MEasuring the impact of Anesthetist-administered medications volumeS on intraoperative flUid balance duRing prolonged abdominal surgEry (MEASURE Study).

BACKGROUND: The contribution of intraoperative anesthetist-administered medications (IAAMs) to the total volume of intraoperative intravenous (IV) fluid therapy and their association with postoperative outcomes has never been formally investigated. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of adult patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. The volume of IAAMs, crystalloids and colloids, blood and blood products, blood loss, urine output and intraoperative fluid balance were collected. The contribution of IAAMs to the total intraoperative IV fluid volume and postoperative complications was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 152 consecutive patients were included. The median volume of IAAMs was 363.8 mL (interquartile range [IQR], (241.0-492.5) delivered at a median rate of 0.61 mL kg hr-1 (0.40-0.87) over a median duration of surgery of 489 minutes (416.3-605.3). This increased the total administered fluid volume by 5.2% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 4.6, 5.9%) (Cohen's d=1.33, P<0.001). The volume of IAAMs was comparable to the intraoperative colloid volume administered (median colloid volume, 400 mL). Overall, fluid volumes correlated significantly with the severity of complications (P=0.011), and the correlation strength increased when the IAAMs volume was included (P=0.005). On addition of IAAMs, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for prediction of postoperative complications increased from 0.580 (95%CI: 0.458, 0.701) to 0.603 (95%CI: 0.483, 0.723), P=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: IAAMs significantly increased the total administered fluid volume during pancreaticoduodenectomy. Their inclusion increases the accuracy of postoperative complications predictions. These findings support their inclusion in fluid volumes and balances in future interventional studies.

Incidence and management of metabolic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate in the ICU: An international observational study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic acidosis is a major complication of critical illness. However, its current epidemiology and its treatment with sodium bicarbonate given to correct metabolic acidosis in the ICU are poorly understood. METHOD: This was an international retrospective observational study in 18 ICUs in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan. Adult patients were consecutively screened, and those with early metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.3 and a Base Excess < -4 mEq/L, within 24-h of ICU admission) were included. Screening continued until 10 patients who received and 10 patients who did not receive sodium bicarbonate in the first 24 h (early bicarbonate therapy) were included at each site. The primary outcome was ICU mortality, and the association between sodium bicarbonate and the clinical outcomes were assessed using regression analysis with generalized linear mixed model. RESULTS: We screened 9437 patients. Of these, 1292 had early metabolic acidosis (14.0%). Early sodium bicarbonate was given to 18.0% (233/1292) of these patients. Dosing, physiological, and clinical outcome data were assessed in 360 patients. The median dose of sodium bicarbonate in the first 24 h was 110 mmol, which was not correlated with bodyweight or the severity of metabolic acidosis. Patients who received early sodium bicarbonate had higher APACHE III scores, lower pH, lower base excess, lower PaCO2, and a higher lactate and received higher doses of vasopressors. After adjusting for confounders, the early administration of sodium bicarbonate was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.44 to 1.62) for ICU mortality. In patients with vasopressor dependency, early sodium bicarbonate was associated with higher mean arterial pressure at 6 h and an aOR of 0.52 (95% CI, 0.22 to 1.19) for ICU mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early metabolic acidosis is common in critically ill patients. Early sodium bicarbonate is administered by clinicians to more severely ill patients but without correction for weight or acidosis severity. Bicarbonate therapy in acidotic vasopressor-dependent patients may be beneficial and warrants further investigation.

Perinatal management of hepatitis B virus: Clinical implementation of updated Australasian management guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of the 2013 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 'Management of Hepatitis B in Pregnancy' guideline. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of the clinical management and obstetric outcomes among hepatitis B virus-positive women in a single tertiary maternity hospital. Women with viral load >200,000 IU/ml were referred to a specialised clinic for consideration of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate therapy to reduce mother to child transmission. RESULTS: A total of 11,496 women gave birth during the study period, of which 101 (0.9%) women were hepatitis B virus positive. Viral load was measured in 99 (98%) of 101 hepatitis B virus-positive women; 30 (30%) had a viral load >200,000 IU/ml. Twenty-six women accepted tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; of these, 23 had a successful virological response (viral load <200,000 IU/ml before delivery). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to updated management guidelines and patient acceptance of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in our Australian population were high when provided in the context of a dedicated perinatal service.