Letter to editor : Local anesthesia with sedation and general anesthesia for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma: a systematic review and meta­analysis of published cases.

This critique evaluates the systematic review and meta-analysis titled "Local anesthesia with sedation and general anesthesia for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma." The study provides valuable insights into anesthesia techniques' effectiveness in managing this condition but has limitations, including selection bias, heterogeneity among cases, lack of standardized protocols, and retrospective design. Despite these limitations, the review contributes to understanding chronic subdural hematoma management but underscores the need for future research to address these shortcomings.

General anesthesia vs. conscious sedation and local anesthesia for endovascular treatment in patients with posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The best anesthetic choice for patients with acute posterior circulation stroke during endovascular treatment (EVT) remains uncertain. METHOD: We searched five databases to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Our primary outcome measure was functional independence (FI). Secondary outcomes were 3-month mortality, any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), symptomatic ICH (sICH), successful reperfusion, and procedure- and ventilator-associated complications. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included in our meta-analysis. No significant differences were detected between the general anesthesia (GA) and conscious sedation and local anesthesia (CS/LA) groups in 3-month FI (nine studies; OR=0.69; 95% CI 0.45-1.06; P=0.083; I2=66%;), 3-month mortality (nine studies; OR=1.41; 95% CI 0.94-2.11; P=0.096; I2=61.2%;), any ICH (three studies; OR=0.75; 95% CI 0.44-1.25; P=0.269; I2=0%;), or sICH (six studies; OR=0.64; 95% CI 0.40-1.04; P=0.073; I2=0%;). No significant differences were observed for successful reperfusion (10 studies; OR=1.17; 95% CI 0.91-1.49; P=0.219; I2=0%;), procedure-related complications (four studies; OR=1.14; 95% CI 0.70-1.87; P=0.603; I2=7.9%;), or respiratory complications (four studies; OR=1.19; 95% CI 0.61-2.32; P=0.616; I2=64.9%;) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed no differences in 3-month FI, 3-month mortality, and successful reperfusion between patients treated with GA and those treated with CS/LA. Additionally, no increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation or pulmonary infection was observed in the CS/LA group. These results indicate that CS/LA may be an EVT option for acute posterior circulation stroke patients.

Regional Anesthesia as an Alternative to Procedural Sedation for Forearm Fracture Reductions in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric forearm fractures are common injuries in the pediatric emergency department (PED). Pediatric procedural sedation (PPS) is often required for forearm fracture reductions and pain control for casting. Bier blocks and hematoma blocks are types of regional anesthesia (RA) procedures that can be performed as a potential alternative to PPS. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to compare the safety of RA with that of PPS. We hypothesized that RA has a safety profile that is equal or superior to PPS as well as a shorter duration of treatment in the PED. METHODS: Pediatric emergency department encounters in patients presenting with a diagnosis of radius fracture, ulna fracture, distal "both-bone" fracture, Monteggia fracture, and/or Galeazzi fracture were included. Outcomes of interest included patient adverse events (AEs), sedation medications used, PED duration of treatment (arrival time to disposition time), sedation failures, and reduction failures. RESULTS: Propensity matching was performed resulting in 632 well-matched RA-PPS pairs. The PPS cohort had 13% of encounters with at least 1 AE compared with 0.2% in the RA cohort, P < 0.001. The most common AE in the PPS group was hypoxia (9.8%), and the only AE in the RA group was an intravenous infiltrate (0.16%). Within the matched cohorts, PPS required more medications than RA (100% vs 60%, P < 0.001). Ketamine alone was more commonly used in the PPS group than the RA group (86% vs 0.2%, P < 0.001). Propofol was used only in the PPS group. The average duration of treatment was 205 (SD, 81) minutes in the PPS group and 178 (SD, 75) minutes in the RA group ( P < 0.001). There were no reduction failures in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Bier blocks and hematoma blocks are an acceptable alternative to PPS for children requiring forearm reductions. The AE rate is low and the reduction success rate is high. Duration of treatment in the PED is shorter for patients receiving RA compared with PPS.

Evaluating Patient Tolerability for Urological Procedures Under Conscious Sedation: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate patient-reported tolerability and surgical outcomes of urologic procedures with conscious sedation with or without local anesthesia. Administration of general or spinal anesthesia is associated with anesthetic-related complications, long wait times, and high costs. Using intravenous conscious sedation and/or local anesthesia is an emerging alternative for a myriad of urologic procedures. METHODS: Patients were enrolled from June-August 2021 at a tertiary care hospital. All procedures were completed using fentanyl, midazolam, or both with patient and procedural data recorded upon completion. Patients were telephoned 4-6 weeks post-procedure with a standardized patient tolerability questionnaire. A multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate whether a patient would opt for conscious sedation again as opposed to general anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 196 procedures were performed by 6 attending urologists with an overall success rate of 98.5% and 0% intraoperative complication rate. At 4-6 weeks follow-up, 85.6% of patients reported they would opt for conscious sedation as opposed to general anesthesia. Predictors of opting for conscious sedation in the future were older age (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.049; P = .017) and surgeon perceived level of patient tolerability (OR: 2.124; P <.001, scored 1-10). CONCLUSION: Physician directed, nursing administered IV conscious sedation is a viable alternative for various urologic procedures and has minimal risk of perioperative complications.

Effect of General Anesthesia Versus Conscious Sedation/Local Anesthesia on the Outcome of Patients with Minor Stroke and Isolated M2 Occlusion Undergoing Immediate Thrombectomy: A Retrospective Multicenter Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the impact of general anesthesia (GA) versus conscious sedation/local anesthesia (CS/LA) on the outcome of patients with minor stroke and isolated M2 occlusion undergoing immediate mechanical thrombectomy (iMT). METHODS: The databases of 16 comprehensive stroke centers were retrospectively screened for consecutive patients with isolated M2 occlusion and a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤5 who received iMT. Propensity score matching was used to estimate the effect of GA versus CS/LA on clinical outcomes and procedure-related adverse events. The primary outcome measure was a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1. Secondary outcome measures were a 90-day mRS score of 0-2 and all-cause mortality, successful reperfusion, procedural-related symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraprocedural dissections, and new territory embolism. RESULTS: Of the 172 patients who were selected, 55 received GA and 117 CS/LA. After propensity score matching, 47 pairs of patients were available for analysis. We found no significant differences in clinical outcome, rates of efficient reperfusion, and procedural-related complications between patients receiving GA or LA/CS (mRS score 0-1, P = 0.815; mRS score 0-2, P = 0.401; all-cause mortality, P = 0.408; modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3, P = 0.374; symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, P = 0.082; intraprocedural dissection, P = 0.408; new territory embolism, P = 0.462). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with minor stroke and isolated M2 occlusion undergoing iMT, the type of anesthesia does not affect clinical outcome or the rate of procedural-related complications. Our results agree with recent data showing no benefit of one specific anesthesiologic procedure over the other and confirm their generalizability also to patients with minor baseline symptoms.

Acupuncture is a feasible alternative to procedural sedation for shoulder reduction in the emergency department.

Treating shoulder dislocations is common in the emergency department and often requires procedural sedation. The use of acupuncture for treatment of chronic pain has been shown to be successful in various outpatient settings, and some EDs have recently incorporated acupuncture as an analgesia adjunct for chronic painful conditions to avoid opioid therapy. Limited data describe acupuncture to facilitate ED procedures. Here we present two cases of acute shoulder dislocation that were successfully treated with acupuncture as an alternative to parenteral pharmacologic procedural sedation. A 50 year old male sustained an anterior shoulder dislocation after an altercation, and a 59 year old female sustained an anterior dislocation after a fall. Instead of using conventional pharmacologic sedation and analgesia during shoulder reduction, both were treated with acupuncture in the ED. Reduction in both cases was rapid, safe, and avoided use of any parenteral medications, procedural sedation monitoring, or prolonged nurse observation. Using acupuncture as alternative to opioids for ED procedures deserves future study for orthopedic and other common ED procedures.

Pediatric Sedation Unit: A Safe, Effective, and Satisfactory Alternative to Outpatient Pediatric Urological Procedures Under Anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: The operating room is an increasingly expensive and limited resource. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, cost, and parental satisfaction of transitioning minor pediatric urology procedures from an operating room setting to a pediatric sedation unit. METHODS: Minor urological procedures were transitioned from the operating room to the pediatric sedation unit if they could be completed in 20 minutes using minimal instrumentation. Information regarding patient demographics, procedure characteristics, rates of success and complications, and cost were collected from urology procedures performed in the pediatric sedation unit between August 2019 and September 2021. Patient demographics and cost data from the most common urology procedures performed in the pediatric sedation unit were compared to data from historical controls of cases occurring in the operating room. Parent surveys were performed following the completion of procedures in the pediatric sedation unit. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients, ranging from 6-207 months old (mean 72 months), underwent procedures in the pediatric sedation unit. The most common procedures were lysis of adhesions and meatotomy. All procedures were successfully completed with procedural sedation, and no procedure was complicated by serious sedation adverse events. The cost reduction for lysis of adhesions in the pediatric sedation unit was 53.5% compared to the operating room, and meatotomy was 27.9%, leading to approximately $57,000 cost savings per year. Fifty families completed a follow-up satisfaction survey, and 83% of parents were satisfied with the care their family received. CONCLUSIONS: The pediatric sedation unit can provide a successful and cost-efficient alternative to the operating room while preserving safety and high rates of parental satisfaction.

Nasal drip of dexmedetomidine for optimal sedation during PICC insertion in pediatric burn care.

BACKGROUND: For peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) inserting, tranquil cooperation of children for an extended period is often required. Therefore, sedation is routinely induced clinically prior to PICC inserting. Chloral hydrate is a commonly used sedative for children. However, its clinical acceptance has remained low. And the sedation effect is non-satisfactory. Previous studies have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of intravenous/oral dosing or nasal dripping for sedation during the examinations of electrocardiography and computed tomography. Yet few studies have assessed the sedating efficacy of dexmedetomidine nasal drops for PICC inserting. METHODS: From a cohort of 40 hospitalized patients scheduled for PICC inserting, 15 children employing a novel sedative mode of dexmedetomidine nasal drops at a dose of 2 ug/kg were assigned into group A while group B included another 25 children sedated routinely via an enema of 10% chloral hydrate at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg. The Ramsay's scoring criteria were utilized for assessing the status of sedation. Two groups were observed with regards to success rate of sedation, onset time of sedation and occurrences of adverse reactions. RESULTS: Statistical inter-group differences existed in success rate and onset time of sedation. The success rate of group A was higher than that of group B (93.3% vs 64.0%, X2 = 4.302, P = .038 < 0.05). Group A had a faster onset of sedation than group B (14.86 ± 2.57 vs 19.06 ± 3.40 minutes, t = 3.781, P = .001 < 0.05). No inter-group difference of statistical significance existed in occurrence of adverse reactions (P = 1.000 > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the success rate of sedation in group A was higher than that in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (P = .036 < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For sedating burn children, nasal dripping of dexmedetomidine is both safe and effective during PICC inserting. Without any obvious adverse reaction, it may relieve sufferings and enhance acceptance.

Moderate sedation with single-dose remimazolam tosilate in elderly male patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate with spinal anesthesia: a prospective, single-arm, single-centre clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Remimazolam tosilate (RT) is a newly listed benzodiazepine for sedation and anesthesia featuring quick onset of effects, short maintenance and recovery times, which is currently under research. This trial was conducted to determine the median effective dose (ED50) and the 95% effective dose (ED95) of single-dose remimazolam for moderate sedation in elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) under spinal anesthesia, and to evaluate its efficacy and safety. METHODS: Thirty male patients aged 65-80 years old were recruited for selective TURP. Remimazolam was administered intravenously to pain-free patients (VAS score < 1) within 1 min of successful spinal anesthesia by the same anesthesiologist. We used modified Dixon's up-and-down sequential allocation method to determine the ED50 and ED95 of the agent with an initial dosage of 0.1 mg/kg. Successful sedation was defined as an MOAA/S score ≤ 3 and above 1. A score of > 3 was deemed as failed sedation. Recruitment continued until ten independent pairs (from successful sedation to failed sedation) would give a reliable estimation of the ED50 and ED95 of RT and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The ED50 of remimazolam was 0.063 (95% C.I. 0.045-0.073) mg/kg. Its ED95 was 0.079 (95% C.I. 0.07-0.137) mg/kg. Remimazolam was safe in its application. CONCLUSIONS: A single-dose of RT proves to be safe for assisted sedation during TURP in elderly male patients under spinal anesthesia with a lower incidence of adverse events. Its ED50 and ED95 were 0.063 mg/kg and 0.079 mg/kg, respectively. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100051912).

Adult Cochlear Implantation Under Local Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation with Dexmedetomidine: Efficacy and a Method to Interact with the Conscious and Cooperative Patient.

BACKGROUND: This study describes the efficacy of cochlear implantation under local anesthesia with conscious sedation with dexmedetomi- dine in adult patients and proposes a method to communicate with the conscious and cooperative patient intraoperatively. This less invasive anesthetic procedure is suitable for patients with comorbidities preventing general anesthesia. METHODS: Unilateral cochlear implantation with Oticon Medical systems was performed in 10 adult patients with comorbidities preventing general anesthesia. Classical cochlear implantation was performed under local anesthesia and conscious sedation with dexmedetomidine. Cue cards were used to support intraoperative dialogue. Outcome measures were intraoperative adverse events, patient perceptions, as well as post- operative completions measured with a questionnaire. RESULTS: The procedure was successful for all 10 patients. Dexmedetomidine lead to rapid and successful conscious sedation and no case of high blood pressure or aggravation of comorbidities was noted. Stapedial reflex measurements led to reliable thresholds. The usage of the cue cards was successful: patients were able to read the cue cards and thereby the medical team could inform the patients of surgical progress and ask the patients questions. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation and intraoperative dialogue with the conscious and cooperative patient is possible. The main advantage of the anesthetic procedure is the reduction in intra- and postoperative complications. Further, expected benefits include a less invasive procedure, the conscious state of the patient which enables the recording of auditory perception, and the absence of nonauditory percepts such as facial nerve stimulation during implant stimulation, a shorter surgical duration, and lower-associated costs.

Management strategies for adult patients with dental anxiety in the dental clinic: a systematic review.

Anxiety is an adaptive emotional response to potentially threatening or dangerous situations; moderated by the sympathetic nervous system. Dental anxiety is common and presents before, during or after dental treatment. The physiological response includes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and cardiac output. Consequently, extensive distress leads to avoidance of dental treatment and multiple failed appointments, impacting both oral and general health. Dental anxiety can generate a variety of negative consequences for both the dentist and the patient. Evidence-based strategies are essential for mitigating and relieving anxiety in the dental clinic. Psychotherapeutic behavioural strategies can modify the patient's experience through a minimally invasive approach with nil or negligible side effects, depending on patient characteristics, anxiety level and clinical situations. These therapies involve muscle relaxation, guided imagery, physiological monitoring, utilizing biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, distraction and desensitization. Pharmacological intervention utilizes either relative analgesia (nitrous oxide), conscious intravenous sedation or oral sedation, which can have undesirable side effects, risks and contraindications. These modalities increase the cost and availability of dental treatment.

Effectiveness of music therapy as an adjuvant to conscious sedation in women undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: Assisted reproductive technique (ART) has emerged as the highest form of treatment for infertile couples. Transvaginal oocyte retrieval is currently performed under conscious sedation in most centers. Since it is a relatively painful procedure, a number of adjuvant therapies have been tried to improve pain relief during the procedure. Music therapy is a nonpharmacological technique that has been successfully used for pain relief in perioperative and chronic pain of malignancy. However, studies evaluating its usefulness in ART-related procedures are limited. We evaluated the effectiveness of music therapy as an adjuvant for pain relief during oocyte retrieval. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at a tertiary level teaching hospital in South India from September 2020 to March 2021. All women undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval were randomized to receive either music therapy along with conscious sedation (Group A) or conscious sedation alone (Group B). The primary outcome was postprocedure pain score assessed by the visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included anxiety score. RESULTS: A total of 109 women were randomized into Group A (54 women) and Group B (55 women). The postprocedure pain score was comparable between the two study groups (6.0, interquartile range [IQR] 4 to 6 vs. 6.0, IQR 4 to 6; p = 0.69). However, anxiety levels were found to be significantly lower in women who were offered music therapy (3.0, IQR 1 to 5 vs. 4.0, IQR 3 to 6; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The use of music therapy as an adjuvant to conscious sedation was found to have no significant benefit in pain relief during oocyte retrieval.

Anaesthesia for mechanical thrombectomy: a narrative review.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, and is associated with a huge societal and economic burden. Interventions for the immediate treatment of ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion are dependent on recanalisation of the occluded vessel. Trials have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. This has resulted in changes in management and organisation of stroke care worldwide. Major determinants of effectiveness of thrombectomy include: time between stroke onset and reperfusion; location of occlusion and local collateral perfusion; adequacy of reperfusion; patient age; and stroke severity. The role of anaesthetic technique on outcome remains controversial with published research showing conflicting results. As a result, choice of conscious sedation or general anaesthesia for mechanical thrombectomy is often dependent on individual operator choice or institutional preference. More recent randomised controlled trials have suggested that protocol-driven general anaesthesia is no worse than conscious sedation and may even be associated with better outcomes. These and other studies have highlighted the importance of optimal blood pressure management as a major determinant of patient outcome. Anaesthetic management should be tailored to the individual patient and circumstances. Acute ischaemic stroke is a neurological emergency; clinicians should focus on minimising door-to-groin puncture time and the provision of high-quality periprocedural care with a particular emphasis on the maintenance of an adequate blood pressure.

Chronic Subdural Hematoma Drainage Under Local Anesthesia with Sedation versus General Anesthesia and Its Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Burr hole drainage is the criterion standard treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), a common neurosurgical condition. However, apart from the surgical technique, the method of anesthesia also has a significant impact on postoperative patient outcome. Currently, there are limited studies comparing the use of local anesthesia with sedation (LA sedation) versus general anesthesia (GA) in the drainage of CSDH. The objective of this study was to compare the morbidity and mortality outcomes of using LA sedation versus GA in CSDH burr hole drainage. METHODS: This retrospective study presents a total of 257 operations in 243 patients from 2 hospitals. A total of 130 cases were operated under LA sedation in hospital 1 and 127 cases under GA in hospital 2. Patient demographics and presenting features were similar at baseline. RESULTS: Values are shown as LA sedation versus GA. Postoperatively, most patients recovered well in both groups with Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 4-5 (96.2% vs. 88.2%, respectively). The postoperative morbidity was significantly increased by an odds ratio of 5.44 in the GA group compared with the LA sedation group (P = 0.005). The mortality was also significantly higher in the GA group (n = 5, 3.9%) than the LA sedation group (n = 0, 0.0%; P = 0.028). The CSDH recurrence rate was 4.6% in the LA sedation group versus 6.3% in the GA group. No intraoperative conversion from LA sedation to GA was reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CSDH drainage under LA sedation is safe and efficacious, with a significantly lower risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity when compared with GA.

Effect of intracutaneous pyonex on analgesia and sedation in critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intracutaneous pyonex on analgesia and sedation in critically ill patients who underwent mechanical ventilation. A total of 88 critically ill patients were divided into a control group and an intervention group. Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) and Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) were used to evaluate pain and agitation. The dosage and treatment period of sedative and analgesic drugs in the intervention group were notably lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Analgesia compliance time in the intervention group was superior to control group (p < 0.05). The shallow sedation compliance rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.01). There was significant difference in blood gas analysis before and after treatment between the two groups (p < 0.05). After 2 h of sedation and analgesia, heart rate in the intervention group was lower than control group, but respiratory rate was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). The traditional analgesia and sedation combined with intracutaneous pyonex reduced the total amount and treatment period of sedative and analgesic drugs in critically ill patients throughout the treatment process, and it also decreased the adverse reactions such as blood pressure drops and respiratory depression.

Evaluation of the effect of conscious sedation on patient satisfaction and pain after wisdom tooth extraction.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of sedation on postoperative pain and patient satisfaction in patients undergoing the extraction of wisdom teeth with mucosal retention under conscious sedation + local anesthesia versus local anesthesia alone. METHODS: The study included patients aged 18-78 years who presented to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department for the extraction of impacted mandibular wisdom teeth. Patients were divided into two groups based on the anesthetic technique used for the procedure: (i) local anesthesia (Control group, n=71) and (ii) Conscious sedation + local anesthesia (Experimental group, n=69). Postoperative pain was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Relationship between VAS scores and age groups was analyzed in both experimental and control groups. Patient satisfaction was assessed via face-to-face or telephone interviews 14 days after surgery in both groups. RESULTS: The VAS scores were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group in all three measurements (p<0.05). A significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to their responses in the satisfaction questionnaire (p<0.0001), whereby 68.97% of the patients in the experimental group replied as "Absolutely yes". In the experimental group, the VAS scores were significantly higher in women than in men in the measurements performed on days 2, 7, and 14. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the pain levels were lower in patients that underwent wisdom tooth extraction under conscious sedation with local anesthesia compared to patients that underwent local anesthesia alone.

Strategies to perform magnetic resonance imaging in infants and young children without sedation.

Given the increasing use of MRI in the pediatric population, the need for sedation in MRI performed in young children is a topic of growing importance. Although sedation is generally tolerated well by children, the financial and operational impacts of anesthesia on MRI workflow, as well as potential adverse effects of anesthetic medications, highlight the need to perform MRI in children without sedation whenever possible. This review focuses on current techniques to facilitate non-sedation MRI in children, including exam preparation with MRI simulation; asleep but not sedated techniques; awake and relaxed techniques using certified child life specialists, animal-assisted therapy, a child-friendly environment and in-scan entertainment; and non-sedated MRI protocol modifications such as shorter scan time, prioritizing sequences, reducing motion artifact, noise reduction, limiting use of gadolinium, employing an open MRI and modifying protocols.