Electric scooter related injuries in Calgary emergency departments.

OBJECTIVES: Electric scooters (e-scooters) have contributed to a rise in injury burden and emergency department (ED) utilization since their local introduction 3 years ago. This study is a novel collaboration between the City of Calgary's Department of Transportation and emergency medicine researchers to better understand the nature and frequencies of e-scooter injuries. It quantifies the incidence and characteristics of e-scooter related injuries treated in Calgary EDs/urgent care centres (UCCs). METHODS: Administrative data from electronic medical records of all patients presenting to Adult Emergency Departments and one Urgent Care Centre in Calgary with an e-scooter related injury between July 8, 2019, and Oct 1, 2019, and May 22, 2020, and September 30, 2020 were collected. Additional data were obtained from paper EMS reports. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize injury-specific variables and comparisons were drawn between ED visits for other transportation modalities. RESULTS: 1272 ED/urgent care visits were attributed to an e-scooter related incident. The majority of incidents occurred between 20:00 and 24:00 (47%). Most injuries occurred to the lower limb (54.8%), followed by facial injuries (42.9%). The overwhelming majority of injuries happened to the e-scooter drivers (97.6%). E-scooter injuries made up approximately 15% of all trauma presentations to Calgary area adult EDs during the e-scooter season and 1 in 1400 e-scooter rides resulted in a visit to an ED/UCC. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic ED visits related to e-scooter use represent an increasing burden of preventable injuries. This study identified specific characteristics to focus future education and public policy efforts on.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Les scooters électriques (e-scooters) ont contribué à une augmentation du fardeau des blessures et de l'utilisation des services d'urgence (SU) depuis leur introduction locale il y a trois ans. Cette étude est une nouvelle collaboration entre le Département des transports de la Ville de Calgary et des chercheurs en médecine d'urgence afin de mieux comprendre la nature et la fréquence des blessures causées par le scooter électrique. Il quantifie l'incidence et les caractéristiques des blessures liées aux scooters électriques traitées dans les services d'urgence/soins d'urgence de Calgary. MéTHODES: Données administratives provenant des dossiers médicaux électroniques de tous les patients se présentant aux services d'urgence pour adultes et à un centre de soins d'urgence de Calgary avec une blessure liée à un scooter électrique entre le 8 juillet 2019 et le 1er octobre 2019 et entre le 22 mai 2020 et le 30 septembre 2020. Des données supplémentaires ont été obtenues à partir des rapports papier des SMU. Des statistiques descriptives ont été utilisées pour caractériser les variables spécifiques aux blessures et des comparaisons ont été établies entre les visites aux urgences pour les autres modes de transport. RéSULTATS: 1 272 visites aux urgences ou aux soins d'urgence ont été attribuées à un incident lié à un scooter électrique. La majorité des incidents se sont produits entre 20 h 00 et 24 h 00 (47 %). La plupart des blessures se sont produites au niveau des membres inférieurs (54,8 %), suivies des blessures au visage (42,9 %). La grande majorité des blessures sont survenues chez les conducteurs de scooters électriques (97,6 %). Les blessures liées aux scooters électriques représentent environ 3,5 % de toutes les présentations de traumatismes dans les services d'urgence pour adultes de la région de Calgary et 1 sur 1 400 trajets en scooter électrique a entraîné l'admission dans un service d'urgence. CONCLUSIONS: Les visites aux urgences traumatiques liées à l'utilisation des scooters électriques représentent une charge croissante de blessures évitables. Cette étude a identifié des caractéristiques spécifiques sur lesquelles il convient de concentrer les efforts futurs en matière d'éducation et de politique publique.

Exploring the experience of boarded psychiatric patients in adult emergency departments.

BACKGROUND: This study quantifies the frequency of adverse events (AEs) experienced by psychiatric patients while boarded in the emergency department (ED) and describes those events over a broad range of categories. METHODS: A retrospective chart review (RCR) of adult psychiatric patients aged 18-55 presenting to one of four Calgary EDs (Foothills Medical Centre (FMC), the Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC), the Rockyview General Hospital (RGH), and South Health Campus (SHC)) who were subsequently admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit between January 1, 2019 and May 15, 2019 were eligible for review. A test of association was used to determine the odds of an independent variable being associated with an adverse event. RESULTS: During the study time period, 1862 adult patients were admitted from EDs (city wide) to the psychiatry service. Of the 200 charts reviewed, the average boarding time was 23.5 h with an average total ED length of stay of 31 h for all presentations within the sample. Those who experienced an AE while boarded in the ED had a significantly prolonged average boarding time (35 h) compared to those who did not experience one (6.5 h) (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The length of time a patient is in the emergency department and the length of time a patient is boarded after admission significantly increases the odds that the patient will experience an AE while in the ED. Other significant factors associated with AEs include the type of admission and the hospital the patient was admitted from.

Heart rate changes following the administration of sugammadex in children: a prospective, observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Sugammadex is a novel agent to reverse steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) with potential clinical advantages over acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as neostigmine. However, rare instances of bradycardia were reported during its initial clinical trials. To better define this issue, its incidence and mitigating factors, we prospectively evaluated heart rate changes after sugammadex administration in pediatric-aged patients. METHODS: Patients less than 18 years of age who were to receive sugammadex were included. After sugammadex administration, heart rate (HR) was recorded every minute for 15 min and then every 5 min for the next 15 min or until the patient was transferred from the operating room. Bradycardia was defined as HR below the 5th percentile for age. RESULTS: The study cohort included 221 children. Bradycardia was noted in 18 cases (8%; 95% confidence interval 5%, 13%), occurring at a median of 2 min (IQR: 1, 6) after sugammadex administration. Among patients developing bradycardia, 7 of 18 (38%) had comorbid cardiac conditions (congenital heart disease). No patient required treatment for bradycardia and no clinically significant blood pressure (BP) changes were noted. On bivariate analysis, initial sugammadex dose was not associated with bradycardia onset. In multivariable analysis, cardiac comorbid conditions and male gender were associated with an increased incidence of bradycardia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of bradycardia following the administration of sugammadex is low, is not associated with BP changes or other clinically significant effects, and did not require treatment. A higher incidence of bradycardia was noted in patients with cardiac comorbid conditions.

Changes in cerebral and renal oxygenation during laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.

Although a laparoscopic approach may be preferred over open procedures for abdominal surgery, there are limited data on the effect of laparoscopic procedures on cerebral and renal oxygenation in neonates and young infants. Here, we evaluated the effect in neonates and infants. In this two-center prospective observational study, we evaluated changes in cerebral and renal regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) in infants during laparoscopic pyloromyotomy. Intraoperative hemodynamic and respiratory parameters and rSO2 were recorded. For the primary outcome, these parameters were compared at incision and at the end of pneumoperitoneum. The study cohort included 25 infants with a mean age of 40 ± 10 days and weight of 4.0 ± 0.6 kg. IAP at the beginning of laparoscopy was 10 ± 2 mmHg (range 7-15 mmHg). Although both cerebral and renal rSO2 decreased from incision compared to the end of laparoscopy, the decrease reached statistical significance only for cerebral rSO2 (81 ± 12 to 76 ± 16, p = 0.033). Similarly, the increase in fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) was only statistically significant for cerebral FTOE (0.18 ± 0.12 to 0.23 ± 0.16, p = 0.037). No change in hemodynamic or respiratory parameters was found. Although there was a decrease in cerebral rSO2 and increase in cerebral FTOE during pneumoperitoneum, the values did not decrease below those noted before anesthetic induction.

A Comparison of Direct Laryngoscopy and Videolaryngoscopy for Endotracheal Intubation by Inexperienced Users: A Pediatric Manikin Study.

OBJECTIVE: Direct laryngoscopy (DL) is the most common technique for endotracheal intubation, whereas videolaryngoscopy provides an indirect view of the glottis without the need to align the oral, pharyngeal, and tracheal axes. The current study compares videolaryngoscopy with DL among experienced and inexperienced users for endotracheal intubation using a pediatric manikin. METHODS: Participants performed DL using Miller and Macintosh laryngoscopes and videolaryngoscopy using CMAC and GlideScope devices on a manikin (SimBaby; Laerdel, Wappingers Falls, NY). Time to endotracheal intubation, number of attempts, and successful intubation within 120 seconds were recorded. RESULTS: Among 31 experienced users, time to endotracheal intubation with the CMAC (20 ± 13 seconds) did not differ from DL with either the Miller (30 ± 28 seconds) or Macintosh (27 ± 23 seconds) laryngoscopes. However, with the GlideScope, time to endotracheal intubation (85 ± 38 seconds) was longer. The results were similar among 12 inexperienced users, as time to endotracheal intubation with the CMAC (61 ± 34 seconds) was comparable with the Miller (72 ± 45 seconds) or Macintosh (72 ± 45 seconds) laryngoscopes but was longer with the GlideScope (118 ± 6 seconds) for each comparison. CONCLUSIONS: The standard straight or curved laryngoscope blades including the CMAC were associated with shorter procedural time and higher success rate when compared with indirect videolaryngoscopy with an unconventional blade design such as the GlideScope in both experienced and inexperienced users. However, the current study demonstrates that results may be influenced by the anatomical design of the manikin.

Comparison of blood pressure measurements in the upper and lower extremities versus arterial blood pressure readings in children under general anesthesia.

PURPOSE: To compare invasive blood pressure (IBP) readings obtained from an arterial cannula with non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurements from oscillometric cuffs on the upper and lower extremities of infants and children under general anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients under 10 years of age were enrolled in our study if they were to receive general anesthesia with planned placement of a radial arterial cannula. At 5 mins intervals, IBP was measured using a fluid-coupled pressure transducer and NIBP was measured with two oscillometers with appropriately sized cuffs placed on the upper arm and lower leg, for 10 readings per patient. RESULTS: The study enrolled 18 boys and 12 girls, ranging in age from 0 to 8 years. Across 300 data points, the absolute difference between the arm and invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurements was 7±7 mmHg (range: 0-52 mmHg). The absolute difference between the leg and invasive MAP measurements was 8±8 mmHg (range: 0-52 mmHg). Although both non-invasive measurement sites demonstrated frequent deviation from invasive measurement, large deviations were more common when BP was measured at the leg (81 of 298 observations (27%) deviating by >10 mmHg) compared to the arm (60 of 300 observations (20%) deviating by >10 mmHg). CONCLUSION: The frequency of clinically significant NIBP deviation in children under general anesthesia supports the importance of IBP monitoring when hemodynamic fluctuations are likely and would be particularly detrimental. NIBP measured at the lower leg is more likely to result in clinically significant deviation from invasively measured MAP than NIBP values obtained from an upper arm.

The Impact of Transport Modality on Efficiency of Simulated Neonatal Endotracheal Intubation.

INTRODUCTION: Although the transport of neonates is generally safe, adverse events can occur where equipment is a contributing factor. The aims of the study were to explore how the types of neonatal intensive care unit bed in use could impact a simulated emergency endotracheal intubation and to identify future areas for training and education. METHODS: The efficiency of endotracheal intubation performed during simulated neonatal transport using 3 different transport modalities (closed incubator bed, open incubator bed, and open radiant warmer bed) was assessed. Twenty participants were enrolled. Outcomes included time to intubation, intubation success, and ease of mannequin access and were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and McNemar exact tests. RESULT: Median times to intubation were 59, 44, and 37 seconds with the incubator top closed, with the top open, and with the open radiant warmer bed, respectively. Intubation was slowest and subjective ease of access was most difficult with the incubator top closed. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced anesthesia providers had significantly greater difficulty with simulated emergency endotracheal intubation when performing neonatal transport with the incubator top closed compared with available alternative modes.

Efficacy of Rapid Fluid Administration Using Various Setups and Devices.

OBJECTIVES: In clinical practice, there are various methods that can be used for the rapid administration of fluid in infants and children. The current study prospectively evaluates gravity, pressure-assisted, and hand-pump methods for the rapid administration of fluid using an in vitro model. METHODS: Thirty participants were asked to deliver 500 mL of fluid using 1 of 6 setups: (1) standard blood tubing with gravity administration, (2) standard blood tubing with pressure bag maintained at 300 mm Hg, (3) standard blood tubing with pressure bag inflated to 300 mm Hg and left to flow, (4) blood tubing with in-line bulb pump, (5) blood tubing with in-line bulb pump and pressure bag, and (6) standard blood tubing with 20-mL syringe attached to the stopcock for a push-and-pull technique using a 20-mL syringe. RESULTS: The blood tubing with an in-line bulb pump to allow manual acceleration of the administration of fluid along with a pressure bag on the intravenous fluid bag achieved the fastest flow rate, requiring an average of 98 seconds to deliver 500 mL of fluid. CONCLUSIONS: When considering factors that affect fluid administration, Poiseuille's law dictates that the most important variable is the radius of the intravenous cannula, whereas the length of the cannula and the viscosity of the fluid administered are of secondary importance. With these limitations in mind, other factors may be used to speed fluid administration. Our study demonstrates the advantage of using blood tubing with the in-line bulb pump combined with a pressure bag.

Overnight inpatient admission and revisit rates after pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

Objective: Overnight admission may be necessary following adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in pediatric patients. This practice may reduce unplanned revisits following hospital discharge. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Subjects: Children from the PHIS database. Methods: T&A performed in children during the years 2007-2015 were identified in the Pediatric Health Information System. The primary outcome was 7-day, all-cause readmission or emergency department (ED) revisit. Secondary analysis examined specific revisit types and 30-day revisits. The primary exposure was each institution's annual rate of overnight stay after T&A. Results: The analysis included 411,876 procedures at 48 hospitals. Hospitals' annual rates of overnight stay following T&A ranged from 3% to 100%, and 7-day revisit rates varied from 0% to 15%. The percentage or rate of 7-day revisits did not differ based on the use of overnight stay following T&A. At hospitals with higher overnight admission rates after T&A, 7-day revisits were more likely to take the form of inpatient admission rather than an ED visit. Conclusions: The current study confirms that pediatric hospitals vary widely in inpatient admission practices following T&A. This variation is not associated with differences in revisit rates at 7 and 30 days related to any cause. Although no mortality was noted in the current study, caution is suggested when deciding on the disposition of patients with comorbid conditions as risks related to various patients, anesthetic, and surgical-related issues exist. Risk stratification with appropriate identification of patients requiring overnight stay may be the most important for preventing acute care revisits after T&A.

Association between anemia and postoperative complications in infants undergoing pyloromyotomy.

BACKGROUND: Although preoperative anemia has been suggested to predict postsurgical morbidity and mortality among infants <1 year of age, the data were drawn from heterogeneous patient cohorts including severely ill infants undergoing complex, high-risk procedures. We aimed to determine whether untreated preoperative anemia was associated with increased risk of postoperative complications in infants <1 year of age who underwent pyloromyotomy, a common and relatively simple surgery. METHODS: Infants <1 year of age undergoing pyloromyotomy were identified from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. Preoperative anemia was defined as a hematocrit ≤40% for infants 0-30 days of age and ≤30% for infants more than 30 days of age. Patients who received pre- or postoperative blood transfusions were excluded. RESULTS: We identified 2948 patients who met our inclusion criteria, of whom 843 were anemic (29%). The overall rate of complications in this cohort was 6%. The most common postoperative complications were readmission (97 cases), surgical site infection (43), reoperation (39), prolonged hospital stay (24), urinary tract infection (3), 30-day mortality (3) and cardiac arrest (2). We found no differences in the incidence of complications in anemic versus nonanemic patients on bivariate analysis or multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 0.8-1.7; P = 0.319). CONCLUSIONS: In relatively healthy infants undergoing pyloromyotomy, untreated preoperative anemia was not associated with postoperative compilations and should not be considered a significant risk factor. Level of evidence III.

An Enhanced Recovery Protocol that Facilitates Same-day Discharge for Simple Laparoscopic Appendectomies.

Acute appendicitis is the most common gastrointestinal condition requiring urgent operation in the pediatric population with laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) being the current surgical technique. We describe the implementation of a standardized protocol to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and facilitate same-day discharge after LA. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team developed this protocol to facilitate same-day discharge after observing high rates of overnight stay due to PONV among simple appendectomies performed in 2011-2012. The protocol was implemented in November 2014 and underwent a revision in June 2016. Following the implementation of the protocol, we monitored the patients undergoing an LA at Nationwide Children's Hospital between November 2014 and August 2017. RESULTS: We identified 691 patients (255 female) who underwent a simple LA at Nationwide Children's Hospital between November 2014 and August 2017. The patient population had a median age of 11 years (interquartile range: 9, 14). Among these patients, 514 (74%) were discharged on the day of surgery, and 387 (56%) were protocol compliant. The rate of same-day discharge was higher for compliant cases (79%) than noncompliant cases (69%, P = 0.003). Multivariable statistical analysis associated compliance with an increased likelihood of same-day discharge (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.4, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the LA protocol to reduce PONV demonstrated a significant increase in the rate of same-day discharge from the hospital among compliant patients. Also, the adoption of a protocol to select patients for early discharge after LA has shown results with a 45% reduction in the need for inhospital beds.

Perioperative Provider and Staff Competency in Providing Culturally Competent LGBTQ Healthcare in Pediatric Setting.

INTRODUCTION: Children and adolescents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) may feel reluctant to seek medical care due to stigma and the possibility of negative interactions with health care providers. Due to the short duration of the perioperative period, the interaction in this setting is limited and providers may not have the time to develop a rapport with the patient. It is imperative that staff are trained to address the patient and family in a culturally competent manner. METHODS: We undertook surveys before and after a 2 part educational series among the pediatric perioperative staff to understand the impact of providing education and cultural competency training regarding caring for patients who identify as LGBTQ. Providers self-reported their knowledge and comfort on a 1-5 point scale (5 being most knowledgeable or comfortable) in 6 domains of caring for LGBTQ patients. Objective knowledge of LGBTQ issues was assessed using 7 questions based on lecture material. On objective assessment, knowledge of LGBTQ issues improved after cultural competency training. RESULTS: The analysis included 90 responses. Before training, median ratings of knowledge and comfort were 3 or 4 out of a maximum of 5 for each domain. The pre-training median score on the 7-item test of LGBTQ cultural competency was 5 (IQR: 4, 6). After training, knowledge and comfort self-ratings did not improve, but the score on the objective knowledge test increased to a median of 6 (IQR: 4, 7; p=0.011) of 7 possible points. DISCUSSION: Anesthesia providers participating in LGBTQ cultural competency training self-reported high levels of knowledge and comfort with providing care to LGBTQ patients even before formal training was provided. On objective assessment, knowledge of LGBTQ issues improved after cultural competency training.

Acetaminophen pharmacokinetics in severely obese adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous acetaminophen is commonly administered as an adjunctive to opioids during major surgical procedures, but neither the correct pharmacokinetic size descriptor nor the dose is certain in severely obese adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: Adolescents, 14-20 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile for age and sex or BMI ≥40 kg·m-2 , presenting for laparoscopic or robotic assisted or vertical sleeve gastrectomy were administered intravenous acetaminophen (1000 mg) following completion of the surgical procedure. Venous blood was drawn for acetaminophen assay at eight time points, starting 15 minutes after completion of the infusion and up to 12 hours afterward. Time-concentration data profiles were analyzed using nonlinear mixed effects models. Parameter estimates were scaled to a 70-kg person using allometry. Normal fat mass was used to assess the impact of obesity on pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 11 female patients, age 17 SD 2 years with a weight of 125 SD 19 kg and a mean BMI of 46 SD 5 kg·m-2 . The plasma acetaminophen serum concentration was 17 (SD 4) µg·mL-1 at 10-20 minutes after completion of the infusion and 5 (SD 6) µg·mL-1 at 80-100 minutes. A two-compartment model, used to investigate pharmacokinetics, estimated clearance 10.6 (CV 72%) L·h·70 kg-1 , intercompartment clearance 37.3 (CV 63%) L·h·70 kg-1 , central volume of distribution 20.4 (CV 46%) L·70 kg-1 , and peripheral volume of distribution 16.8 (CV 42%) L·70 kg-1 . Clearance was best described using total body weight. Normal fat mass with a parameter that accounts for fat mass contribution (Ffat) of 0.88 best described volumes. CONCLUSION: Current recommendations of acetaminophen to a maximum dose of 1000 mg resulted in serum concentrations below detection limits in all patients within 2 hours after administration. Dose is better predicted using total body mass with allometric scaling.

A pilot study on secondhand tobacco exposure: parental knowledge about health impact and feasibility of cessation.

INTRODUCTION: As the primary source of smoke exposure is in the home, the smoking behaviors of parents and other caregivers are key determinants of a child's exposure to secondhand smoke. The perioperative period offers an opportunity to discuss smoking cessation strategies. METHODS: This prospective study included 97 parents or caregivers of patients undergoing dental surgery. Caregivers were surveyed in the dental waiting room during the preoperative phase. The primary aim was to determine the feasibility of using the preoperative encounter to offer smoking cessation resources to parents of pediatric patients. The secondary aim was to compare willingness to receive smoking cessation resources according to the knowledge of the risks of secondhand smoking (ie, being aware of secondhand smoking and knowing that it posed a risk to their child). RESULTS: Awareness of risks due to secondhand smoking was 65% in the overall cohort and 58% among current smokers (P=0.284 vs nonsmokers). Among smokers in our study, only a small percentage (12%) were interested in smoking cessation help. Knowledge of the risks of secondhand smoke may not be sufficient for smokers to express willingness to receive help. CONCLUSION: The outpatient clinic may be a teaching opportunity for smoking cessation for caregivers. However, we found that only a small percentage of caregivers were interested in receiving information about smoking cessation. This was despite the fact they were aware of the potential adverse effects of secondhand smoke on their children.

The Effect of Operating Room Temperature on the Performance of Clinical and Cognitive Tasks.

INTRODUCTION: Operating room (OR) temperature may impact the performance of health care providers. This study assesses whether hot or cold room temperature diminishes the performance of OR personnel measured by psychomotor vigilance testing (PVT) and self-report scales. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled surgical/anesthesia trainees, student registered nurse anesthetists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Each provider participated in a test of psychomotor function and a questionnaire using a self-report scale of personal comfort and well-being. The PVT and questionnaires were completed after 30 minutes of exposure to 3 different conditions (temperature of 21°C, 23°C, and 26°C). RESULTS: The cohort of 22 personnel included 9 certified registered nurse anesthetists, 7 anesthesia/surgical trainees, and 6 student registered nurse anesthetists. Mean reaction time on the PVT was comparable among baseline (280 ± 47 ms), hot (286 ± 55 ms; P = 0.171), and cold (303 ± 114 ms; P = 0.378) conditions. On the self-report score (range, 1-21), there was no difference in the self-rated subjective performance between baseline and cold conditions. However, the self-rated subjective performance scale was lower (12 ± 6, P = 0.003) during hot conditions. DISCUSSION: No difference was noted in reaction time depending on the temperature; however, excessive heat in the OR environment was associated with worse self-rated subjective performance among health care providers. Particularly, self-rated subjective physical demand and frustration were greater under hot condition.

Rapid fluid administration: an evaluation of two techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid administration of fluid remains a cornerstone in treatment of shock and when caring for trauma patients. A range of devices and technologies are available to hasten fluid administration time. While new devices may optimize fluid delivery times, impact on subjective experience compared to traditional methods is poorly documented. Our study evaluated administration time and provider experience using two unique methods for fluid administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective comparison of objective and subjective outcomes using a novel infusion device (LifeFlow® Rapid Infuser) and the traditional push-pull syringe method in a simulated model of rapid fluid infusion. Ten paired trials were conducted for each of three intravenous catheter gauges. Providers administered 500 mL of isotonic crystalloid through an intravenous catheter with both LifeFlow and a push-pull device. Administration time was compared between devices using paired t-tests. Participants' subjective physical demand, effort, pain, and fatigue using each device were recorded using 21-point visual analog scales and compared between devices using sign-rank tests. RESULTS: Fluid administration time was significantly decreased with LifeFlow compared to the push-pull device with the 18-gauge catheter (2.5±0.8 vs 3.8±1.0 minutes; 95% CI of difference: 0.9, 1.8 minutes; P<0.001). Findings were similar for other catheter sizes. No improvements in subjective experience were noted with the LifeFlow device. Increased physical demand with the LifeFlow device was noted with 18 and 22 gauge catheters, and increased fatigue with the LifeFlow device was noted for all catheter sizes. CONCLUSION: The LifeFlow device was faster than the push-pull syringe method in our simulated scenario. However, provider subjective experience was not improved with the LifeFlow device.

Changes in cerebral oxygenation based on intraoperative ventilation strategy.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral oxygenation can be monitored clinically by cerebral oximetry (regional oxygen saturation, rSO2) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Changes in rSO2 have been shown to precede changes in pulse oximetry, providing an early detection of clinical deterioration. Cerebral oximetry values may be affected by various factors, including changes in ventilation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in rSO2 during intraoperative changes in mechanical ventilation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following the approval of the institutional review board (IRB), tissue and cerebral oxygenation were monitored intraoperatively using NIRS. Prior to anesthetic induction, the NIRS monitor was placed on the forehead and over the deltoid muscle to obtain baseline values. NIRS measurements were recorded each minute over a 5-min period during general anesthesia at four phases of ventilation: 1) normocarbia (35-40 mmHg) with a low fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 0.3; 2) hypocarbia (25-30 mmHg) and low FiO2 of 0.3; 3) hypocarbia and a high FiO2 of 0.6; and 4) normocarbia and a high FiO2. NIRS measurements during each phase were compared with sequential phases using paired t-tests. RESULTS: The study cohort included 30 adolescents. Baseline cerebral and tissue oxygenation were 81% ± 9% and 87% ± 5%, respectively. During phase 1, cerebral rSO2 was 83% ± 8%, which decreased to 79% ± 8% in phase 2 (hypocarbia and low FiO2). Cerebral oxygenation partially recovered during phase 3 (81% ± 9%) with the increase in FiO2 and then returned to baseline during phase 4 (83% ± 8%). Each sequential change (e.g., phase 1 to phase 2) in cerebral oxygenation was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Tissue oxygenation remained at 87%-88% throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Cerebral oxygenation declined slightly during general anesthesia with the transition from normocarbia to hypocarbic conditions. The rSO2 decrease related to hypocarbia was easily reversed with a return to baseline values by the administration of supplemental oxygen (60% vs. 30%).

Optimizing the securement of epidural catheters: an in vitro trial.

INTRODUCTION: Epidural anesthesia is frequently used to provide postoperative analgesia following major surgical procedures. Secure fixation of the epidural catheter is necessary to prevent premature dislodgment and loss of epidural analgesia. Using an in vitro model, the current prospective study evaluates different types of dressings for securement of an epidural catheter by quantifying the force in Newtons (N) required for dislodgment using a digital force gage. METHODS: Four methods of epidural catheter securement were used on a simulator mannequin: 1) Suresite® Window Clear Dressing, 2) Op-Site Post-Op® Visible Dressing, 3) Steri-Strips® and Suresite Window Clear Dressing, and 4) Steri-Strips and Op-Site Post-Op Visible Dressing. Each method of securement was assessed 10 times to calculate the mean force required to dislodge the catheter. Mean force of dislodgment for each method was compared using parametric tests. RESULTS: The force (mean ± SD) required for catheter dislodgment for the four methods was 14.0±2.9, 2, 10.7±1.5, 8.6±2.3, and 9.6±2.2 N, respectively. The pairwise difference showed that the Suresite Window Clear Dressing was the best securement method when compared with other methods. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the advantage of the Suresite Window Clear Dressing in securing the epidural catheter. Future clinical trials are needed to validate these findings.

Caregivers' knowledge and acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine in a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies has increased in children, especially in those with chronic health conditions. However, this increase may not translate into acceptance of CAM in the perioperative setting. We surveyed caregivers of patients undergoing surgery to determine their knowledge and acceptance of hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and music therapy as alternatives to standard medication in the perioperative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous, 12-question survey was administered to caregivers of children undergoing procedures under general anesthesia. Caregivers reported their knowledge about hypnotherapy, music therapy, and acupuncture and interest in one of these methods during the perioperative period. CAM acceptance was defined as interest in one or more CAM methods. RESULTS: Data from 164 caregivers were analyzed. The majority of caregivers were 20-40 years of age (68%) and mothers of the patient (82%). Caregivers were most familiar with acupuncture (70%), followed by music therapy (60%) and hypnotherapy (38%). Overall CAM acceptance was 51%. The acceptance of specific CAM modalities was highest for music therapy (50%), followed by hypnotherapy (17%) and acupuncture (13%). In multivariable logistic regression, familiarity with music therapy was associated with greater odds of CAM acceptance (odds ratio=3.36; 95% CI: 1.46, 7.74; P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Overall CAM acceptance among caregivers of children undergoing surgery was 51%, with music therapy being the most accepted CAM method. Familiarity with music therapy was the only factor that was independently associated with accepting CAM in the perioperative period. The low acceptance for acupuncture and hypnosis in the perioperative situation may be related to insufficient parental knowledge and information.

Changes in tissue and cerebral oxygenation following spinal anesthesia in infants: a prospective study.

Use of spinal anesthesia (SA) in children may address concerns about potential neurocognitive effects of general anesthesia. We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess the effects of SA on cerebral and tissue oxygenation in 19 patients aged 7 ± 3 months. Prior to SA placement, NIRS monitors were placed on the forehead (cerebral) and the thigh (tissue). Intraoperative cerebral and tissue saturation were 73 ± 7 and 80 ± 11%, respectively, before SA placement. NIRS measurements were monitored every minute for 30 min after SA placement and modeled using mixed-effects linear regression. Regression estimates showed that cerebral saturation remained stable from 67% [95% confidence interval (CI) 63, 71%] after SA placement to 68% (95% CI 65, 72%) at the conclusion of monitoring. After SA placement, tissue saturation was elevated compared to baseline values; but further change [from 91% (95% CI 89, 93%) to 93% (95% CI 91, 95%) at the end of monitoring] was clinically non-significant. All patients breathed spontaneously on room air without changes in oxygen saturation. Blood pressure and heart rate decreased after SA placement, but no changes in hemodynamic parameters required treatment. These data provide further evidence of the neutral effect of SA on cerebral oxygenation 30 min after block placement.