Predictive Value of Ultrasound-Measured Quadriceps Depth and Frailty Status for Hypotension in Older Patients Undergoing Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in the Beach Chair Position under General Anesthesia.

The beach chair position (BCP) is widely used in shoulder surgery; however, it frequently leads to hypotension. Hypotension in BCP is prevalent among older patients who are at risk of secondary complications such as ischemic injuries. Therefore, this prospective study aimed to investigate the association and predictive value of frailty, as assessed by ultrasound-measured quadriceps depth and questionnaire, in patients aged ≥65 years undergoing elective shoulder surgery under general anesthesia. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for hypotension in BCP under general anesthesia. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to assess the predictive values of various parameters. The results indicated that a quadriceps depth < 2.3 cm and BCP for an extended period significantly increased the risk of hypotension. The combined consideration of quadriceps depth < 2.3 cm and frailty demonstrated markedly superior predictive power compared with each factor individually. In conclusion, the study findings facilitate the screening and identification of risk factors for older patients undergoing surgery in BCP, thereby enhancing perioperative management.

Preoperative Frailty Is an Independent Risk Factor for Postinduction Hypotension in Older Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative hypotension is a risk factor for perioperative adverse outcomes and is highly prevalent in older patients. Frailty has been associated with hemodynamic instability but its impact on postinduction hypotension is unclear. Therefore, we assessed the association between frailty and postinduction hypotension in older patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated electronic medical records of patients aged ≥65 years who were assessed for preoperative frailty and underwent noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia. Reported Edmonton Frail Scale (REFS) scores were used to stratify patients into a nonfrail (REFS scores 0-5), prefrail (6-7), and frail (8-18) groups. Postinduction hypotension was defined as a mean blood pressure below 65 mmHg or 20% from baseline occurring within the first 20 minutes after anesthesia induction and evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Independent factors related to postinduction hypotension in our sample (421 patients) were status of frail (REFS score ≥8) compared to nonfrail (odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-5.18; p = .002), lower baseline mean blood pressure in the operating room (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.999; p = .034) and at the presurgical center (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99; p = .003), and orthopedic (compared to urologic) surgery (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.14-4.30; p = .019). CONCLUSION: Preoperative frail status based on REFS scores is associated with postinduction hypotension. Frailty screening tool for older patients may enhance traditional risk calculators and improve patient selection for noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia.

Intravenous Versus Perineural Dexamethasone for Reducing Rebound Pain After Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is a common regional technique to manage acute postoperative pain for arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair. However, rebound pain may compromise its overall benefit. Our aim was to investigate the primary hypothesis that perineural and intravenous dexamethasone have different effects on rebound pain after resolution of ISB for arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 20 years scheduled for elective arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair under general anesthesia with preoperative ISB were included. The participants were randomized to receive dexamethasone either perineurally (perineural group) or intravenously (intravenous group). In the perineural group, patients received ISB with 12 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine containing 5 mg of dexamethasone; simultaneously, 1 mL of 0.9% normal saline was administered intravenously. In the intravenous group, patients received ISB with 12 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine; simultaneously, 1 mL of dexamethasone 5 mg was administered intravenously. The primary outcome was the difference in the pain score (0-10 on numeric rating scale) between before and after ISB resolution. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of rebound pain; onset, duration, and intensity of rebound pain; time to the first analgesic request; and pain-related sleep disturbance. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients were randomized to either perineural group (n = 36) or intravenous group (n = 35). After block resolution, pain scores increased significantly more in the perineural group (mean ± standard deviation, 4.9 ± 2.1) compared to the intravenous group (4.0 ± 1.7, P = 0.043). The duration of ISB was more prolonged in the perineural group (median [interquartile range], 19.9 [17.2-23.1] hours) than the intravenous group (15.1 [13.7-15.9] hours, P < 0.001). The incidence of rebound pain and pain-related sleep disturbance during the first postoperative week was significantly higher in the perineural group than in the intravenous group (rebound pain: 44.4% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.028; sleep disturbance: 55.6% vs. 25.7%, P = 0.011). The duration and intensity of rebound pain were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although perineural dexamethasone provided longer postoperative analgesia, intravenous dexamethasone was more beneficial in reducing pain increase after ISB resolution, incidence of rebound pain, and pain-related sleep disturbance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0006795.

Predictability of Radiologically Measured Psoas Muscle Area for Intraoperative Hypotension in Older Adult Patients Undergoing Femur Fracture Surgery.

This retrospective study aimed to determine the predictive value of radiologically measured psoas muscle area (PMA) for intraoperative hypotension (IOH) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves in older adult patients with hip fractures. The cross-sectional axial area of the psoas muscle was measured by CT at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebrae and normalized by body surface area (BSA). The modified frailty index (mFI) was used to assess frailty. IOH was defined as an absolute threshold of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg or a relative decrease in MAP > 30% from baseline MAP. Among the 403 patients, 286 (71.7%) had developed IOH. PMA normalized by BSA in male patients was 6.90 ± 0.73 in the no-IOH group and 4.95 ± 1.20 in the IOH group (p < 0.001). PMA normalized by BSA in female patients was 5.18 ± 0.81 in the no-IOH group and 3.78 ± 0.75 in the IOH group (p < 0.001). The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve for PMA normalized by BSA and modified frailty index (mFI) were 0.94 for male patients, 0.91 for female patients, and 0.81 for mFI (p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, low PMA normalized by BSA, high baseline systolic blood pressure, and old age were significant independent predictors of IOH (adjusted odds ratio: 3.86, 1.03, and 1.06, respectively). PMA measured by computed tomography showed an excellent predictive value for IOH. Low PMA was associated with developing IOH in older adult patients with hip fractures.

Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring More Accurately Detects Hypercapnia than End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring during Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide (PtcCO2) monitoring is known to be effective at estimating the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in patients with sedation-induced respiratory depression. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of PtcCO2 monitoring to measure PaCO2 and its sensitivity to detect hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 60 mmHg) compared to nasal end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) monitoring during non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This retrospective study included patients undergoing non-intubated VATS from December 2019 to May 2021. Datasets of PetCO2, PtcCO2, and PaCO2 measured simultaneously were extracted from patient records. Overall, 111 datasets of CO2 monitoring during one-lung ventilation (OLV) were collected from 43 patients. PtcCO2 had higher sensitivity and predictive power for hypercapnia during OLV than PetCO2 (84.6% vs. 15.4%, p < 0.001; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; 0.912 vs. 0.776, p = 0.002). Moreover, PtcCO2 was more in agreement with PaCO2 than PetCO2, indicated by a lower bias (bias ± standard deviation; -1.6 ± 6.5 mmHg vs. 14.3 ± 8.4 mmHg, p < 0.001) and narrower limit of agreement (-14.3-11.2 mmHg vs. -2.2-30.7 mmHg). These results suggest that concurrent PtcCO2 monitoring allows anesthesiologists to provide safer respiratory management for patients undergoing non-intubated VATS.

Strategy to Reduce Hypercapnia in Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Using Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: Monitoring end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2) is a noninvasive, continuous method, but its accuracy is reduced by prolonged capnoperitoneum and the steep Trendelenburg position in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure (PTCCO2) monitoring, which is not affected by ventilator-perfusion mismatch, has been suggested as a suitable alternative. We compared the agreement of noninvasive measurements with the arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) over a long period of capnoperitoneum, and investigated its sensitivity and predictive power for detecting hypercapnia. Patients and Methods: The patients who underwent RARP were enrolled in this study prospectively. Intraoperative measurements of PETCO2, PTCCO2, and PaCO2 were analyzed. The primary outcome was the agreement of noninvasive monitoring with PaCO2 during prolonged capnoperitoneum. Bias and precision between noninvasive measurements and PaCO2 were assessed using Bland-Altman analysis. The bias and mean absolute difference were compared using a two-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test for pairs. The secondary outcome was the sensitivity and predictive power for detecting hypercapnia. To assess this, the Yates corrected chi-square test and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were used. Results: The study analyzed 219 datasets from 46 patients. Compared with PETCO2, PTCCO2 had lower bias, greater precision, and better agreement with PaCO2 throughout the RARP. The mean absolute difference in PETCO2 and PaCO2 was larger than that of PTCCO2 and PaCO2, and continued to exceed the clinically acceptable range of 5 mmHg after 1 hour of capnoperitoneum. The sensitivity during capnoperitoneum and overall predictive power of PTCCO2 for detecting hypercapnia were significantly higher than those of PETCO2, suggesting a greater contribution to ventilator adjustment, to treat hypercapnia. Conclusion: PTCCO2 monitoring measured PaCO2 more accurately than PETCO2 monitoring during RARP requiring prolonged capnoperitoneum and a steep Trendelenburg position. PTCCO2 monitoring also provides more sensitive measurements for ventilator adjustment and detects hypercapnia more effectively than PETCO2 monitoring.

Perineural dexamethasone reduces rebound pain after ropivacaine single injection interscalene block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A single injection interscalene block (ISB) is a common regional analgesic technique in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. However, rebound pain after ISB resolution may reduce its overall benefit. Our primary aim was to assess whether perineural dexamethasone reduces the intensity and incidence of rebound pain in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia combined with a preoperative single injection ISB. METHODS: The patients were randomly assigned to receive single injection ISB using either 0.5% ropivacaine (control) or 0.5% ropivacaine containing 5 mg of dexamethasone. The primary outcomes were the pain score difference before and after ISB resolution, and the incidence of rebound pain. The secondary outcomes were the onset and duration of rebound pain, the presence of sleep disturbances due to postoperative pain, the first time when an analgesic was requested, and pain scores at various predefined time points. RESULTS: Pain increase following ISB resolution was lower in the dexamethasone group compared with the control group (4.5±2.4 and 6.9±2.2, respectively, p<0.001). The incidence of rebound pain was significantly lower in the dexamethasone group compared with the control group (37.1% and 82.9%, respectively, p<0.001). The controls experienced greater sleep disturbance during the postoperative period compared with those who received ISB with perineural dexamethasone. CONCLUSIONS: Perineural dexamethasone added to ISB using ropivacaine led to a much smoother resolution of ISB, reflected in a significantly smaller increase in pain after block resolution, a lower incidence of rebound pain and a lower sleep disturbance during the first postoperative week. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical Trial Registry of Korea (KCT0004418).

Cut-off points between pain intensities of the postoperative pain using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

BACKGROUND: Pain assessment and management are important in postoperative circumstances as overdosing of opioids can induce respiratory depression and critical consequences. We aimed this study to check the reliability of commonly used pain scales in a postoperative setting among Korean adults. We also intended to determine cut-off points of pain scores between mild and moderate pain and between moderate and severe pain by which can help to decide to use pain medication. METHODS: A total of 180 adult patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery were included. Postoperative pain intensity was rated with a visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), faces pain scale revised (FPS-R), and verbal rating scale (VRS). The VRS rated pain according to four grades: none, mild, moderate, and severe. Pain assessments were performed twice: when the patients were alert enough to communicate after arrival at the postoperative care unit (PACU) and 30 min after arrival at the PACU. The levels of agreement among the scores were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The cut-off points were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: The ICCs among the VAS, NRS, and FPS-R were consistently high (0.839-0.945). The pain categories were as follow: mild ≦ 5.3 / moderate 5.4 ~ 7.1 /severe ≧ 7.2 in VAS, mild ≦ 5 / moderate 6 ~ 7 / severe ≧ 8 in NRS, mild ≦ 4 / moderate 6 / severe 8 and 10 in FPS-R. The cut-off points for analgesics request were VAS ≧ 5.5, NRS ≧ 6, FPS-R ≧ 6, and VRS ≧ 2 (moderate or severe pain). CONCLUSIONS: During the immediate postoperative period, VAS, NRS, and FPS-R were well correlated. The boundary between mild and moderate pain was around five on 10-point scales, and it corresponded to the cut-off point of analgesic request. Healthcare providers should consider VRS and other patient-specific signs to avoid undertreatment of pain or overdosing of pain medication.

Risk Factors for Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events in Children with Recent Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Single-Center-Based Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: In pediatric patients, the most common reason for delaying surgical intervention is an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). To date, there has been no consensus regarding the optimal timeframe for deferring surgery in children with URI. We conducted this study to evaluate whether a URI symptom-free period and other risk factors affect the incidence of perioperative respiratory adverse events (RAEs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population included 267 pediatric patients (aged 0 to 13 years) with a recent URI episode who underwent surgery under general anesthesia. Following a retrospective review of medical records, several risk factors including a URI symptom-free period for intra- and postoperative RAEs were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: RAEs occurred in 23 of 267 patients (8.6%). Univariate analysis revealed that abnormal preoperative chest images (odds ratio [OR], 7.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.46-22.68, p < 0.001) and emergency operations (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.03-7.81, p = 0.04) were associated with RAEs. Four variables (abnormal preoperative chest images, emergency operations, age under 1 year and symptom-free period of 7-13 days) with a significance of <0.20 in the univariate logistic regression analysis were selected as candidate risk factors for the multivariate model. Among the four variables, abnormalities in preoperative chest images (OR, 7.60; 95% CI, 2.28-25.3, p = 0.001) and a symptom-free period of 7-13 days (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.88, p = 0.04) were independently associated with RAEs in multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: For pediatric patients who require surgery and have a recent history of URI, procedures should be performed after a URI symptom-free period of at least 1-2 weeks. Confirming the absence of abnormalities in preoperative chest images can reduce the incidence of perioperative RAEs.

Effects of Intraoperative Ventilation Strategy on Perioperative Atelectasis Assessed by Lung Ultrasonography in Patients Undergoing Open Abdominal Surgery: a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Protective mechanical ventilation using low tidal volume has been introduced to surgical patients to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. We investigated the effects of protective ventilation (PV) techniques on anesthesia-induced atelectasis identified via lung ultrasonography in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. METHODS: A total of 42 adult patients who were scheduled for open abdominal surgery with an expected duration > 2 hours were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive either conventional ventilation (CV; tidal volume of 9-10 mL/kg predicted body weight [PBW] with no positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP]) or PV (tidal volume of 6-8 mL/kg PBW and 5 cmH2O PEEP) via pressure-controlled ventilation with volume guaranteed. Lung ultrasonography was performed at four predefined time points to assess perioperative atelectasis by dividing each hemithorax into six quadrants based on a modified lung ultrasound (LUS) scoring system. RESULTS: The tidal volume delivered to patients was 9.65 ± 1.65 mL/kg PBW in the CV group and 6.31 ± 0.62 mL/kg PBW in the PV group. Ventilation using low tidal volume led to similar LUS scores in all lung areas and at all time points compared to ventilation using high tidal volume. There was no significant difference between the groups in the number of patients requiring recruitment maneuvers at the end of surgery. CONCLUSION: Ventilation with low tidal volume combined with 5 cmH2O PEEP did not cause further loss of aeration compared to ventilation with high tidal volume. Low tidal volume ventilation can be used in patients without lung injury based on lung assessment by bedside lung ultrasonography. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0003746.

The effect of anesthetic agents on cerebral vasospasms after subarachnoid hemorrhage: A retrospective study.

Cerebral vasospasm is the most important cause of morbidity after an aneurysm clipping in the early postoperative period. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether the incidence of vasospasms differs when using propofol or desflurane for an emergent aneurysm clipping.The data from 102 patients (50 in the propofol group, 52 in the desflurane group) were analyzed. The occurrence of vasospasm based on daily transcranial Doppler, angiography, and cerebral infarction during 14 days after surgery were compared by anesthetic agents. Postoperative data including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on day 14 after surgery, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 3 months were documented.Patients that intraoperatively received propofol for anesthesia maintenance, had higher incidence of transcranial Doppler (TCD)-evident vasospasm than those that received desflurane (54% vs 30.8%, P = .027). The occurrence of TCD-evident vasospasm was still higher (odds ratio: 2.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.12-7.20) in the propofol group than in the desflurane group after adjusting for confounding factors. However, the incidence of angiographic vasospasm, cerebral infarction, and interventions to treat cerebral vasospasms were similar between both groups. GCS score on day 14 after surgery and the GOS score at 3 months were similar between groups.No effect of anesthetic agents on angiographic vasospasm, cerebral infarction, or clinical outcome was observed, whereas desflurane anesthesia was associated with a lower incidence of TCD-evident vasospasms compared to propofol anesthesia. Our study provides a basis for further randomized controlled studies in a larger patient population to clarify the effects of anesthetic agents on the occurrence of cerebral vasospasms.

The effect of interscalene block on ipsilateral shoulder pain and pulmonary function in patients undergoing lung lobectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ipsilateral shoulder pain occurs in 37% to 68% of patients undergoing a thoracotomy. We examined whether interscalene brachial plexus block using a lower concentration of local anesthetic would reduce the incidence of post-thoracotomy ipsilateral shoulder pain with assessment of pulmonary function in patients who underwent a lung lobectomy. METHODS: Forty-four patients who underwent a lung lobectomy were randomly assigned to either the control or the interscalene block group. Single-shot interscalene block on the surgical site side was performed using ropivacaine 0.25% 10 mL including dexamethasone 5 mg under ultrasound guidance in the interscalene block group. Lobectomy and continuous paravertebral block were performed under general anesthesia. The presence of ipsilateral shoulder pain and postoperative adverse events were assessed. Pulmonary function tests were performed preoperatively, the day after surgery, and the day after removing the chest tube. RESULTS: The incidence of ipsilateral shoulder pain was significantly lower in the interscalene block group than in the control group (54.5% vs 14.3%, P = .006) with an overall incidence of 34.9%. Postoperative adverse events were similar between the groups, with no patients presenting symptoms of respiratory difficulty. Significant reductions in pulmonary function were observed in all patients after lobectomy; however, no significant difference in any of the pulmonary function test variables was observed postoperatively between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Interscalene block using 10 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine including dexamethasone 5 mg reduced the incidence of post-thoracotomy ipsilateral shoulder pain and did not result in additional impairment of pulmonary function.

Comparison of ramosetron and ondansetron for the treatment of established postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after surgery, which increases physical and psychological discomfort and delays recovery. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that ramosetron is comparable to ondansetron for the treatment of established PONV after laparoscopic surgery using a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, noninferiority study. METHODS: Patients who had at least two risk factors of PONV and underwent laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia were assessed for eligibility. Patients who developed PONV within the first 2 h after anesthesia received ondansetron (4 mg) or ramosetron (0.3 mg) intravenously in a randomized double-blind manner. Patients were then observed for 24 h after drug administration. The incidence of nausea and vomiting, severity of nausea, rescue antiemetic necessity, and adverse effects at 0-2 or 2-24 h after drug administration was evaluated. The primary endpoint was the rate of patients exhibiting a complete response, defined as no emesis and no further rescue antiemetic medication for 24 h after drug administration. RESULTS: Among the 583 patients, 210 (36.0%) developed PONV and were randomized to either the ondansetron (n=105) or ramosetron (n=105) group. Patient's characteristics were similar between the groups. The complete response rate was 44.1% in the ondansetron group and 52.9% in the ramosetron group after 24 h of initial antiemetic administration. The incidence of adverse events was not different between the groups. CONCLUSION: We found evidence to support the noninferiority of ramosetron (0.3 mg) compared to ondansetron (4 mg) for the treatment of established PONV in moderate to high-risk patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

Compression stockings reduce the incidence of hypotension but not that of cerebral desaturation events in the beach-chair position: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The beach-chair position (BCP) results in decreases in venous return, cardiac output, and cerebral perfusion pressure. In this randomized, prospective study, we investigated whether applying thigh-high compression stockings affected the maintenance of regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) in the BCP. METHODS: Patients undergoing orthopedic surgery in the BCP under general anesthesia were included and assigned randomly to the control or the compression stocking group. Appropriately sized thigh-high compression stockings were applied to the patients in the stockings group. All patients were tilted, up to 45°, throughout the operation. Non-invasive blood pressure, invasive arterial blood pressure zeroed at the external auditory meatus, and rSO2 were recorded. RESULTS: Data were analyzed from 19 patients per group. In the BCP, the values of rSO2 and blood pressure decreased significantly compared with those at baseline, with no significant difference between the groups. The incidences of cerebral desaturation events (CDEs) were similar between the groups; however, that of hypotension was significantly lower in the compression stocking group. During 36 CDEs, the levels of rSO2 and blood pressure decreased significantly compared with those at baseline in both groups. No significant correlation was found between rSO2 and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Thigh-high compression stockings reduced the incidence of hypotension but not that of CDEs. Our results suggest that other factors, beyond hypotension itself, contribute to CDEs and in other words, efforts just to reduce the incidence of hypotension may not mainly contribute to a reduction of CDEs occurrence in the BCP under general anesthesia.

Airway management in patients with deep neck infections: A retrospective analysis.

Securing the airway in patients undergoing surgical intervention to control a deep neck infection (DNI) is challenging for anesthesiologists due to the distorted airway anatomy, limited mouth opening, tissue edema, and immobility. It is critical to assess the risk of a potential difficult airway and prepare the most appropriate airway management method.We reviewed our anesthetic experiences managing patients with DNIs, focusing on the need for video-laryngoscope or awake fiberoptic intubation beyond a standard intubation from the anesthesiologist's perspective.When patients had infections in the masticatory space, mouth of floor, oropharyngeal mucosal space, or laryngopharynx, their airways tended to be managed using methods requiring more effort by the anesthesiologists, and more extensive equipment preparation, compared with use of a standard laryngoscope. The degree to which the main lesion influenced the airway anatomy, especially at the level of epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold was related to the airway management method selected.When managing the airways of patients undergoing surgery for DNIs under general anesthesia, anesthesiologists should use imaging with computed tomography to evaluate the preoperative airway status and a comprehensive understanding of radiological findings, comorbidities, and patients' symptoms is needed.

Which is your choice for prolonging the analgesic duration of single-shot interscalene brachial blocks for arthroscopic shoulder surgery? intravenous dexamethasone 5 mg vs. perineural dexamethasone 5 mg randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of intravenous (I.V.) dexamethasone with that of perineural dexamethasone on the prolongation of analgesic duration of single-shot interscalene brachial plexus blocks (SISB) in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery with ultrasound-guided SISB were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups. A total volume of 12 mL of the study drug was prepared with a final concentration of 0.5% ropivacaine. In the I.V. group, patients received SISB using ropivacaine 5 mg mL with normal saline (control) with dexamethasone 5 mg I.V. injection. In the perineural group, patients received SISB using ropivacaine 5 mg mL with dexamethasone 5 mg, with normal saline 1 mL I.V. injection. The primary outcome was the time to the first analgesic request, defined as the time between the end of the operation and the first request of analgesics by the patient. The secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction scores, side effects, and neurological symptoms. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups using a computer-generated randomization table. An anesthesiologist blinded to the group assignments prepared the solutions for injection. The patients and the investigator participating in the study were also blinded to the group assignments. One hundred patients were randomized. Data were analyzed for 99 patients. One case in the I.V. group was converted to open surgery and was therefore not included in the study. Perineural dexamethasone significantly prolonged analgesic duration (median, standard error: 1080 minutes, 117.5 minutes) compared with I.V. dexamethasone (810 minutes, 48.1 minutes) (P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in side effects, neurological symptoms, or changes in blood glucose values between the 2 groups. Our results show that perineural dexamethasone 5 mg is more effective than I.V. dexamethasone 5 mg with regard to analgesic duration of SISB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Effect of Propofol and Desflurane on Immune Cell Populations in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Trial.

Several factors can affect the perioperative immune function. We evaluated the effect of propofol and desflurane anesthesia on the surgery-induced immune perturbation in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. The patients were randomly assigned to receive propofol (n = 20) or desflurane (n = 20) anesthesia. The total and differential white blood cell counts were determined with lymphocyte subpopulations before and 1 hr after anesthesia induction and at 24 hr postoperatively. Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 were also measured. Both propofol and desflurane anesthesia preserved the IL-2/IL-4 and CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell ratio. Leukocytes were lower in the propofol group than in the desflurane group at 1 hr after induction (median [quartiles], 4.98 [3.87-6.31] vs. 5.84 [5.18-7.94] 10(3)/µL) and 24 hr postoperatively (6.92 [5.54-6.86] vs. 7.62 [6.22-9.21] 10(3)/µL). NK cells significantly decreased 1 hr after induction in the propofol group (0.41 [0.34-0.53] to 0.25 [0.21-0.33] 10(3)/µL), but not in the desflurane group (0.33 [0.29-0.48] to 0.38 [0.30-0.56] 10(3)/µL). Our findings indicate that both propofol and desflurane anesthesia for breast cancer surgery induce a favorable immune response in terms of preservation of IL-2/IL-4 and CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell ratio in the perioperative period. With respect to leukocytes and NK cells, desflurane anesthesia is associated with less adverse immune responses than propofol anesthesia during surgery for breast cancer. (Clinical trial registration at https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris number: KCT0000939).

Comparison of ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block techniques: perineural injection versus single or double perivascular infiltration.

PURPOSE: We compared three methods of ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block, which were single, and double perivascular (PV) infiltration techniques, and a perineural (PN) injection technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 78 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II undergoing surgery of the forearm, wrist, or hand were randomly allocated to three groups. 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 5 µg/mL was used. The PN group (n=26) received injections at the median, ulnar, and radial nerve with 8 mL for each nerve. The PV1 group (n=26) received a single injection of 24 mL at 12-o'clock position of the axillary artery. The PV2 group (n=26) received two injections of 12 mL each at 12-o'clock and 6-o'clock position. For all groups, musculocutaneous nerve was blocked separately. RESULTS: The PN group (391.2±171.6 sec) had the longest anesthetic procedure duration than PV1 (192.8±59.0 sec) and PV2 (211.4±58.6 sec). There were no differences in onset time. The average induction time was longer in PN group (673.4±149.6 sec) than PV1 (557.6±194.9 sec) and PV2 (561.5±129.8 sec). There were no differences in the success rate (89.7% vs. 86.2% vs. 89.7%). CONCLUSION: The PV injection technique consisting of a single injection in 12-o'clock position above the axillary artery in addition to a musculocutaneous nerve block is equally effective and less time consuming than the PN technique. Therefore, the PV technique is an alternative method that may be used in busy clinics or for difficult cases.

Dose-dependency of dexamethasone on the analgesic effect of interscalene block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery using ropivacaine 0.5%: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone prolongs the duration of single-shot interscalene brachial plexus block (SISB). However, dose-dependency of dexamethasone as an adjuvant for SISB remains insufficiently understood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of different doses of dexamethasone on the duration of SISB using ropivacaine 0.5%. DESIGN: A randomised, double-blind controlled trial. SETTING: Single university tertiary care centre. PATIENTS: One hundred and forty-four patients scheduled for elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery were allocated randomly to one of four groups. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received 12 ml of ropivacaine 0.5% in 0.9% saline (control group), or containing dexamethasone 2.5, 5.0 or 7.5 mg for SISB. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the time to the first analgesic request. Pain scores and adverse effects were also assessed up to 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS: Inclusion of dexamethasone 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg resulted in significant (P < 0.001) increases in time to the first analgesic request by factors of 1.6, 2.2 and 1.8, respectively. The percentages of patients not requiring analgesics in the first 48 h postoperatively with dexamethasone 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg were 3, 22, 39 and 33%, respectively (P < 0.001). There were no significant effects on pain scores or incidences of adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone demonstrated significant beneficial dose-dependent effects on duration to the first analgesic request, the number of patients not requiring analgesics and analgesic use in the first 48 h after SISB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. There were no significant effects on pain scores or incidences of adverse effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: the trial was registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of Korea: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index.jsp. Identifier: KCT0001078.

Cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density in Korean postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in cannabinoid receptor (CNR) genes and bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Seven polymorphisms (rs2023239, rs806379, rs12720071, rs1049353, rs806368, rs2180619, and rs7766029) in the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CNR1) gene and 16 polymorphisms (rs2501432, rs2502992, rs2501431, rs3003336, rs4649124, rs2502993, rs2229579, rs2229580, rs2229581, rs2229583, rs2229584, rs2229585, rs2229586, rs4237, rs7530595, and rs16828926) in the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CNR2) gene were analyzed in 405 Korean postmenopausal women. Serum levels of bone turnover markers, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL) were measured, and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck was examined. RESULTS: The CNR2 rs2501431, rs3003336, rs2229579, and rs4237 polymorphisms in CNR genes were associated with lumbar spine BMD. Women with the AA genotype of rs3003336 and rs4237 polymorphisms had significantly lower lumbar spine BMD compared with women with the non-AA genotype. Lumbar spine BMD in women with the TT genotype of CNR2 rs2501431 and rs2229579 polymorphisms was significantly lower than that in women with the non-TT genotype. Significantly higher odds for osteoporosis of the lumbar spine and/or femoral neck were observed in women with the TT genotype of rs2229579 polymorphisms (odds ratio, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.28-9.19) and with the AA genotype of rs4237 polymorphisms (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.03-2.95) compared with those not carrying the genotypes. The adjusted serum levels of bone turnover markers, OPG, sRANKL, or sRANKL × 1,000-to-OPG ratios were not associated with CNR gene polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that rs2501431, rs3003336, rs2229579, and rs4237 polymorphisms in CNR genes may be genetic factors affecting BMD in Korean postmenopausal women.