Prolongation of spinal duration by escalating doses of intrathecal epinephrine in lower limb arthroplasty.

Aim: The optimal dose of low-dose intrathecal epinephrine in the absence of intrathecal opioids is unknown. Materials & methods: Prospective, randomized, double blind clinical trial of patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasties. The primary end point was spinal block duration measured via motor and sensory block duration. Results: 30 patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty were randomized into one of six groups with varying intrathecal epinephrine doses 0-100 mcg. There was a direct linear effect between motor block duration and intrathecal epinephrine dose with higher doses being associated with longer block duration (p = 0.011). Mean motor block duration was 3.74 ± 1.13, 3.36 ± 0.47, 3.39 ± 0.60, 4.06 ± 0.98 and 5.20 ± 1.41 h for the EPI0, EPI25, EPI50, EPI75 and EPI100 groups respectively. Conclusion: This study reveals that low-dose intrathecal epinephrine (75-100 mcg) in the absence of intrathecal opioids can be reliably used to prolong motor block duration in lower limb arthroplasty. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02619409 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

What is this summary about? Here, we summarize the results of the addition of a medicine called epinephrine to a type of anesthesia called spinal anesthesia which involves injection of medication into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. The study was to determine the optimal amount of epinephrine needed to prolong the effect of spinal anesthesia for patients undergoing replacements of their hips and/or knees. What were the results? The study showed that the addition of low-dose epinephrine to spinal anesthesia prolongs the motor block ­ or inability to move the leg ­ in a linear fashion with higher doses of epinephrine associated with longer motor block. Our results did not show a significant difference in sensory block, or the inability to feel the leg. What do the results mean? The study shows that the addition of low-dose epinephrine to spinal anesthesia can reliably prolong the effect of the anesthesia which may be needed in more complicated hip or knee surgeries.

Hydroxyethyl starch and acute kidney injury in orthotopic liver transplantation: a single-center retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Hepatic failure pathophysiology and intraoperative events contribute to AKI after OLT. Colloids are routinely used to maintain intravascular volume during OLT. Recent evidence has implicated 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) (130/0.4) with AKI in critically ill patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic anesthesia records, surgical dictations, and perioperative laboratory results. Postoperative AKI incidence was determined by RIFLE (Risk Injury Failure Loss End-Stage) criteria. AKI was staged into Risk, Injury, and Failure based on change in serum creatinine from preoperative baseline to peak level by postoperative day 7. Uni- and multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the association between type of intraoperative colloid administered and AKI. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four adult patients underwent OLT and had complete records for review. Of these, 50 received only 5% albumin, 25 received both 5% albumin and HES, and 99 received only HES. Albumin-only, albumin and HES, and HES-only groups were otherwise homogeneous based on patient characteristics and intraoperative variables. There was a statistically significant linear-by-linear association between type of colloid(s) administered and AKI (Rifle Criteria-Injury Stage). Patients administered HES were 3 times more likely to develop AKI within 7 days after OLT compared with albumin (adjusted odds ratio 2.94, 95% confidence interval, 1.13-7.7, P = 0.027). The linear trend between colloidal use (5% albumin only versus albumin/HES versus HES only, ranked ordering) and "injury" was statistically significant (P = 0.048). A propensity-matched analysis also showed a significant difference in the incidence of AKI between the patients receiving albumin compared with HES (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving 6% HES (130/0.4) likely had an increased odds of AKI compared with patients receiving 5% albumin during OLT. These retrospective findings are consistent with recent clinical trials that found an association between 6% HES (130/0.4) and renal injury in critically ill patients.