A prospective observational study of the impact of an electronic questionnaire (ePAQ-PO) on the duration of nurse-led pre-operative assessment and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: Standard pre-operative assessment at our institution involves a comprehensive history and examination by a nurse practitioner. An electronic pre-operative assessment questionnaire, ePAQ-PO® (ePAQ, Sheffield, UK) has previously been developed and validated. This study aimed to determine the impact of ePAQ-PO on nurse consultation times and patient satisfaction in low-risk patients. METHODS: The duration of pre-operative assessment consultation was recorded for American Society of Anesthesiology physical classification 1 and 2 patients undergoing pre-operative assessment by an electronic questionnaire (ePAQ-PO group) and standard face-to-face assessment by a nurse practitioner (standard group). Patients were also asked to complete an eight-item satisfaction questionnaire. Eighty-six patients were included (43 in each group). RESULTS: After adjusting for the duration of physical examination, median (IQR [min-max]) consultation time was longer in the standard compared to the ePAQ-PO group (25 (18-33 [10-49]) min vs. 12 (8-17 [4-45]) min, respectively; p <0.001). Response rate for the satisfaction questionnaire was 93%. There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction scores (38/39 in standard group vs. 39/41 in ePAQ-PO group were fully satisfied with their pre-operative assessment; p = 0.494). CONCLUSION: Pre-operative assessment using ePAQ-PO is associated with a significant reduction of over 50% in the duration of the assessment without impacting on patient satisfaction.

The Pathophysiology of Early Hypotension Following Epinephrine-containing Local Anesthetic Infiltration of the Nasal Mucosa in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy: A Prospective, Observational Study.

In patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, the nasal mucosa is often infiltrated with local anesthetic solutions that contain epinephrine to aid hemostasis. This may, however, result in hemodynamic changes, especially hypotension. We characterized the cardiovascular changes using a LiDCOrapid monitor in 13 patients after the infiltration of 4% articaine containing 1:200,000 epinephrine. Nine (69%) had a >20% decrease in mean arterial pressure at a median time of 116 seconds after the infiltration of articaine with epinephrine. Analysis of the cardiac output data revealed that this was caused by a sustained reduction in systemic vascular resistance. The arterial blood pressure normalized over a period of 60 to 90 seconds secondary to increases in stroke volume and heart rate producing an elevation in cardiac output. Transient hypotension following the infiltration of epinephrine-containing local anesthetics may be caused by epinephrine stimulation of ß2-adrenoceptors producing vasodilation.

Patient-completed, preoperative web-based anaesthetic assessment questionnaire (electronic Personal Assessment Questionnaire PreOperative): Development and validation.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, guidelines support the routine use of anaesthetic preoperative assessment (POA), a process that is frequently supported by pro formas and unvalidated questionnaires. Electronic questionnaires can provide reliable data. A local initiative has seen the development of a computerised electronic Personal Assessment Questionnaire (ePAQ). OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a novel electronic instrument for POA. DESIGN: The content and face validity were evaluated in 30 patients. The questionnaire was then modified and completed by a further 300 patients, evaluating the reliability of its items and scoring algorithms for BMI and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status. The study was approved by the South Yorkshire Regional Ethics Committee (REC 09/H1308/127). SETTING: The study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital in the United Kingdom between January 2011 and February 2012 and was funded by a research grant from the Charitable Trustees of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust. PATIENTS: A total of 330 patients aged 18 years or older, listed for surgery and able to read and understand English, were recruited. Neurosurgery; ear, nose and throat; orthopaedics; gynaecology; general and plastic surgery; ophthalmology and urology patients were included. All participants provided written consent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Validation including test-retest analysis, assessment of patient value and burden, assessment of accuracy, mean score difference of BMI estimation and comparison of inter-rater ASA grading. RESULTS: In all, 77% of patients reported that the ePAQ helped with communication, 99% that it was easy to complete and 98% that they would be happy to use it again. ePAQ preoperative assigned ASA grades matched consultant-assigned grades more frequently than nurse-assigned grades. Self-reported BMI classification was correct in 78% of patients and within one WHO category in a further 21%. Test-retest scores were good. CONCLUSION: Initial evaluation suggests that ePAQ is acceptable to patients. Data collected using the system were found to be reliable, and its intrinsic scoring systems for ASA and BMI are comparable with values assigned by clinicians.