Respiratory effects of pressure support ventilation in spontaneously breathing patients under anaesthesia: Randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lung volume loss is a major risk factor for postoperative respiratory complications after general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation. We hypothesise that spontaneous breathing without pressure support may enhance the risk for atelectasis development. Therefore, we aimed at characterising whether pressure support prevents changes in lung function in patients breathing spontaneously through laryngeal mask airway. METHODS: In this randomised controlled trial, adult female patients scheduled for elective gynaecological surgery in lithotomy position were randomly assigned to the continuous spontaneous breathing group (CSB, n = 20) or to the pressure support ventilation group (PSV, n = 20) in a tertiary university hospital. Lung function measurements were carried out before anaesthesia and 1 h postoperatively by a researcher blinded to the group allocation. Lung clearance index calculated from end-expiratory lung volume turnovers as primary outcome variable was assessed by the multiple-breath nitrogen washout technique (MBW). Respiratory mechanics were measured by forced oscillations to assess parameters reflecting the small airway function and respiratory tissue stiffness. RESULTS: MBW was successfully completed in 18 patients in both CSB and PSV groups. The decrease in end-expiratory lung volume was more pronounced in the CSB than that in the PSV group (16.6 ± 6.6 [95% CI] % vs. 7.6 ± 11.1%, p = .0259), with no significant difference in the relative changes of the lung clearance index (-0.035 ± 7.1% vs. -0.18 ± 6.6%, p = .963). The postoperative changes in small airway function and respiratory tissue stiffness were significantly lower in the PSV than in the CSB group (p < .05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pressure support ventilation protects against postoperative lung-volume loss without affecting ventilation inhomogeneity in spontaneously breathing patients with increased risk for atelectasis development. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02986269.

[Multidisciplinary management of postpartum headaches]. / Prise en charge multidisciplinaire des céphalées du postpartum.

Headache is a common complaint in the postpartum period and is benign in most cases. Physiological adaptations during pregnancy and childbirth put women at risk of secondary headaches and the clinician must be able to identify them at an early stage. The management algorithm described in this article provides a systematic assessment based on 4 key points: the clinical presentation, which refers to specific clinical pictures or severity criteria, the clinical context and the evolution of symptoms focusing on potential complications and known associations between different diseases. Indications for imaging (CT or MRI) and possible treatments during breastfeeding are also detailed.

Les céphalées (primaires et secondaires) sont une plainte courante durant la période du postpartum et sont, dans la majorité des cas, bénignes. Les modifications physiologiques liées à la grossesse et à l'accouchement entraînent un risque de céphalées secondaires et le praticien doit savoir les identifier précocement. L'algorithme de prise en charge décrit dans cet article permet une évaluation systématisée et repose sur quatre points essentiels : la présentation clinique, qui oriente vers des tableaux cliniques spécifiques ou des critères de gravité, le contexte clinique et l'évolution de la symptomatologie, en insistant sur les complications potentielles, ainsi que les associations connues entre différentes pathologies. Les indications pour une imagerie (scanner ou IRM) sont détaillées ainsi que les traitements possibles durant l'allaitement.

The impact of a transversus abdominis plane block including clonidine vs. intrathecal morphine on nausea and vomiting after caesarean section: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal morphine (ITM) is a widely used technique for postcaesarean section analgesia but entails a high risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is an alternative. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that a TAP block including clonidine reduces the incidence of PONV after caesarean section when compared with ITM. DESIGN: A randomised, controlled, double-blinded study. SETTING: Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland, from October 2013 to February 2017. PATIENTS: A total of 182 patients undergoing elective caesarean section were studied. Reasons for noninclusion were complicated pregnancy, contraindication to spinal anaesthesia or TAP block, extreme weight or height, allergy to any medication or previous median abdominal incision. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups (quadruple blinded): 100 µg of morphine added to the spinal local anaesthetic or a bilateral TAP block with 20 ml of ropivacaine 0.375% + 75 µg of clonidine on each side. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the total number of patients presenting with PONV at 24 h. Secondary aims were to compare other adverse effects (pruritus, respiratory depression, hypotension, bradycardia, sedation), analgesic efficacy and the quality of postoperative recovery. RESULTS: At 24 h, there was no significant difference between ITM and TAP groups in the total number of patients presenting with PONV: 17/92 patients (18.5%, 95% confidence interval 11.1 to 27.9) and 27/88 patients (30.7%, 95% confidence interval 21.3 to 41.4) in TAP and ITM groups, respectively (P = 0.065). Pain scores at 6 h and cumulative morphine consumption at 24 h were lower in the ITM group (P < 0.0001 for morphine consumption at 24 h). The incidence of hypotension was higher in the TAP group (54.3 vs. 29.2%, P = 0.0006). Maternal satisfaction was high and not different between groups. CONCLUSION: A TAP block with clonidine and local anaesthetic does not reduce significantly the incidence of PONV compared with ITM. We confirm the superiority of ITM on acute postcaesarean section analgesia compared with a TAP block, even with clonidine as an adjunct. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01931215.

[Tranexamic acid for the management of postpartum haemorrhage : current knowledge]. / Acide tranexamique dans la prise en charge de l'hémorragie du postpartum : connaissances actuelles.

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal death. Primary causes are mostly of obstetrical origin. PPH can be worsened by secondary coagulopathy. This is due to dilution or consumption of coagulation factors and fibrinolysis activation. The use of tranexamic acid, an antifibrinolytic agent, in the management of PPH has been proposed and practiced for several years, following evidence of its efficacy and safety in other settings, including traumatology. The benefit of administration of TXA during PPH has recently been proved by the WOMAN study. This review recalls the physiopathological mechanisms involved in the genesis and aggravation of PPH. It presents the current state of knowledge on the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of tranexamic acid in PPH and summarizes the current recommendations in obstetrics.

L'hémorragie du postpartum (HPP) représente la principale cause de mortalité maternelle. Les causes primaires sont d'origine obstétricale dans la majorité des cas. Cependant l'HPP peut être aggravée par une coagulopathie secondaire. Celle-ci est due à la dilution ou la consommation des facteurs de la coagulation ainsi qu'à l'activation de la fibrinolyse. L'utilisation d'acide tranexamique (ATX), un antifibrinolytique, dans la prise en charge de l'HPP est proposée et pratiquée depuis plusieurs années, suite aux preuves de son efficacité et de sa sécurité dans d'autres contextes, notamment en traumatologie. L'utilisation lors de l'HPP a récemment été évaluée notamment par l'étude WOMAN et le bénéfice de l'administration a été prouvé. Cet article rappelle les mécanismes physiopathologiques en jeu dans la genèse et l'aggravation de l'HPP. Il présente l'état des connaissances actuelles sur l'efficacité prophylactique et thérapeutique de l'ATX en cas d'HPP et fait la synthèse des recommandations actuelles en obstétrique.

The relevance of pupillometry for evaluation of analgesia before noxious procedures in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Many patients in the intensive care unit are unable to communicate verbally. Accurately predicting whether such patients will exhibit painful behaviors during noxious procedures and assessing the adequacy of analgesia during those procedures is a challenge. In addition to observational pain assessment tools such as the Behavioral Pain Scale, physiologic indicators such as the pupillary response have been proposed. The pupil is innervated by both divisions of the autonomic nervous system and is affected by pain and analgesic medications. We evaluated the pupillary response to a light stimulus before noxious procedures as a method to predict pain during the procedure. METHODS: We correlated different aspects of the pupillary light reflex with established strategies for pain assessment to evaluate the adequacy of analgesia before surgical dressing changes performed in the intensive care unit in patients with cellulitis associated with mediastinitis or not. RESULTS: We found that a percentage of variation in pupil size >19% predicted the presence of pain as assessed by a Behavioral Pain Scale score of >3 with a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval, 100%-100%) and a specificity of 77% (95% confidence interval, 54%-100%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients unable to communicate verbally, pupillometry may potentially guide caregivers to adjust analgesia before noxious procedures.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of three risk factors for chronic postsurgical pain: age, sex and preoperative pain.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a common and disabling postoperative complication. Several risk factors for CPSP have been established, but it is unclear whether they are significant for any type of surgery. This systematic review aimed to assess the risk of CPSP related to three known preoperative risk factors "age, sex and preoperative pain" in the adult population after any type of elective non-obstetrical surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed and EMBASE databases retrieving 1458 abstracts; 320 publications were screened and 71 papers were included. Odds ratios were combined across studies and quality of evidence graded using GRADE. Sub-groups comparisons were conducted for type of surgery, time point for CPSP and definition of CPSP. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The pooled unadjusted ORs were 1.34 for female sex, 2.43 for preoperative pain at surgical site, 1.75 for preoperative pain elsewhere and 3.95 for preoperative pain at an unspecified site. The pooled unadjusted OR for age was 2.04 in the younger (age midpoint <40 years) compared with the older population of patients (age midpoint >62.5 years). In the subgroup analysis, preoperative pain was a more important risk factor for orthopedic surgery and age for breast surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review confirms that younger age, female sex, and preoperative pain are associated with higher risk of developing CPSP in any type of elective non-obstetrical surgery. However, effect sizes are small and quality of evidence low-moderate only, limiting comparisons of different types of surgery.

Development of a Simple Preoperative Risk Score for Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Persistent postoperative pain is reported by 30% to 50% of patients following breast cancer surgery. Studies testing preventive measures, however, have so far failed to produce consistent positive results. If preventive measures could be targeted to a subgroup of patients at high risk of persistent pain, positive results would be more likely. Our aim was to develop a simple risk score predicting persistent pain after breast cancer surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective observational cohort study, we tested the predictive ability of a 4 simple items score for persistent pain in 200 patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery. A multivariable logistic regression model was created for the outcome of clinically important pain at 4 months. RESULTS: On the basis of literature review and univariable analysis of our data, 4 parameters were selected: preoperative pain at the surgical site, history of depression, age below 50 years and expected pain of high intensity (>6/10). Points for the score are based on the coefficients of the logistic regression model. A total score ≥2 points/5 predicts a risk of developing clinically important pain at 4 months >30%, with an area under the curve-receiver operating characteristic of 0.81. DISCUSSION: We studied known risk factors for persistent pain in patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery and constructed a preoperative risk score simple enough to select high-risk patients in future prevention studies.