Effect of Intraoperative High Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) With Recruitment Maneuvers vs Low PEEP on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Obese Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: An intraoperative higher level of positive end-expiratory positive pressure (PEEP) with alveolar recruitment maneuvers improves respiratory function in obese patients undergoing surgery, but the effect on clinical outcomes is uncertain. Objective: To determine whether a higher level of PEEP with alveolar recruitment maneuvers decreases postoperative pulmonary complications in obese patients undergoing surgery compared with a lower level of PEEP. Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized clinical trial of 2013 adults with body mass indices of 35 or greater and substantial risk for postoperative pulmonary complications who were undergoing noncardiac, nonneurological surgery under general anesthesia. The trial was conducted at 77 sites in 23 countries from July 2014-February 2018; final follow-up: May 2018. Interventions: Patients were randomized to the high level of PEEP group (n = 989), consisting of a PEEP level of 12 cm H2O with alveolar recruitment maneuvers (a stepwise increase of tidal volume and eventually PEEP) or to the low level of PEEP group (n = 987), consisting of a PEEP level of 4 cm H2O. All patients received volume-controlled ventilation with a tidal volume of 7 mL/kg of predicted body weight. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a composite of pulmonary complications within the first 5 postoperative days, including respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchospasm, new pulmonary infiltrates, pulmonary infection, aspiration pneumonitis, pleural effusion, atelectasis, cardiopulmonary edema, and pneumothorax. Among the 9 prespecified secondary outcomes, 3 were intraoperative complications, including hypoxemia (oxygen desaturation with Spo2 ≤92% for >1 minute). Results: Among 2013 adults who were randomized, 1976 (98.2%) completed the trial (mean age, 48.8 years; 1381 [69.9%] women; 1778 [90.1%] underwent abdominal operations). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the primary outcome occurred in 211 of 989 patients (21.3%) in the high level of PEEP group compared with 233 of 987 patients (23.6%) in the low level of PEEP group (difference, -2.3% [95% CI, -5.9% to 1.4%]; risk ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.83 to 1.04]; P = .23). Among the 9 prespecified secondary outcomes, 6 were not significantly different between the high and low level of PEEP groups, and 3 were significantly different, including fewer patients with hypoxemia (5.0% in the high level of PEEP group vs 13.6% in the low level of PEEP group; difference, -8.6% [95% CI, -11.1% to 6.1%]; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Among obese patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, an intraoperative mechanical ventilation strategy with a higher level of PEEP and alveolar recruitment maneuvers, compared with a strategy with a lower level of PEEP, did not reduce postoperative pulmonary complications. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02148692.

[The use of dexmedetomidine in extreme agitation]. / Het gebruik van dexmedetomidine bij extreme agitatie.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and/or antihistamines are used to calm agitated patients. If agitation persists and patients have contraindications for these substances, then anesthetics, such as propofol, can also be used as well, to serve as a sedative. Our attention was drawn to a particular case in which dexmedetomidine was used as a sedative.
AIM: To study the literature on the use of α2-agonists, such as dexmedetomidine, in the treatment of extreme agitation.
METHOD: We reviewed the relevant scientific literature.
RESULTS: α2-agonists, such as dexmedetomidine, are new anesthetic agents that have analgetic and sympatholytic effects without suppressing respiration. These agents are used frequently in intensive care because their sedative effect are short-lived and do not cause amnesia, sleep deprivation or cognitive disturbance. Excited delirium syndrome (eds) is a type of extreme agitation for which dexmedetomidine can be used.
CONCLUSION: There may well be a place for dexmedetomidine in the treatment of extreme agitation when standard treatments have failed. Further research is needed in order to ascertain whether dexmedetomidine should play a role in such treatment.

A review of the interest of sugammadex for deep neuromuscular blockade management in Belgium.

Oro-tracheal intubation and selected surgical conditions are facilitated by a deep neuromuscular block (NMB), but patient's security can be jeopardized by its residual effects at the time of tracheal extubation. Although neostigmine remains the reference reversal agent in many situations, the limitations of its efficacy must be well understood (ceiling effect, delay of action, side effects). It is best administered after re-emergence of the 3rd or 4th train-of-four (TOF) response. Sugammadex causes more predictable and more rapid recoveries from much deeper rocuronium-induced NMB. Therefore, maintaining deep NMB during surgery is no longer incompatible with rapid recovery and safe extubation. In Belgium, the use of sugammadex and its reimbursement depend on specific conditions. The excellent clinical tolerance of sugammadex benefits to patients at risk of developing complications related to residual NMB or to the undesirable effects of neostigmine. In all cases, neuromuscular transmission monitoring is the key to adequate NMB management.

Ideal versus corrected body weight for dosage of sugammadex in morbidly obese patients.

To date, the dosing of sugammadex is based on real body weight without taking fat content into account. We compared the reversal of profound rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in morbidly obese patients using doses of sugammadex based on four different weight corrections. One hundred morbidly obese patients, scheduled for laparoscopic bariatric surgery under propofol-sufentanil anaesthesia, were randomly assigned four groups: ideal body weight; ideal body weight + 20%; ideal body weight + 40%; and real body weight. Patients received sugammadex 2 mg.kg(-1), when adductor pollicis monitoring showed two responses. The primary endpoint was full decurarisation. Secondary endpoints were the ability to get into bed independently on arrival to the post-anaesthetic care unit and clinical signs of residual paralysis. There was no residual paralysis in any patient. Morbidly obese patients can safely be decurarised from rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade T1-T2 with sugammadex dosed at 2 mg.kg(-1) ideal body weight + 40% (p < 0.0001).

Protective intraoperative ventilation with higher versus lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in obese patients (PROBESE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) increase the morbidity and mortality of surgery in obese patients. High levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with lung recruitment maneuvers may improve intraoperative respiratory function, but they can also compromise hemodynamics, and the effects on PPCs are uncertain. We hypothesized that intraoperative mechanical ventilation using high PEEP with periodic recruitment maneuvers, as compared with low PEEP without recruitment maneuvers, prevents PPCs in obese patients. METHODS/DESIGN: The PRotective Ventilation with Higher versus Lower PEEP during General Anesthesia for Surgery in OBESE Patients (PROBESE) study is a multicenter, two-arm, international randomized controlled trial. In total, 2013 obese patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 scheduled for at least 2 h of surgery under general anesthesia and at intermediate to high risk for PPCs will be included. Patients are ventilated intraoperatively with a low tidal volume of 7 ml/kg (predicted body weight) and randomly assigned to PEEP of 12 cmH2O with lung recruitment maneuvers (high PEEP) or PEEP of 4 cmH2O without recruitment maneuvers (low PEEP). The occurrence of PPCs will be recorded as collapsed composite of single adverse pulmonary events and represents the primary endpoint. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, the PROBESE trial is the first multicenter, international randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of two different levels of intraoperative PEEP during protective low tidal volume ventilation on PPCs in obese patients. The results of the PROBESE trial will support anesthesiologists in their decision to choose a certain PEEP level during general anesthesia for surgery in obese patients in an attempt to prevent PPCs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02148692. Registered on 23 May 2014; last updated 7 June 2016.

Interaction of antibiotics on pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To measure the interaction of two antibiotics (clindamycin and colistin) on neuromuscular blockade induced by pipecuronium bromide (a new long-acting, steroidal, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drug). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Inpatient gynecologic and gastroenterologic service at a university medical center. PATIENTS: Three groups of 20 ASA physical status I and II patients with normal kidney and liver function, taking no medication, and undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia was induced with propofol and alfentanil intravenously (IV) and maintained with a propofol infusion and 60% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Pipecuronium bromide 50 micrograms/kg was administered after reaching a stable baseline of single-twitch response. At 25% recovery of pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade, patients received one of two antibiotics, clindamycin 300 mg or colistin 1 million IU, or a placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The recovery index (RI, defined as time from 25% to 75% recovery of neuromuscular blockade) was measured using the single-twitch response of the adductor pollicis muscle with supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. RI after administration of an antibiotic (given at 25% recovery) was measured and compared with RI of the control group using Student's unpaired t-test. Statistical analyses of the results showed a significant prolongation of the recovery time (from 25% to 75% recovery) of 40 minutes for colistin. CONCLUSIONS: When this type of antibiotic is used during anesthesia with pipercuronium as a muscle relaxant, one must be aware of a significant prolongation of an already long-acting neuromuscular blockade and (although not observed in this study) possible problems in antagonism.

A perspective on myocardial contractility.

Myocardial contractile properties form the cornerstone of the heart's ability to pump blood. Efforts have been made to characterize these properties via classic elasticity theory concepts, which can lead to spurious results, as demonstrated by experiments measuring intramyocardial pressure. Two ways out of these difficulties are identified. One is to start at the cellular level, the other at the chamber level. The latter allows separation of ventricle (source) and arterial (load) effects on measured pressure and flow, distinct from previous definitions of ventricular contractility which tended to lump the two.

The left ventricular ejection effect.

A recently developed model of the left ventricle, based on experimental data, has been shown to exhibit the main features of the heart's ability to pump. Two special cases during blood ejection, termed pressure deactivation and hyperactivation, were identified. This study proposes an 'ejection effect' correction to the model that addresses deactivation, hyperactivation and adjusts the shape of the computed ventricular ejection curve in late systole. Also, a new approach based on new animal experiments is proposed to identify the ejection effect mechanism(s).