Survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis in Propofol and Intralipid in the Dead Space of Intravenous Injection Ports.

We tested whether propofol or Intralipid inoculated with Staphylococcus epidermidis would promote bacterial growth within an intravenous (IV) injection hub, a site prone to bacterial contamination. In tubes incubated under optimal conditions, S epidermidis exhibited growth in Intralipid, but not in propofol. In contrast, within the IV hub incubated with either propofol or intralipid at room temperature, S epidermidis bacterial numbers declined with time, and virtually no contamination remained after 12 hours. These data suggest that certain IV lines are inhospitable for S epidermidis.

Total intravenous anesthesia vs inhaled anesthetic for intraoperative visualization during endoscopic sinus surgery: a double blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) can impair visualization and delay surgical progress. The role that anesthetic technique may have on the quality of surgical field during ESS has been previously studied. However, meta-analyses have deemed the current literature inconclusive and lacking methodological consistency. This study was designed with these critiques in mind to assess the effect of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) vs inhaled anesthetic on the quality of the surgical field during ESS. METHODS: This study was a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 30 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 1 or 2 undergoing bilateral ESS for the primary diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. In addition to standard techniques to minimize blood loss, study patients were randomized to maintenance anesthesia with intravenous propofol or inhaled desflurane. Anesthetic depth was standardized using bispectral index (BIS). The primary outcome measured was the Wormald grading scale to assess the endoscopic surgical field. RESULTS: The use of TIVA was associated with a statistically significant reduction in mean Wormald score compared to desflurane (4.21 vs 5.53, p = 0.024). Mean Boezaart score was also lower in the TIVA arm (2.18 vs 2.76, p = 0.034). Experimental groups were homogeneous in all compared baseline characteristics. Secondary outcomes including surgical duration, time to extubation, and estimated blood loss were not found to be statistically significant between experimental groups. CONCLUSION: Even with all other factors implemented to optimize the surgical field, utilization of TIVA vs inhaled anesthetic still resulted in a statistically significant improvement in surgical field during ESS.

Use of an Intrathecal Catheter for Analgesia, Anesthesia, and Therapy in an Obstetric Patient with Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome.

Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) is a rare disorder chiefly observed in obese women of childbearing age. We describe a case of a parturient with PTCS managed successfully with an intrathecal catheter, after inadvertent dural puncture, for labor analgesia, surgical anesthesia, and treatment of headache because of intracranial hypertension during the peripartum period. Prolonged placement of the intrathecal catheter (i.e., >24 hours) may have contributed to the absence of postdural puncture headache symptoms and an uneventful postpartum period. Intrathecal catheter placement may therefore be a viable option in patients with PTCS should inadvertent dural puncture occur.

Intravenous tranexamic acid and intraoperative visualization during functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) can hinder surgical progress and may be associated with increased complications. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic that is known to reduce operative bleeding. The current study was designed to assess the effect of adjunctive intravenous tranexamic acid on intraoperative bleeding and the quality of the surgical field during ESS. METHODS: Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Patients undergoing ESS for the primary diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyposis were included. Sample size calculation based on a clinically relevant difference in the Wormald surgical field score yielded a sample of 28. In addition to standard measures to minimize blood loss, study patients received intravenous tranexamic acid with control patients receiving intravenous normal saline. Outcome measures included the Wormald grading scale to assess the intraoperative surgical field and estimated blood loss based on suction container contents with irrigation fluid subtracted. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (median age, 45 years; range, 23-80 years) were included in the study. Diagnoses included chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis (n = 5), chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis (n = 23). The use of the tranexamic acid was not associated with a statistically significant decrease in estimated blood loss (201 vs 231 mL; p = 0.60) or Wormald grading scale (5.84 vs 5.80; p = 0.93). There were no adverse events or complications during the study. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive intravenous tranexamic acid does not appear to result in a clinically meaningful reduction in blood loss or improve visualization of the surgical field during ESS.