5 mg . kg(-1) administered after the induction sequence.