Hospital and Surgeon Variation in Patient-reported Functional Outcomes After Lumbar Spine Fusion: A Statewide Evaluation.

STUDY DESIGN: Statewide retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data from the Spine Care and Outcomes Assessment Program, capturing ∼75% of the state's spine fusion procedures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the variation in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) 1 year after elective lumbar fusion surgery across surgeons and hospitals; and to discuss the potential impact of guiding patient selection using a PRO prediction tool. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite an increasing interest in incorporating PROs as part of the move toward value-based payment and to improve quality, limited evidence exists on how PROs vary across hospitals and surgeons, a key aspect of using these metrics for quality profiling. METHODS: We examined patient-reported functional improvement (≥15-point reduction in the Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]) and minimal disability (reaching ≤22 on the ODI) 1 year after surgery in 17 hospitals and 58 surgeons between 2012 and 2017. Outcomes were risk-adjusted for patient characteristics with multiple logistic regressions and reliability-adjusted using hierarchical models. RESULTS: Of the 737 patients who underwent lumbar fusion (mean [SD] age, 63 [12] years; 60% female; 84% had stenosis; 70% had spondylolisthesis), 58.7% achieved functional improvement and 42.5% reached minimal disability status at 1 year. After adjusting for patient factors, there was little variation between hospitals and surgeons (maximum interclass correlation was 3.5%), and this variation became statistically insignificant after further reliability adjustment. Avoiding operation on patients with <50% chance of functional improvement may reduce current surgical volume by 63%. CONCLUSION: Variations in PROs across hospitals and surgeons were mainly driven by differences in patient populations undergoing lumbar fusion, suggesting that PROs may not be useful indicators of hospital or surgeon quality. Careful patient selection using validated prediction tools may decrease differences in outcomes across hospitals and providers and improve overall quality, but would significantly reduce surgical volumes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Enhanced Perioperative Care for Major Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: The enhanced perioperative care (EPOC) program is an institutional quality improvement initiative. We used a historically controlled study design to evaluate patients who underwent major spine surgery before and after the implementation of the EPOC program. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether multidisciplinary EPOC program was associated with an improvement in clinical and financial outcomes for elective adult major spine surgery patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs successfully implemented in hip and knee replacement surgeries, and improved clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. METHODS: We compared 183 subjects in traditional care (TRDC) group to 267 intervention period (EPOC) in a single academic quaternary spine surgery referral center. One hundred eight subjects in no pathway (NOPW) care group was also examined to exclude if the observed changes between the EPOC and TRDC groups might be due to concurrent changes in practice or population over the same time period. Our primary outcome variables were hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay and the secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, 30-day hospital readmission and cost. RESULTS: In this highly complex patient population, we observed a reduction in mean hospital length of stay (HLOS) between TRDC versus EPOC groups (8.2 vs. 6.1 d, standard deviation [SD] = 6.3 vs. 3.6, P < 0.001) and intensive care unit length of stay (ILOS) (3.1 vs. 1.9 d, SD = 4.7 vs. 1.4, P = 0.01). The number (rate) of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) admissions was higher for the TRDC n = 109 (60%) than the EPOC n = 129 (48%) (P = 0.02). There was no difference in postoperative complications and 30-day hospital readmissions. The EPOC spine program was associated with significant average cost reduction-$62,429 to $53,355 (P < 0.00). CONCLUSION: The EPOC program has made a clinically relevant contribution to institutional efforts to improve patient outcomes and value. We observed a reduction in HLOS, ILOS, costs, and variability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Enhanced perioperative care and decreased cost and length of stay after elective major spinal surgery.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to compare total cost and length of stay (LOS) between spine surgery patients enrolled in an enhanced perioperative care (EPOC) pathway and patients receiving traditional perioperative care (TRDC).METHODSAll spine surgery candidates were screened for inclusion in the EPOC pathway. This cohort was compared to a retrospective cohort of patients who received TRDC and a concurrent group of patients who met inclusion criteria but did not receive the EPOC (no pathway care [NOPC] group). Direct and indirect costs as well as hospital and intensive care LOSs were analyzed between the 3 groups.RESULTSTotal costs after pathway implementation decreased by $19,344 in EPOC patients compared to a historical cohort of patients who received TRDC and $5889 in a concurrent cohort of patients who did not receive EPOC (NOPC group). Hospital and intensive care LOS were significantly lower in EPOC patients compared to TRDC and NOPC patients.CONCLUSIONSThe implementation of a multimodal EPOC pathway decreased LOS and cost in major elective spine surgeries.

Body mass index and the risk of deep surgical site infection following posterior cervical instrumented fusion.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) following spine surgery is associated with increased morbidity, reoperation rates, hospital readmissions, and cost. The incidence of SSI following posterior cervical spine surgery is higher than anterior cervical spine surgery, with rates from 4.5% to 18%. It is well documented that higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of SSI after spine surgery. There are only a few studies that examine the correlation of BMI and SSI after posterior cervical instrumented fusion (PCIF) using national databases, however, none that compare trauma and nontraumatic patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the odds of developing SSI with increasing BMI after PCIF, and to determine the risk of SSI in both trauma and nontraumatic adult patients. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of a prospective surgical database collected at one academic institution. PATIENT SAMPLE: The patient sample is from a prospectively collected surgical registry from one institution, which includes patients who underwent PCIF from April 2011 to October 2017. OUTCOME MEASURES: A SSI that required return to the operating room for surgical debridement. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study using a prospectively collected database of all spine surgeries performed at our institution from April 2011 to October 2017. We identified 1,406 patients, who underwent PCIF for both traumatic injuries and nontraumatic pathologies using International Classification of Diseases 9 and 10 procedural codes. Thirty-day readmission data were obtained. Patient's demographics, BMI, presence of diabetes, preoperative diagnosis, and surgical procedures performed were identified. Using logistic regression analysis, the risk of SSI associated with every one-unit increase in BMI was determined. This study received no funding. All the authors in this study report no conflict of interests relevant to this study. RESULTS: Of the 1,406 patients identified, 1,143 met our inclusion criteria. Of those patients, 688 had PCIF for traumatic injuries and 454 for nontraumatic pathologies. The incidence of SSI for all patients, who underwent PCIF was 3.9%. There was no significant difference in the rate of SSI between our trauma group and nontraumatic group. There was a higher rate of infection in patients, who were diabetic and with BMI≥30 kg/m2. The presence of both diabetes and BMI≥30 kg/m2 had an added effect on the risk of developing SSI in all patients, who underwent PCIF. Additionally, logistic regression analysis showed that there was a positive difference measure between BMI and SSI. Our results demonstrate that for one-unit increase in BMI, the odds of having a SSI is 1.048 (95% CI: 1.007-1.092, p=.023). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that our rate of SSI after PCIF is within the range of what is cited in the literature. Interestingly, we did not see a statistically significant difference in the rate of infection between our trauma and nontrauma group. Overall, diabetes and elevated BMI are associated with increased risk of SSI in all patients, who underwent PCIF with even a higher risk in patient, who are both diabetic and obese. Obese patients should be counseled on elevated SSI risk after PCIF, and those with diabetes should be medically optimized before and after surgery when possible to minimize SSI.

Airway Management Practice in Adults With an Unstable Cervical Spine: The Harborview Medical Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Airway management in the presence of acute cervical spine injury (CSI) is challenging. Because it limits cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation and allows for neurological examination after the procedure, awake fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has traditionally been recommended. However, with the widespread availability of video laryngoscopy (VL), its use has declined dramatically. Our aim was to describe the frequency of airway management techniques used in patients with CSI at our level I trauma center and report the incidence of neurological injury attributable to airway management. METHODS: Adults presenting to the operating room with CSI without a tracheal tube in situ between September 2010 and June 2017 were included. All patients were intubated in the presence of manual-in-line stabilization, a hard cervical collar, or surgical traction. Worsening neurological status was defined as new motor or sensory deficits on postoperative examination. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-two patients were included, of which 76 (30.2%) had preexisting neurological deficits. VL was the most frequent initial airway management technique used (49.6%). Asleep FOB was commonly performed alone (30.6%) or in conjunction with VL (13.5%). Awake FOB was rarely performed (2.3%), as was direct laryngoscopy (2.8%). All techniques were associated with high first-attempt success rates, and no cases of neurological injury attributable to airway management technique were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with acute CSI at a high-volume academic trauma center, VL was the most commonly used initial intubation technique. Awake FOB and direct laryngoscopy were performed infrequently. No cases of neurological deterioration secondary to airway management occurred with any method. Assuming care is taken to limit neck movement, providers should use the intubation technique with which they have the most comfort and skill.

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Pain and Functional Outcomes After Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Importance: Functional impairment and pain are common indications for the initiation of lumbar spine surgery, but information about expected improvement in these patient-reported outcome (PRO) domains is not readily available to most patients and clinicians considering this type of surgery. Objective: To assess population-level PRO response after lumbar spine surgery, and develop/validate a prediction tool for PRO improvement. Design, Setting, and Participants: This statewide multicenter cohort was based at 15 Washington state hospitals representing approximately 75% of the state's spine fusion procedures. The Spine Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program and the survey center at the Comparative Effectiveness Translational Network prospectively collected clinical and PRO data from adult candidates for lumbar surgery, preoperatively and postoperatively, between 2012 and 2016. Prediction models were derived for PRO improvement 1 year after lumbar fusion surgeries on a random sample of 85% of the data and were validated in the remaining 15%. Surgical candidates from 2012 through 2015 were included; follow-up surveying continued until December 31, 2016, and data analysis was completed from July 2016 to April 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Functional improvement, defined as a reduction in Oswestry Disability Index score of 15 points or more; and back pain and leg pain improvement, defined a reduction in Numeric Rating Scale score of 2 points or more. Results: A total of 1965 adult lumbar surgical candidates (mean [SD] age, 61.3 [12.5] years; 944 [59.6%] female) completed baseline surveys before surgery and at least 1 postoperative follow-up survey within 3 years. Of these, 1583 (80.6%) underwent elective lumbar fusion procedures; 1223 (77.3%) had stenosis, and 1033 (65.3%) had spondylolisthesis. Twelve-month follow-up participation rates for each outcome were between 66% and 70%. Improvements were reported in function, back pain, and leg pain at 12 months by 306 of 528 surgical patients (58.0%), 616 of 899 patients (68.5%), and 355 of 464 patients (76.5%), respectively, whose baseline scores indicated moderate to severe symptoms. Among nonoperative patients, 35 (43.8%), 47 (53.4%), and 53 (63.9%) reported improvements in function, back pain, and leg pain, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics included in the final prediction models were age, sex, race, insurance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, smoking status, diagnoses, prior surgery, prescription opioid use, asthma, and baseline PRO scores. The models had good predictive performance in the validation cohort (concordance statistic, 0.66-0.79) and were incorporated into a patient-facing, web-based interactive tool (https://becertain.shinyapps.io/lumbar_fusion_calculator). Conclusions and Relevance: The PRO response prediction tool, informed by population-level data, explained most of the variability in pain reduction and functional improvement after surgery. Giving patients accurate information about their likelihood of outcomes may be a helpful component in surgery decision making.

Methylprednisolone Therapy in Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Analysis of a Regional Spinal Cord Model Systems Database.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between exposure to methylprednisolone (MP) and improvements in motor function among patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). MP therapy for patients with TSCI is controversial because of the current conflicting evidence documenting its benefits and risks. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from September 2007 to November 2014 of 311 patients with acute TSCI who were enrolled into a model systems database of a regional, level I trauma center. We linked outcomes and covariate data from the model systems database with MP exposure data from the electronic medical record. The primary outcomes were rehabilitation discharge in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor scores (sum of 10 key muscles bilaterally as per International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury, range, 0-100) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor scores (range, 13-91). Secondary outcomes measured infection risk and gastrointestinal (GI) complications among MP recipients. For the primary outcomes, multivariable linear regression was used. RESULTS: There were 160 MP recipients and 151 nonrecipients. Adjusting for age, sex, weight, race, respective baseline motor score, surgical intervention, injury level, ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grade, education, and insurance status, there was no association with improvement in discharge ASIA motor function or FIM motor score among MP recipients: -0.34 (95% CI, -2.8, 2.1) and 0.75 (95% CI, -2.8, 4.3), respectively. Adjusting for age, sex, race, weight, injury level, and receipt of surgery, no association with increased risk of infection or GI complications was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective cohort study involving patients with acute TSCI observed no short-term improvements in motor function among MP recipients compared with nonrecipients. Our findings support current recommendations that MP use in this population should be limited.

Supplemental Perioperative Oxygen to Reduce Surgical Site Infection After High-Energy Fracture Surgery (OXYGEN Study).

Supplemental perioperative oxygen (SPO) therapy has been proposed as one approach for reducing the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Current data are mixed regarding efficacy in decreasing SSI rates and hospital inpatient stays in general and few data exist for orthopaedic trauma patients. This study is a phase III, double-blind, prospective randomized clinical trial with a primary goal of assessing the efficacy of 2 different concentrations of perioperative oxygen in the prevention of SSIs in adults with tibial plateau, pilon (tibial plafond), or calcaneus fractures at higher risk of infection and definitively treated with plate and screw fixation. Patients are block randomized (within center) in a 1:1 ratio to either treatment group (FiO2 80%) or control group (FiO2 30%) and stratified by each study injury location. Secondary objectives of the study are to compare species and antibacterial sensitivities of the bacteria in patients who develop SSIs, to validate a previously developed risk prediction model for the development of SSI after fracture surgery, and to measure and compare resource utilization and cost associated with SSI in the 2 study groups. SPO is a low cost and readily available resource that could be easily disseminated to trauma centers across the country and the world if proved to be effective.

A Technique to Allow Prone Positioning in the Spine Surgery Patient With Unstable Spine Fracture and Flail Segment Rib Fractures.

Two patients with unstable thoracic spine and flail segment rib fractures initially failed prone positioning on a Jackson spinal table used for posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion surgery. Both patients experienced rapid hemodynamic collapse. We developed a solution using the anterior portions of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis brace as chest supports to use during prone positioning, allowing both patients to undergo uncomplicated posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion surgeries with greater hemodynamic stability.

Regional anesthesia for management of acute pain in the intensive care unit.

Pain is a major problem for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Despite numerous improvements it is estimated that as many as 70% of the patients experience moderate-to-severe postoperative pain during their stay in the ICU. Effective pain management means not only decreasing pain intensity, but also reducing the opioids' side effects. Minimizing nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, and sedation may indeed facilitate patient recovery and it is likely to shorten the ICU and hospital stay. Adequate postoperative and post-trauma pain management is also crucial for the achievement of effective rehabilitation. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that effective acute pain management may be helpful in reducing the development of chronic pain. When used appropriately, and in combination with other treatment modalities, regional analgesia techniques (neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks) have the potential to reduce or eliminate the physiological stress response to surgery and trauma, decreasing the possibility of surgical complications and improving the outcomes. Also they may reduce the total amount of opioid analgesics necessary to achieve adequate pain control and the development of potentially dangerous side effects.

Considerations for anesthesia staffing in a trauma center: new standards, education, and safety.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A review of recent updates to trauma anesthesia service requirements in the USA and UK, the evolving role of the trauma anesthesiologist, and opportunities for education and training. Considerations of cost and safety for staffing arrangements are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: Certifying and specialty organizations have recently escalated the availability requirements and training recommendations for anesthesiology services in trauma centers. SUMMARY: There is a growing recognition that trauma anesthesiology represents a distinct area of subspecialty knowledge. Anesthesiology specialty organizations advocate for trauma-specific knowledge and training for trauma anesthesia providers. Requiring the in-house presence of anesthesia providers in level I and level II trauma centers may impose significant costs on medical centers that do not currently provide those services.

International disparities in trauma care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Trauma care has been a low priority topic in the global health agenda until recently, despite its social and economic impact. Although prevention is the key, provision and quality of trauma care has been the weakest link in the survival chain. We aim to summarize the differences in global trauma care to propose solutions in this article. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with life-threatening injuries are six times more likely to die following a trauma in a low-income country than in a high-income country. Unintentional injuries currently rank fourth in the global causes of death, resulting in 5.8 million premature deaths and millions more with disability. The WHO member countries started the first global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 initiative in May 2011. Governments across the world agreed to take steps to improve the safety of roads and vehicles, enhance the behavior of all road users and strengthen post-trauma care. SUMMARY: Several core strategies have been identified: human resource planning; physical resources (equipment and supplies); and administration (quality improvement and data collection) need to be developed for effective and adaptable prehospital care, patient transfer, in-hospital care and rehabilitation systems for injured persons worldwide. Clear definition of the problem to propose solutions is critical.

Predictors of reintubation in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of a patient's readiness for removal of the endotracheal tube in the ICU is based on respiratory, airway, and neurological measures. However, nearly 20% of patients require reintubation. We created a prediction model for the need for reintubation, which incorporates variables importantly contributing to extubation failure. METHODS: This was a cohort study of 2,007 endotracheally intubated subjects who required ICU admission at a tertiary care center. Data collection included demographic, hemodynamic, respiratory, and neurological variables preceding extubation. Data were compared between subjects extubated successfully and those who required reintubation, using bivariate logistic regression models, with the binary outcome reintubation and the baseline characteristics as predictors. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with robust variance was used to build the prediction model. RESULTS: Of the 2,007 subjects analyzed, 376 (19%) required reintubation. In the bivariate analysis, admission Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, minute ventilation, breathing frequency, oxygenation, number of prior SBTs, rapid shallow breathing index, airway-secretions suctioning frequency and quantity, heart rate, and diastolic blood pressure differed significantly between the extubation success and failure groups. In the multivariable analysis, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and suctioning frequency were associated with failed extubation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.68 for failure at any time, and 0.71 for failure within 24 hours. However, prior failed SBT, minute ventilation, and diastolic blood pressure were additional independent predictors of failure at any time, whereas oxygenation predicted extubation failure within 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: A small number of independent variables explains a substantial portion of the variability of extubation failure, and can help identify patients at high risk of needing reintubation. These characteristics should be incorporated in the decision-making process of ICU extubation.

Occurrence and complications of tracheal reintubation in critically ill adults.

BACKGROUND: Timing and preparation for tracheal extubation are as critical as the initial intubation. There are limited data on specific strategies for a planned extubation. The extent to which the difficult airway at reintubation contributes to patient morbidity is unknown. The aim of the present study was to describe the occurrence and complications of failed extubation and associated risk factors, and to estimate the mortality and morbidity associated with reintubation attempts. METHODS: Cohort study of 2,007 critically ill adult patients admitted to the ICU with an ETT. Patients were classified in 2 groups, based on the requirement for reintubation: "never reintubated" versus "≥ 1 reintubations." Baseline characteristics, ICU and hospital stay, hospital mortality, and in-patient costs were compared between patients successfully extubated and those with reintubation outside the operating room, using regression techniques. Reasons, airway management techniques, and complications of intubation and reintubation were summarized descriptively. RESULTS: 376 patients (19%) required reintubation, and 230 (11%) were reintubated within 48 hours, primarily due to respiratory failure. Patients requiring reintubation were older, more likely to be male, and had higher admission severity score. Difficult intubation and complications were similar for initial and subsequent intubation. Reintubation was associated with a 5-fold increase in the relative odds of death (adjusted odds ratio 5.86, 95% CI 3.87-8.89, P < .01), and a 2-fold increase in median ICU and hospital stay, and institutional costs. Difficult airway at reintubation was associated with higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio 2.23, 95% CI 1.01-4.93, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 20% of critically ill patients required out of operating room reintubation. Reintubation was associated with higher mortality, stay, and cost. Moreover, a difficult airway at reintubation was associated with higher mortality.

A national survey of airway management training in United States internal medicine-based critical care fellowship programs.

BACKGROUND: Intensivists may be primarily responsible for airway management in non-operating room locations. Little is known of airway management training provided during fellowship.Our primary aim was to describe the current state of airway education in internal medicine-based critical care fellowship programs. METHODS: Between February 1 and April 30, 2011, program directors of all 3-year combined pulmonary/critical care and 2-year multidisciplinary critical care medicine programs in the United States were invited to complete an online survey. Contact information was obtained via FRIEDA Online (https://freida.ama-assn.org). Non-responders were sent automated reminders, were contacted by e-mail, or by telephone. RESULTS: The overall response proportion was 66% (111/168 programs). Sixty-four (58%) programs reported a designated airway rotation, chiefly occurring for 1 month during the first year of training. Thirty-five programs (32%)reported having a director of airway education and 78 (70%) reported incorporating simulation based airway education. Nearly all programs (95%) reported provision of supervised airway experience during fellowship. Commonly used airway management devices, including video laryngoscopes,intubating stylets, supraglottic airway devices, and fiberoptic bronchoscopes, were reportedly available to trainees. However, 73% reported < 10 uses of a supraglottic airway device, 60% < 25 uses of intubating stylets, 73% < 30 uses of a video laryngoscope, and 65% reported < 10 flexible fiberoptic intubations. Estimates of the required number of procedures to ensure competence varied widely. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of programs have a formal airway management program incorporating a variety of intubation techniques. Overall experience varies widely, however.

Anesthetic considerations in acute spinal cord trauma.

Patients with actual or potential spinal cord injury (SCI) are frequently seen at adult trauma centers, and a large number of these patients require operative intervention. All polytrauma patients should be assumed to have an SCI until proven otherwise. Pre-hospital providers should take adequate measures to immobilize the spine for all trauma patients at the site of the accident. Stabilization of the spine facilitates the treatment of other major injuries both in and outside the hospital. The presiding goal of perioperative management is to prevent iatrogenic deterioration of existing injury and limit the development of secondary injury whilst providing overall organ support, which may be adversely affected by the injury. This review article explores the anesthetic implications of the patient with acute SCI. A comprehensive literature search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, conference proceedings and internet sites for relevant literature was performed. Reference lists of relevant published articles were also examined. Searches were carried out in October 2010 and there were no restrictions by study design or country of origin. Publication date of included studies was limited to 1990-2010.

Radiation safety for anesthesiologists.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the recent literature on the implications of occupational radiation exposure in anesthesia practice. RECENT FINDINGS: Wide variation and lack of reduction in operator doses of medical radiation strongly suggests that more attention must be paid to the factors influencing radiation dose exposure. The eye is likely the most sensitive organ for radiation injury. Radiation-related cataract formation might be a stochastic effect. Operators are strongly advised to use eye protection at all times. Safe medical radiation ophthalmic dose limits are currently under review and are likely to be lowered. Current data do not suggest a significant risk to the fetus for pregnant women working in the interventional radiology suite as long as proper monitoring and radiation safety measures are implemented. SUMMARY: Radiation is increasingly utilized in medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Anesthesia providers may become exposed to unsafe doses while providing high-quality patient care. Understanding of the physical principles, the sources of radiation exposure, the potential risks, and safe practices helps to minimize the exposure risk and its potential deleterious effects to the anesthesia team.

Cerebral blood flow and the injured brain: how should we monitor and manipulate it?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cerebral ischemia plays a major role in the pathophysiology of the injured brain, including traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage, thus improvement in outcome may necessitate monitoring and optimization of cerebral blood flow (CBF). To interpret CBF results in a meaningful way, it may be necessary to quantify cerebral autoregulation as well as cerebral metabolism. This review addresses the recent evidence related to the changes in CBF and its monitoring/management in traumatic brain injury. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent evidence on the management of patients with traumatic brain injury have focused on the importance of cerebral autoregulation in maintaining perfusion, which necessitates the measurement of CBF. However, adequate CBF measurements alone would not indicate the amount of oxygen delivered to neuronal tissues. Technologic advancements in measurement devices have enabled the assessment of the metabolic state of the cerebral tissue for the purpose of guiding therapy, progress as well as prognostification. SUMMARY: Current neurocritical care management strategies are focused on the prevention and limitation of secondary brain injury where neuronal insult continues to evolve during the hours and days after the primary injury. Appropriately chosen multimodal monitoring including CBF and management measures can result in reduction in mortality and morbidity.

Open-label randomized trial of the safety and efficacy of a single dose conivaptan to raise serum sodium in patients with traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Conivaptan is an arginine-vasopressin-receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of hyponatremia. We hypothesized that administration of conivaptan to normonatremic patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is safe and could reduce intracranial pressure (ICP). METHODS: Open-label, randomized, controlled trial enrolling 10 subjects within 24 h of severe TBI to receive a single 20 mg dose of conivaptan (n = 5) or usual care (n = 5). The primary endpoint was the evaluation of the safety profile defined by serum sodium increases averaging >1 mEq/h when measured every 4 h and any adverse events. Secondary endpoints were 48-h serum sodium, sodium load, change in ICP, and urine output. RESULTS: Ten patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Three patients (2 conivaptan, 1 usual care group) experienced brief sodium increases averaging >1 mEq/h, with no patients achieving Na >160 mEq/l. There were no drug-related serious adverse events. At 48 h, the mean sodium was 142 ± 6 mEq/l (conivaptan) and 144 ± 10 mEq/l (usual care, P = 0.71). 48-h sodium load was 819 ± 724 mEq in the conivaptan and 1,137 ± 1,165 mEq in the usual care group (P = 0.62). At 4 h, serum sodium was higher (P = 0.02) and ICP was lower (P = 0.046) in the conivaptan compared with usual care group. 24-h but not 48-h urine output was different between the two groups (P < 0.01 and P = 0.20, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a single dose conivaptan is safe in non-hyponatremic patients with severe TBI and may reduce ICP. Further studies are needed to establish the effect of conivaptan on clinically relevant endpoints, and its role in the management of intracranial hypertension.