Postsurgical Neuropathy: A Descriptive Review.

Postsurgical neuropathies represent an infrequent but potentially devastating complication of surgery that may result in significant morbidity with medicolegal implications. Elucidation of this phenomenon has evolved over the past few decades, with emerging evidence for not only iatrogenic factors contributing to this process but also inflammatory causes. This distinction can be important; for instance, cases in which inflammatory etiologies are suspected may benefit from further investigations including nerve biopsy and may benefit from treatment in the form of immunotherapy. In contrast, postsurgical neuropathies due to perioperative causes including anesthesia, traction, compression, and transection will not benefit in the same manner. This article summarizes early and current literature surrounding the frequency of new neurologic deficits after various surgical types, potential causes including anatomical and inflammatory considerations, and roles for treatment. To capture the scope of the issue, a literature review was conducted for human studies in English via MEDLINE and EMBASE from January 1, 1988 to March 31, 2018. Search terms included anesthesia and/or surgical procedures, operative, peripheral nervous system diseases, trauma, mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, peripheral nervous system, nerve compression, neuropathy, plexopathy, postoperative, postsurgical, perioperative, complication. We excluded case series with less than 10 patients and review papers. We then narrowed the studies to those presented highlighting key concepts in postsurgical neuropathy.

Peripheral electrical stimulation reduces postoperative hypoxemia in patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Severity of hypoxemic events resulting from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is correlated with increased risk of complications and sudden death. We studied the use of a peripheral transcutaneous electrical stimulus (TES) on the magnitude and duration of sleep apnea associated hypoxemia in postoperative patients at high risk for OSA. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, controlled, single-centre trial, 106 adult patients undergoing elective surgery who were at medium to high risk for OSA (sleep apnea clinical scores of 18-35) were randomized to either TES (active stimulus group, n = 53) or control (non-stimulus group, n = 53) during their stay in the postanesthesia care unit. Transcutaneous electrical stimuli were delivered at threshold oxygen saturation measurements (SpO2) ≤ 93%. The primary endpoint was the SpO2 area under the curve (AUC) < 90%. Secondary endpoints included the percentage of patients with SpO2 < 90%, duration SpO2 < 90%, lowest SpO2 in the first hour, and adverse events associated with TES. RESULTS: Compared with controls (n = 45), those in the active group (n = 34) showed a decreased SpO2 AUC < 90% (median 0.0 vs 15.2 % sec, respectively; P = 0.009), a smaller percentage of subjects with SpO2 < 90% (47% active vs 71% control; P = 0.03), a shorter duration of SpO2 < 90% (median 0.0 vs 19.1 sec, respectively; P = 0.01), and a higher nadir of SpO2 recorded during the first hour (median 90.5% vs 87.9%, respectively; P = 0.04). Among patients with at least one SpO2 < 93%, there were fewer with SpO2 < 90% in the active group (55% vs 84%, respectively; P = 0.009). No adverse events related to TES were reported. CONCLUSION: In postoperative surgical patients at risk for OSA, peripheral transcutaneous electrical stimulation applied during apneic episodes decreased the duration and magnitude of hypoxemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02554110); registered 18 September, 2015.

Do patients require "escorts" or "carers" for discharge following day surgery and office-based anesthesia? Both sides of the debate explored.

Over the past few years, there has been a rapid rise in office-based procedures, out of hospital and day surgery procedures, particularly as an effort to combat the escalating costs of hospital-based services. Coincident with this burgeoning demand for office-based anesthesia, is the accompanying increased risk of anesthesia and sedation-related complications. In the 1990's and 2000's, the risk of mortality was higher for anesthetics and sedations performed outside of the operating theater setting. Although guidelines exist for ambulatory and office-based anesthesia, they are being continuously reviewed and reconsidered. A challenge for office-based settings, is the expectation of having an "escort" available to assume responsibility for the patient at time of discharge from the post anesthesia care setting. Challenges in securing an escort can lead to delays, cancellations and same day patient "no shows." This expert review, the first one to ever be published on this topic, will explore the medicolegal, regulatory, pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic issues involved on both sides of this debate need to be carefully considered and understood, considering the pros and cons of requiring an escort for same day post anesthesia discharge.

Propofol Frenzy: Clinical Spectrum in 3 Patients.

Postsedation neuroexcitation is sometimes attributed to intravenous injection of the sedative-hypnotic drug propofol. The movements associated with these events have strongly suggested convulsive activity, but they rarely have been comprehensively evaluated. We present video recordings of 3 healthy young patients who underwent elective surgery under conscious sedation and emerged from sedation with transient but repetitive violent motor activity and impaired consciousness. These manifestations required considerable mobilization of multiple health care workers to protect the patient from inflicting harm. All patients received propofol, and all fully recovered without adverse sequelae. We postulate that these movements are propofol related. Importantly, we found no evidence of seizures clinically or electrographically.

Assessment of the efficiency of language interpreter services in a busy surgical and procedural practice.

BACKGROUND: Surgical and procedural patient care settings require efficient patient flow. The primary goal of this study was to assess use and efficiency of language services for our limited English proficiency (LEP) patients undergoing surgical and outpatient procedures. METHODS: Patient language services needs were recorded from our operating room and procedural locations over a two and a half month period in 2016. Time from in-person interpreter request to arrival was recorded. Frequency of language service modality used and reason for telephone and professional video remote interpreting (VRI) rather than in person professional services was queried. RESULTS: Mean time from in-person interpreter request until arrival was 19 min. Variation was high. No cases were cancelled due to lack of available interpretive services and no LEP patient underwent a procedure without requested interpretative service assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Time for in person professional interpreter assistance was short but highly variable. Access to telephone interpretive services and VRI services ensured assistance when in person interpreters were immediately unavailable. With the numbers of LEP patients increasing over time along with any new mandates for providing language assistance, the stress on hospital patient service units and the financial implications for many health care facilities will likely continue as challenges.

Medication errors: an overview for clinicians.

Medication error is an important cause of patient morbidity and mortality, yet it can be a confusing and underappreciated concept. This article provides a review for practicing physicians that focuses on medication error (1) terminology and definitions, (2) incidence, (3) risk factors, (4) avoidance strategies, and (5) disclosure and legal consequences. A medication error is any error that occurs at any point in the medication use process. It has been estimated by the Institute of Medicine that medication errors cause 1 of 131 outpatient and 1 of 854 inpatient deaths. Medication factors (eg, similar sounding names, low therapeutic index), patient factors (eg, poor renal or hepatic function, impaired cognition, polypharmacy), and health care professional factors (eg, use of abbreviations in prescriptions and other communications, cognitive biases) can precipitate medication errors. Consequences faced by physicians after medication errors can include loss of patient trust, civil actions, criminal charges, and medical board discipline. Methods to prevent medication errors from occurring (eg, use of information technology, better drug labeling, and medication reconciliation) have been used with varying success. When an error is discovered, patients expect disclosure that is timely, given in person, and accompanied with an apology and communication of efforts to prevent future errors. Learning more about medication errors may enhance health care professionals' ability to provide safe care to their patients.

Infection after urogynecologic surgery with the use of dexamethasone for nausea prophylaxis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine if a single perioperative dose of dexamethasone increases the risk of infection after urogynecologic surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review (2004 - 2006) of patient records from the preoperative period to follow-up of 6 weeks from procedure. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary-care hospital. MEASUREMENTS: The records of 574 ASA physical status 1, 2, and 3 women who had undergone urogynecologic surgery and who consented to have their information utilized for research were studied. The perioperative course of those who did and did not receive single-dose dexamethasone (4-8 mg) for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis was compared. Data collected included dexamethasone use, patient age, body mass index, ASA physical status, preexisting cardiovascular or respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, type of surgery (vaginal vs abdominal), type of anesthesia (general vs regional, or combination), and duration of surgery. Postoperative infectious complications, including urinary tract infection (UTI), wound infection, other infections, and other complications, were noted. MAIN RESULTS: Univariate and multivariable analysis found no significant association between single-dose dexamethasone use and perioperative complications, including wound infection and UTI. There was an increased incidence of UTI with vaginal versus abdominal procedures, and longer duration of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between single-dose dexamethasone and perioperative infectious complications.

Management of the difficult and failed airway in obstetric anesthesia.

Difficulty with airway management in obstetric patients occurs infrequently and failure to secure an airway is rare. A failed airway may result in severe physical and emotional morbidity and possibly death to the mother and baby. Additionally, the family, along with the medical and nursing staff, may face emotional and financial trauma. With the increase in the number of cesarean sections performed under regional anesthesia, the experience and training in performing endotracheal intubations in obstetric anesthesia has decreased. This article reviews the management of the difficult and failed airway in obstetric anesthesia. Underpinning this important topic is the difference between the nonpregnant and pregnant state. Obstetric anatomy and physiology, endotracheal intubation in the obstetric patient, and modifications to the difficult airway algorithms required for obstetric patients will be discussed. We emphasize that decisions regarding airway management must consider the urgency of delivery of the baby. Finally, the need for specific equipment in the obstetric difficult and failed airway is discussed. Worldwide maternal mortality reflects the health of a nation. However, one could also claim that, particularly in Western countries, maternal mortality may reflect the health of the specialty of anesthesia.

The impact of parental leave on extending training and entering the board certification examination process: a specialty-based comparison.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of parental leave on extending residency training and the timing of entrance into the specialty board certification examination system. METHODS: From June 3, 2005, through December 28, 2005, primary specialty board policies regarding parental leave, absence from training, and the timing of entrance into the board certification examination process were reviewed for all American Board of Medical Specialties programs with a national enrollment of more than 100 residents. The impact of a 6-week parental leave on extending training and qualifying to enter the board certification examination system was compared among these specialties. RESULTS: All specialty boards studied, except for the American boards of neurosurgery, ophthalmology, psychiatry, neurology, and thoracic surgery, have defined limits on absences from training. The limits on absence from training among the 21 other residency programs studied are generally similar, but important differences exist. These differences include the maximum length of time away from training per year, whether absence from training can accumulate year to year, and whether the length of time away from training is consistent for each postgraduate year of the training program. The impact of a 6-week parental leave on qualifying for the board certification examination system on schedule varies from no impact to delaying entrance for 1 year. CONCLUSION: Specialty board policies regarding absence from training and entering the board certification examination process vary and could influence decisions about family planning, the length of time taken for parental leave, the use of vacation time for parental leave, and resident well-being.

Recent smoking behavior and postoperative nausea and vomiting.

The risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is reduced in cigarette smokers by unknown mechanisms. If protection is related to an acute effect of smoke constituents, smokers with the most recent exposure to cigarette smoke would be most protected. We tested the hypothesis that in cigarette smokers, postoperative nausea is correlated with recent exposure to cigarette smoke as quantified by exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations. In this observational study, exhaled CO levels were measured in 140 female smokers preoperatively. PONV was assessed over the first 24 h after surgery. There was no correlation (assessed with Spearman rank correlation) between preoperative CO and nausea scores at recovery room discharge. Significant correlations were found between nausea assessed over the first 24 h postoperatively and a history of PONV or motion sickness, the use of intraoperative antiemetic prophylaxis, duration of anesthesia, and use of opioids in the postanesthesia care unit. However, there was no correlation between preoperative CO and nausea over the first 24 h. These preliminary data suggest that the effect of smoking in reduced PONV is not directly related to preoperative exhaled CO levels.

Severe postextubation laryngeal obstruction: the role of prior neck dissection and radiation.

Aggressive treatment of advanced head and neck cancer may result in more patients undergoing surgery for unrelated illnesses. We present a case of a patient requiring emergency tracheostomy placement after a routine liver segment resection 10 yr after undergoing a bilateral modified radical neck dissection and radiation therapy. This type of patient may be at increased risk for both postoperative laryngeal edema and neuronal imbalance secondary to their preoperative condition.

Airway management after failure to intubate by direct laryngoscopy: outcomes in a large teaching hospital.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this single-centre database review was to establish the incidence of failure to intubate by direct laryngoscopy, to measure morbidity and mortality associated with this event, and to examine the use and efficacy of alternative airway devices. METHODS: Difficult intubation via direct laryngoscopy at Mayo Clinic Rochester is recorded in an electronic database using a functional classification: 0 = no difficulty; 1 = mild to moderate difficulty; and 2 = severe difficulty often requiring a change in intubation technique. Using this database, the total number of intubations was determined for a selected review period and the incidence of failure to intubate by direct laryngoscopy was established. Abstraction of chart data allowed for determination of associated morbidity and mortality, success of alternative airway devices, and case cancellation rate. RESULTS: During the period from August 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002, 37,482 patients underwent general anesthesia with attempted direct laryngoscopy. One hundred sixty-one patients (0.43%) could not be intubated by direct laryngoscopy alone. Morbidity associated with difficult intubation included soft tissue/dental damage (n = 8), intraoperative cardiac arrest (n = 1), and possible aspiration (n = 1). Three patients required intensive care unit admission. There was no associated mortality. The most commonly used alternative airway device was the flexible fibreoptic scope. Five case cancellations resulted from failure to intubate with alternative devices. CONCLUSION: The rate of unexpected failure to intubate by direct laryngoscopy is essentially unchanged from earlier studies. While morbidity was low, continued education and early use of alternative difficult airway devices may further limit complications associated with this event.

BIS monitor findings during self-hypnosis.

OBJECTIVE: We describe BIS values for a patient undergoing breast surgery under self-hypnosis in order to access the value of global surface EEG measures occurring during this process. METHODS: Following verbal consent, a BIS(TM) monitor (Aspect Medical, Newton MA) was placed and values measured while the patient performed self-hypnosis for a simple mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy. RESULTS: Thirty-nine minutes after incision the BIS value decreased transiently to 72 followed by several other transient decreases, the lowest of which was 59. Values remained at approximately 90 throughout most of the operative period. The BIS value returned to baseline after completion of the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that hypnosis is a dynamic cerebral process incorporating many changes within brain activation centers and one distinct from dissociative patterns seen under anesthesia. Current algorithms employed by the BIS(TM) monitor add little to the management of patients utilizing hypnosis for analgesia.

Morbidity and mortality of deep sedation in outpatient bone marrow biopsy.

Deep sedation is being provided at an increasing rate for patients undergoing bone marrow biopsy and aspiration (BMBA). The aim of this study was to establish the safety of deep sedation used for adults undergoing BMBA. A nonrandomized database analysis and retrospective review of patient records from January 1997 to December 2000 was performed; 5,811 patients were identified as having undergone their first outpatient BMBA. Outcome measures included 30-day mortality and same-day hospital admission; surrogate measures included need for a surgical procedure or receipt of red blood cells within the 48 hr following the BMBA. Patients who received intravenously administered midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol for maintenance of deep sedation plus infiltration of a local anesthetic (n = 2,604; 45%) comprised the deep sedation group; those who received infiltration of a local anesthetic but no intravenous sedation or analgesia (n = 3,207; 55%) comprised the local anesthesia group. Patients in the deep sedation group compared to those in the local anesthesia group were less likely to die within 30 days (0.69% vs. 1.34%, P = 0.018) and less likely to receive red blood cells (1.27% vs. 2.25%, P = 0.006). No other differences between the groups were found. Although the study was retrospective and nonrandomized, the results suggest that the use of deep sedation for outpatient BMBA is as safe as using local anesthesia.

Myocardial stunning during abdominal hysterectomy in a healthy woman.

We report a case of myocardial stunning in a healthy patient. During gynecologic surgery, two brief episodes of asystole occurred. Following resuscitation there was a short period of severe hypertension and tachycardia. Electrocardiographic changes and elevations in troponin T and creatine-kinase-MB were observed. Angiography revealed normal coronary arteries and multiple areas of hypokinesis. Within 2 weeks, all abnormal values had returned to normal and the patient underwent an uneventful surgery.