The effect of perineural dexamethasone on nerve injury and recovery of nerve function after surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: While numerous studies have examined the influence of perineural dexamethasone on nerve block duration, its potential impact on postoperative nerve injury has not been adequately addressed. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the effect of perineural dexamethasone on nerve injury and nerve function recovery after surgery. Design: A prospective randomized double-blinded trial. Setting: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China. The study was conducted between 14 June and 30 December 2022. Participants: Patients aged 18 - 80 years, ASA I - II, scheduled for elective orthopedic or burn and plastic surgery. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either perineural dexamethasone (D group) or no dexamethasone (ND group). Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were the incidence and recovery of nerve injury. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, and adverse events. Results: Initial postoperative nerve injury rates were similar between groups (D: 30.4 %, ND: 33.3 %, P > 0.05). At 12 weeks post-discharge, significantly more patients in the ND group recovered from nerve deficits (78.8 % vs 60.3 %; OR = 2.45, 95 % CI = 1.05 - 5.72, P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in postoperative hyperglycemia or surgical site infection rates. Conclusion: Perineural dexamethasone may impede nerve function recovery, suggesting caution in its use, particularly for patients with pre-existing nerve damage or diabetes. Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term effects of dexamethasone on nerve tissue recovery. Trial registration: chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2200059424.

Perioperative management of a patient with morbid obesity and severe cardiomyopathy: a case report and literature review.

As the obesity epidemic continues to escalate, the need for bariatric surgery will increase. Patients with severe cardiomyopathy and heart failure have historically been considered at high risk for perioperative complications and thus excluded from bariatric surgery. We herein describe a patient with morbid obesity, severe cardiomyopathy, and heart failure who successfully and safely underwent bariatric surgery and achieved significant weight loss and overall cardiac function improvement 1 year later. Although data are sparse, there is certainly evidence to suggest that significant weight reduction may confer a mechanism of ventricular reverse remodeling and subsequent clinical improvement.

Electropress Needle Stimulation for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Being overweight or obese is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide and seriously endangers human health. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been successfully used for the treatment of severe obesity, but the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is high. However, traditional antiemetics have limited effects on PONV. Electropress needle therapy, which can be enhanced with electrical stimulation, is a promising therapy for the prevention and treatment of PONV. However, whether the electropress needle is effective for PONV in patients with LSG remains uncertain. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. A total of 106 patients who planned to undergo elective LSG between October 2021 and July 2022 were randomly allocated to receive electropress needle stimulation combined with dexamethasone and granisetron (group A) or dexamethasone plus granisetron (group B). The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV 48 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes were PONV severity score, time to first flatus, length of hospital stay, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and postoperative remedial medication use. RESULTS: Compared with dexamethasone plus granisetron, electropress needle stimulation combined with dexamethasone and granisetron significantly decreased the incidence and severity of PONV (P<0.001). Patients in Group A consumed less antiemetics postoperatively (P<0.05) and had a much shorter length of postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05). There was no difference in the time to first flatus between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electropress needle acupoint stimulation can reduce the incidence and severity of PONV in patients undergoing LSG.

Anesthesia management of an aged patient with giant abdominal tumor and large hiatal hernia: A case report and literature review.

Introduction: A giant abdominal tumor with a large hiatal hernia remains a rare disease with few studies regarding its implications in anesthesia. A large hiatal hernia may compress the heart and cause arrhythmia and even cardiac arrest, which greatly increases the risks and challenges of anesthesia management. Case description: We present a case in which a patient with a giant abdominal desmoid tumor and large hiatal hernia experienced a critical situation during anesthesia and surgery. Conclusions: It is a great challenge for anesthesiologists to manage a patient's respiratory system and circulation. Careful perioperative management and optimized multidisciplinary teams are the key factors in the successful management of this rare condition. In addition, awake endotracheal intubation, ventilation preserving spontaneous breathing and target-directed fluid therapy play an essential role in anesthesia management.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Pneumonia: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Postoperative pneumonia is a preventable complication associated with adverse outcomes, that greatly aggravates the medical expenses of patients. The goal of our study is to identify risk factors and outcomes of postoperative pneumonia. Methods: A matched 1:1 case-control study, including adult patients who underwent surgery between January 2020 and June 2020, was conducted in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in China. Cases included all patients developing postoperative pneumonia within 30 days after surgery, defined using consensus criteria. Controls were selected randomly from the matched eligible population. Results: Out of 17,190 surgical patients, 264 (1.54%) experienced postoperative pneumonia. Increased age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emergency surgery, postoperative reduced albumin, prolonged ventilation, and longer duration of bed rest were identified as significant risk factors independently associated with postoperative pneumonia. Regarding prognostic implications, postoperative pneumonia was associated with longer length of hospital stay, higher ICU occupancy rate, higher unplanned re-operation rate, and higher in-hospital mortality rate. Postoperative pneumonia was most commonly caused by Gram-negative pathogens, and multidrug resistant bacteria accounted for approximately 16.99% of cases. Conclusions: Postoperative pneumonia is associated with severe clinical outcomes. We identified six independent risk factors that can aid in risk stratification and management of patients at risk of postoperative pneumonia, and the distribution of causative pathogens can also help in the implementation of effective interventions. Clinical Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: chiCTR2100045986.

Successful prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation after intraoperative cardiac arrest due to povidone-iodine allergy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Iodophor (povidone-iodine) is widely used clinically because of its broad-spectrum antibacterial effects. Although extremely rare, it may cause anaphylactic shock, which itself carries the life-threatening risk of cardiac arrest. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case in which a patient with postoperative infection went into anaphylactic shock and cardiac arrest caused by povidone-iodine during secondary surgery. The patient was successfully resuscitated by 2 h of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSION: This is the first known case of cardiac arrest caused by povidone-iodine allergy.