Anaesthetics and analgesics; neurocognitive effects, organ protection and cancer reoccurrence an update.

Available general and local anaesthetics, third generation inhaled anaesthetics, propofol and amide class local anaesthetics are effective and reassuringly safe. They are all associated to low incidence of toxicology and or adverse-effects. There is however a debate whether anaesthetic drug and technique could exhibit effects beyond the primary effects; fully reversible depression of the central nervous system, dose dependent anaesthesia. Anaesthetics may be involved in the progression of neurocognitive side effects seen especially in the elderly after major surgery, so called Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction. On the other hand anaesthetics may exhibit organ protective potential, reducing ischemia reperfusion injury and improving survival after cardiac surgery. Anaesthetics and anaesthetic technique may also have effects of cancer reoccurrence and risk for metastasis. The present paper provides an update around the evidence base around anaesthesia potential contributing effect on the occurrence of postoperative cognitive adverse-effects, organ protective properties and influence on cancer re-occurrence/metastasis.

Apple and bananas when comparing recovery and patients satisfaction following day surgery

There is still no consensus around how to assess performance, recovery and patient satisfaction following day care anaesthesia and surgery. This review considers metrics that might be used to assess these phases of day surgery care (AU)

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Swedish guidelines for the treatment of pain in tonsil surgery in pediatric patients up to 18 years.

BACKGROUND: Surgery of the tonsils often causes severe pain lasting for many days as been shown by data from the National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden. Tonsillotomy is associated with fewer readmissions due to bleeding, number of days requiring analgesics and health care contacts due to pain compared to tonsillectomy. The register data demonstrate the necessity of better-evidenced based pain treatment guidelines for tonsil-surgery. OBJECTIVES: To develop evidenced based pain treatment guidelines for tonsil-surgery in Sweden. METHODS: The evidence based guidelines were designed by an updated literature review and from the clinical expertise in the pediatric pain field, which thereafter were reviewed by ENT-doctors and anesthetists from each ENT-clinic in Sweden. RESULTS: A multimodal pain treatment approach is advocated, including premedication and administration during anesthesia, with paracetamol (acetaminophen), clonidine and betamethasone. If not given as a premedication the combination can be administered intravenously in the initial phase of anesthesia. At the end of surgery, if no bleeding problems, cox-inhibitors can be given. After discharge from hospital, the recommendations for pain relief are paracetamol combined with cox-inhibitors (ibuprofen, diclofenac) and if needed oral clonidine in favor of opioids. When pain intensity decreases, discontinue the analgesic treatment in the following order: opioid, clonidine, paracetamol and at last ibuprofen. The need for analgesic treatment after tonsillectomy is usually 5-8 days, after tonsillotomy only 3-5 days. Parents are recommended to contact the hospital if the child has difficulties in drinking or eating adequately and/or suffers from pain despite taking the recommended medication regularly. CONCLUSIONS: Swedish guidelines for tonsil-surgery provide practical evidence-based pain treatment recommendations.

Tools for the assessment of the recovery process following discharge from day surgery: a literature review.

This literature review provides an overview of ten studies which assessed the patient's general recovery after discharge from hospital following elective surgery and anaesthesia. Ten multi-dimensional tools were identified and these included six common domain assessments: pain, physiological function, activities of daily living (ADL), emotions, nausea/vomiting and nutrition/elimination. Most of the tools assessed the recovery process by using patient-subjective reported outcomes on visual analogue (VAS) or pre-graded scales.

Post-operative Quality of Recovery Scale: the impact of assessment method on cognitive recovery.

BACKGROUND: We measured cognitive performance and recovery with the Post-operative Quality of Recovery Scale (PQRS) at 30 and 90 min after elective ambulatory or short-stay surgery under general anaesthesia. The aim was to study the impact of the assessment algorithm, comparing the original and modified more liberal score assessment. METHOD: One hundred and ten ASA 1-2 patients scheduled for elective surgery in general anaesthesia responded to the five cognitive performance questions in the PQRS; pre-operatively, 30 and 90 min after end of anaesthesia. Assessment of cognitive recovered was performed according to the original and modified definition which includes a tolerance factor to account for performance variability. RESULTS: Cognitive recovery improved from 30 to 90 min. The modified score assessment decreased number of patients that were evaluated low because it excluded initial low scoring subjects and also dramatically increased number of patients assessed as cognitively recovered; original 9% at 30 min and 28% at 90 min vs. 54% at 30 min and 81% at 90 min, P < 0.001. There were no other significant differences identified when using either the original or modified scoring method for age > 50 years, orthopaedic vs. abdominal surgery, premedication or gender. CONCLUSIONS: The modified definition which includes a tolerance factor to account for performance variability has dramatic effects in increasing the number of patients assessed as recovered. It is from the present study not possible to comment on whether the more liberal assessment provides more or less accurate description of cognitive performance.

Non-opioid analgesics for pain management following ambulatory surgery: a review.

Multimodal pain management, combining analgesics with different mode of action in order to minimize occurrence of side-effects still providing safe and efficacious pain management after ambulatory surgery has become standard of care. The combined use of local anaesthesia in order to reduce noxious influx during the procedure and reduce postoperative pain is strongly recommended whenever feasible. Providing oral analgesics paracetamol, and none-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs or selective Cox-II-inhibitors already prior to induction in order to provide effective therapeutic concentrations at end of surgery is a simple and easy way to facilitate the recovery. Single iv. preoperative dose dexamethasone has been shown not only to be effective in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting but also to improve recovery reduce pain and improve satisfaction. Pregabalin may be used in order to further enhance the recovery and pain management.

Coxibs: is there a benefit when compared to traditional non-selective NSAIDs in postoperative pain management?

A multi-modal approach for the management of postoperative pain has become increasingly popular. Strategies to avoid the use of opioids and thus any opioid analgesic related side-effect is an important part of the expansion of ambulatory surgery. Combining long acting local anesthesia in the wound area and non-opioid analgesics are today a basic concept in management of day care, short stay patients. Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is often sufficient to provide satisfactory pain relief after minor and intermediate procedures. The use of multimodal or balanced analgesia has since long been shown to facilitate resumption of activities of daily living. The opioid sparing effects of the addition of NSAIDs to morphine patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) after major surgery has also shown repeatedly. The development and introduction of the most selective cyclo-oxygenase-2-inhibitors (Coxibs) was primarily indicated to reduce the risk and severity of gastrointestinal bleeding. The Coxibs have become an interesting option in postoperative pain management. The less pronounced effect on platelet function and subsequent lower risk for impaired hemeostasis makes them, in theory, a preferred option to the non-selective traditional NSAIDs. The benefit versus risk for a more generalized use of Coxibs must, however, be based on a thorough evaluation of the overall benefits and risks for the use of NSAIDs and a further evaluation on whether the specific therapeutic features of the Coxibs provide benefits outweighing their increased cost. This review aims at providing a background and an overview of the benefits versus risks for the use of Coxibs as part of a multimodal postoperative pain management.

Patients' assessment of 4-week recovery after ambulatory surgery.

BACKGROUND: patients' own assessment of recovery after ambulatory surgery has not been well studied. The aim was to study patients' self-assessed recovery, the occurrence and time course of post-operative problems in relation to the type of ambulatory surgery. METHODS: a questionnaire was filled in by 355 patients at five time points: pre-operative, first day at home, 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-operatively. Consecutive patients who underwent either inguinal hernia repair (IHR), arthroscopic procedures (AS) or cosmetic breast augmentation (CBA) were included. RESULTS: unplanned return to hospital was rare (3/355). Health care contacts were noted for 9% of the patients during the first week; a total of 70 contacts occurred during the entire period. Pain was the most frequently reported symptom; 40% of the patients reported pain or mobility problems at 1 week, 28% after 2 weeks and 20% after 4 weeks. Pre-operative pain was associated with an increased level of pain during the early post-operative course, in the recovery room and at 1 week post-operatively. IHR was associated with an overall rapid recovery, while AS patients experienced a slower restitution. All AS patients who reported pain after 4 weeks had reported pain problems already pre-operatively. Pain was not present pre-operatively in the CBA group, but was common at 1 and 2 post-operative weeks and was still reported by 11% at 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: self-assessed recovery was found to cover several weeks with procedure-specific recovery patterns. Pain and mobility impairment were still frequently reported 4 weeks post-operatively.

Knee arthroscopy routines and practice.

PURPOSE: Knee arthroscopy is one of most commonly performed day-case orthopaedic procedures, thus consuming huge medical resources. The aim of the present questionnaire survey was to study knee arthroscopy routines and practice. METHODS: An electronic web-based survey including questions around pre-, per- and postoperative routines for elective knee arthroscopy was send to all orthopaedic units associated to the Swedish Arthroscopic Society (n = 60). RESULTS: Responses covering 37 centres out of 60 (response rate 62%) were returned. Preoperative radiograph routines varied considerable between centres; conventional radiograph varied between 5 and 100% and preoperative MRI between 5 and 80% of patients. General anaesthesia was the preferred intra-operative technique used in all centres (median 79% of patients), local anaesthesia with or without light sedation was used in all 28 out of the 37 centres responding (median 10% of cases) and spinal anaesthesia was used in 15 centres (median 5% of cases). Intra-articular local anaesthesia was provided in all but one of centres. Perioperative administration of oral NSAIDs was common (31 out 37), 6 centres (all teaching hospitals) did not routinely give pre- or postoperative NSAID. Analgesic prescription was provided on a regular base in 18 (49%) of centres; an NSAID being the most commonly prescribed. All but one centre provided written information and instruction at discharge. Referral to physiotherapy, prescribed sick leave and scheduled follow-up in the outpatient clinic diverged considerably. CONCLUSION: Routines and practice associated to elective knee arthroscopy differed; however, no clear differences in practice were seen between teaching centres, general or local hospitals apart from a lower usage of NSAID for perioperative analgesia. There is an obvious room for further standardisation in the routine handling of patients undergoing elective arthroscopy of the knee.

Patient assessed health profile: a six-month quality of life questionnaire survey after day surgery.

AIM: Patient assessed quality of life is one of the principal end-points after day surgery. The aim of the present study was to describe the natural course, differences and timing of final evaluation for three common day surgical procedures; inguinal hernia repair (IHR), arthroscopic procedures (AS); and cosmetic breast augmentation (CBA). METHOD: A total of 355 patients prospectively completed an extended eight-item EQ-5D questionnaire (pain, mobility, mood, self-care, activities, sleep, sex, need for analgesic), preoperatively and at one, three and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Pain and mobility problems were frequently reported prior to surgery among IHR and AS patients, while CBA patients had less deviation from normal in the preoperative health profile. The proportions of patients reporting surgery-related deviations were 35%, 20% and 5% at one, three and six months respectively. After one month, 50% of AS patients still suffered subjective discomfort as compared to 13% and 20% of the IHR and CBA patients, respectively. Pain and ambulation problems were the most common symptoms in all groups. Six months after surgery, 94% of IHR, 89% of AS and 97% of CBA patients were fully recovered. CONCLUSIONS: No major morbidity or severe complications were observed and patients' satisfaction was high overall. We found procedure-specific changes in the postoperative health profile after day surgery. AS patients recovered more slowly compared with IHR and CBA patients. We conclude that time for final evaluation differs significantly between procedures.

Anaesthetic gas monitoring comparison between two side-stream monitors.

End-tidal gas monitoring has become standard of care during inhaled general anaesthesia. We studied the performance of a new side stream gas monitor the ISA multi-gas monitor. The performance was studied at constant low flow of calibration gas and end-tidal anaesthetic measure was studied during routine day case anaesthesia. Pair wise readings of end-tidal halogenated anaesthetic concentration were recorded during low flow anaesthesia. Performance was found to be high; all calibration gas measures were within 0.1 vol% deviation. During routine anaesthesia mean bias was -0.036 vol% and 93 out of 97 pair-wise readings were within the agreement limits as compared to the reference Datex instrument.

Postoperative impact of regular tobacco use, smoking or snuffing, a prospective multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study the effects of different tobacco administration routes on pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), following three common day surgical procedures: cosmetic breast augmentation (CBA), inguinal hernia repair (IHR) and arthroscopic procedures (AS). We have prospectively investigated the effects of regular tobacco use in ambulatory surgery. METHODS: The 355 allocated patients were followed during recovery and the first day at home. RESULTS: Thirty-two percent of the patients used tobacco regularly, 33% of CBA, 27% of IHR and 34% of AS. Pain was well controlled in the post-anesthesia care unit at rest; during ambulation, 37% of all patients reported VAS>3. Tobacco use had no impact on early post-operative pain. Post-operative nausea was experienced by 30% of patients during recovery while in hospital. On day 1, 14% experienced nausea. We found a significant reduction of PONV among tobacco users (smoking and/or snuffing). Smoking or snuffing reduced the risk of PONV by nearly 50% in both genders on the day of surgery and at the first day at home. The reduction of PONV was equal, regardless of tobacco administration routes. CONCLUSION: We found that regular use of tobacco, both by smoking and snuffing, had a significant effect on PONV during the early post-operative period. Non-tobacco users undergoing breast surgery were found to have the highest risk for PONV. We could not see any influence of nicotine use on post-operative pain. Thus, it seems of value to identify regular tobacco use, not only smoking, as a part of the pre-operative risk assessment.

Clinical practice and routines for day surgery in Sweden: implications for improvement in nursing interventions.

The purpose of this study was to examine nursing practice in day surgery settings in Sweden. A questionnaire focusing on the routines of the day surgery process of patients in Sweden was administered. Based on these findings, appropriate nursing interventions are outlined and discussed. Day surgery routines were in accordance with general worldwide practice. The study revealed that nursing involvement was rare in the preoperative routine. In addition, the major part of the recovery process, including assessments of discharge eligibility and information about pain management, was managed by PACU nurses. The nurse follow-up revealed a number of subjective queries and symptoms that, in a seemingly easy way, could have been prevented by further perianesthesia/perioperative patient education. There is an obvious place for nursing interventions when the decision for day surgery is taken. These interventions should focus on providing the patient with information before surgery, preoperative patient health screening, and information/education at discharge. Furthermore, nursing interventions should include quality assurance, such as follow-up calls for the evaluation of care, as well as providing information and coaching for the patient at home.

Children in day surgery: clinical practice and routines. The results from a nation-wide survey.

BACKGROUND: Day surgery is common in paediatric surgical practice. Safe routines including parental and child information in order to optimise care and reduce anxiety are important. Most day surgery units are not specialised in paediatric care, which is why specific paediatric expertise is often lacking. METHODS: We studied the practice of paediatric day surgery in Sweden by a questionnaire survey sent to all hospitals, obtaining an 88% response rate. Three specific paediatric cases were enquired for in more detail. RESULTS: The proportion of paediatric day surgery vs. in-hospital procedures was 46%. Seventy-one out of 88 responding units performed paediatric day surgery. All units had anxiolytic pre-medication as a routine in 1-6-year-olds, and in 7-16-year-olds at 60% of the units. Most units performed circumcision and adenoidectomy, while 33% performed tonsillectomy. Anaesthesia induction was intravenous in older children, and also in 1-6-year-olds at 50% of the units. Parental presence at induction was mandatory. Post-operatively, 93% of units routinely assessed pain. Paracetamol and NSAIDs were the most common analgesics, as monotherapy or combined with rescue medication in the recovery as IV morphine. At 42% of units, take-home bags of analgesics were provided, covering 1-3 days of treatment. Pain was the most frequent complaint on follow-up. Micturition difficulties were common after circumcision, nausea after adenoidectomy and nutrition difficulties after tonsillectomy. CONCLUSIONS: In Sweden, most day surgery units perform paediatric surgery, most children receive pre-medication, anaesthesia is induced IV and take-home analgesics paracetamol and or NSAIDs are often provided. Still, pain is a common complaint after discharge.

Clinical practice and routines for day surgery in Sweden: results from a nation-wide survey.

BACKGROUND: Day surgery has expanded considerably during the last decades. Routines and standards have developed but differ between and within countries. METHODS: We studied the practice of day surgery in Sweden by an extensive questionnaire survey sent to all 92 hospitals. RESULTS: The proportion of day surgery vs. in-hospital procedures was overall 43%, with 43% in adults and 46% in children. Orthopaedic (33%), general (29%) and gynaecological (17%) surgery were the most common ambulatory procedures. Most patients (>90%) underwent pre-operative assessment by an anaesthesiologist. Patient self-assessment questionnaires were common (86%). Risk stratification for post-operative nausea and vomiting was used by 70% of the departments. Anxiolytic pre-medication was uncommon. Most anaesthesiologists (95%) used pre-operative oral analgesics to initiate post-operative analgesia, the most common being paracetamol (95%), NSAIDs (73%) and coxibs (15%). A balanced general anaesthesia technique was preferred. Post-operatively, 93% of the units routinely assessed patients' pain. Analgesic combinations of paracetamol, NSAIDs and weak opioids were used by 94% of the units. Most hospitals (80%) had standardised discharge criteria based on clinical assessment, and many required a patient escort at home for 24 h post-operatively. Assessments of unplanned admission, re-admission and post-operative complications were not performed routinely. Follow-up telephone calls within 1-2 days were performed regularly in about 40% of the units, or in selected patients only (37%). Pain was the most frequent complaint on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In Sweden, a high degree of standardised regime for day surgical practice was found. Post-operative pain is the most common complaint after discharge.