Shoulder arthroscopy positioning: lateral decubitus versus beach chair.

Since the introduction of the beach chair position for shoulder arthroscopy, orthopaedic surgeons have debated whether the beach chair or lateral decubitus is superior. Most surgeons use the same patient position to perform all of their arthroscopic shoulder procedures, regardless of the pathology. Each position has its advantages and disadvantages. The evidence regarding the efficiency, efficacy, and risks of the lateral decubitus and the beach chair positions for shoulder arthroscopy does not show one position to be superior. This review presents a comparison of these positions with regard to setup, surgical visualization, access, and patient risk.

[Crisis management in abdominal surgery].

During an abdominal surgery, life-threatening events such as severe bradycardia and massive hemorrhage may occur. Reflex bradycardia may arise with surgical manipulation of abdominal contents. Anesthetic agents such as propofol or remifentanil increase the risk of bradycardia. Epidural analgesia using local anesthetics during an abdominal surgery also increases the occurrence of bradycardia and hypotension. Combination of these three factors causes severe bradycardia during the abdominal surgery. Anesthesiologist has to pay close attention to heart rate during the abdominal surgery. The surveillance of Anesthesia-Related Critical Incidents in Japan conducted by Japan Society of Anesthesiologist (JSA) shows that life-threatening events due to hemorrhage during abdominal surgery accounted for 43.9% of all perioperative life-threatening events due to hemorrhage. When we find critical hemorrhage, we have to manage the condition in accordance with "The guideline for critical intraoperative hemorrhage" published by JSA and the Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy. The pneumoperitoneum required for laparoscopy induces physiologic changes that complicate anesthetic management and could cause CO2-subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, endobronchial intubation, and gas embolism. During laparoscopy, blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, end-tidal CO2, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry must be continuously monitored.

Cost-effectiveness and high patient satisfaction in the elderly: sevoflurane versus propofol anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of propofol compared with isoflurane is associated with improved patient comfort and decreased costs. However, as the cost saving, the quicker recovery time and patient comfort may not be evident if sevoflurane is substituted for isoflurane; these two anaesthetic agents were analysed in elderly patients. METHODS: In a prospective randomized study, 96 patients undergoing elective ophthalmic surgery received either total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol (Group P), propofol for induction and sevoflurane for maintenance (Group P/S) or sevoflurane for inhalation induction and maintenance (Group S). Analyses focussed on haemodynamics, the quality of recovery, and the costs for the anaesthetic and the entire procedure. RESULTS: Bradycardia or hypotension, mainly registered in Groups P and P/S, did not influence patients' recovery. In Group S, postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred frequently, and 50% of patients complained of discomfort during induction. In Group P/S, the costs for anaesthetics and total costs were lower than those in Groups P and S. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol- and sevoflurane-based maintenance of anaesthesia were similar with regard to patient comfort and recovery in the elderly. Cost analysis revealed that it was less expensive to use propofol for induction and sevoflurane for maintenance than to use either propofol or sevoflurane as sole agents for anaesthesia.

The impact of a dedicated "syncope and falls" clinic on pacing practice in northeastern England.

This study examined whether the increased demand for pacemaker implants for carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) at the Regional Pacing Service in northeastern England was related to the establishment of a dedicated "syncope and falls" clinic or to the publication of NASPE and BPEG guidelines for pacing symptomatic bradycardia. To this end, pacemaker rates for various indications at this institution were compared with those of a comparable region (Liverpool), as well as with BPEG's national pacemaker database. Findings indicate a distinct impact of the Newcastle syncope and falls clinic on recognition and pacemaker treatment of CSS.

Use of balloon flotation pacing catheters for prophylactic temporary pacing during diagnostic and therapeutic catheterization procedures.

The use of prophylactic temporary pacemakers during diagnostic catheterization, coronary angioplasty and percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty was investigated retrospectively over an 18-month period. Balloon flotation temporary pacemaker leads were placed in 193 (12%) of 1,609 patients undergoing diagnostic catheterization, 641 (65%) of 993 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and 199 (100%) of 199 patients undergoing aortic or mitral valvuloplasty. There were no perforations or significant arrhythmic complications related to pacemaker placement in these 1,033 cases, and pacing was initiated promptly when required by withdrawal of the catheter tip into the right ventricle. Significant bradycardia or new conduction defects developed in 17 patients (1%) during diagnostic catheterization, 10 patients (1%) during angioplasty and 20 patients (10%) during valvuloplasty, but were severe enough to require initiation of temporary pacing in only 1 (0.06%), 4 (0.4%) and 5 (2.5%) patients, respectively. No patient undergoing diagnostic catheterization or angioplasty (but 5 patients undergoing valvuloplasty) required immediate pacing support to treat a life-threatening bradycardia. The total cost of prophylactic pacemakers was $103,300, with a cost per actual use of $19,300 for diagnostic cases, $16,025 for angioplasty and $3,980 for balloon valvuloplasty. These data suggest that prophylactic temporary pacing is not indicated during either diagnostic catheterization or coronary angioplasty, but should be used routinely during balloon valvuloplasty.