Incidence and prediction of intraoperative and postoperative cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 30-day mortality in non-cardiac surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: The incidence, prediction and mortality outcomes of intraoperative and postoperative cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in surgical patients are under investigated and have not been studied concurrently in a single study. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data between 2008 and 2012. Firth's penalized logistic regression was used to study the incidence and identify risk factors for intra- and postoperative CPR and 30-day mortality. simplified prediction model was constructed and internally validated to predict the studied outcomes. RESULTS: Among about 1.86 million non-cardiac operations, the incidence rate of intraoperative CPR was 0.03%, and for postoperative CPR was 0.33%. The 30-day mortality incidence rate was 1.25%. The incidence rate of events decreased overtime between 2008-2012. Of the 29 potential predictors, 14 were significant for intraoperative CPR, 23 for postoperative CPR, and 25 for 30-day mortality. The five strongest predictors (highest odd ratios) of intraoperative CPR were the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)/sepsis, surgery type, urgent/emergency case and anesthesia technique. Intraoperative CPR, ASA, age, functional status and end stage renal disease were the most significant predictors for postoperative CPR. The most significant predictors of 30-day mortality were ASA, age, functional status, SIRS/sepsis, and disseminated cancer. The predictions with the simplified five-factor model performed well and was comparable to the full prediction model. Postoperative cardiac arrest requiring CPR, compared to intraoperative, was associated with much higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of cardiac arrest requiring CPR in surgical patients decreased overtime. Risk factors for intraoperative CPR, postoperative CPR and perioperative mortality are overlapped. We proposed a simplified approach compromised of five-factor model to identify patients at high risk. Postoperative, compare to intraoperative, cardiac arrest requiring CPR was associated with much higher mortality.

Dexamethasone and Clonidine, but not Epinephrine, Prolong Duration of Ropivacaine Brachial Plexus Blocks, Cross-Sectional Analysis in Outpatient Surgery Setting.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study is to determine the effect of adding dexamethasone, clonidine or both with and without epinephrine to ropivacaine and bupivacaine brachial plexus blocks. DESIGN: Observational study of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Single academic outpatient surgery center. METHODS: We evaluated 5,515 patient entries who received brachial plexus block (BPB). Multiple, rescue, unsuccessful, and distal nerve blocks of the upper extremity were excluded. The duration was calculated from the time the block was performed until the resolution of the block by patient report. Block durations were compared using Analysis of Variance. RESULTS: After exclusions, 3,706 nerve blocks were analyzed. The median concentration of ropivacaine used was 0.5%. Both clonidine and dexamethasone significantly increased block duration by 1.1 and 3.0 hours, respectively. Combining clonidine and dexamethasone with ropivacaine increased block duration by 6.2 hours (p<0.001) when compared to ropivacaine alone. Dexamethasone and Clonidine increased block duration by 5.2 hours (p<0.001) when compared to clonidine alone and by 3.2 hours (p<0.001) compared to dexamethasone alone. The addition of epinephrine to any of the adjuvants made no statistically significant difference to the duration of action except when it was added to dexamethasone. SUMMARY: For brachial plexus blocks, epinephrine did not affect the duration of analgesia when added to ropivacaine. Epinephrine did not enhance the observed increase of block duration induced by clonidine or the combination of clonidine and dexamethasone. The most block duration enhancement was observed when combination of clonidine and dexamethasone were added to ropivacaine.

Duration of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve blockade is prolonged with dexamethasone when added to ropivacaine: a retrospective database analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone, when added to local anesthetics, has been shown to prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blocks; however, there are limited studies utilizing large numbers of patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of adding dexamethasone to ropivacaine on duration of nerve blocks of the upper and lower extremity. METHODS: We reviewed 1,040 patient records collected in an orthopedic outpatient surgery center that had received an upper or lower extremity peripheral nerve block with ropivacaine 0.5% with or without dexamethasone and/or epinephrine. The primary outcome was duration of analgesia in upper or lower extremity blocks containing dexamethasone as an adjunct. Secondary outcomes included postoperative patient pain scores, satisfaction, and the incidence of block related complications. Linear and ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the independent effect of dexamethasone on outcomes. RESULTS: Dexamethasone was observed to increase median block duration by 37% (95% confidence interval: 31-43%). The increased block duration persisted within body regions (upper and lower) and across a range of block types. Dexamethasone was also observed to reduce pain scores on the day of surgery (P = 0.001) and postoperative day 1 (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in duration of nerve blocks when epinephrine (1:400,000) was added to 0.5% ropivacaine with or without dexamethasone. CONCLUSION: The addition of dexamethasone to 0.5% ropivacaine prolongs the duration of peripheral nerve blocks of both the upper and lower extremity.

Successful lumbar epidural catheter placement through a lower back lipoma.

Structural abnormalities of the lumbar spine or the overlying structures may represent a relative contraindication or technical difficulty to neuraxial anesthesia. We report a case of successful epidural catheter placement through a lower back lipoma for vascular bypass surgery of the lower extremity.