Effect of sugammadex versus neostigmine/atropine combination on postoperative cognitive dysfunction after elective surgery.

This study aimed to assess the effects of sugammadex and neostigmine/atropine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in adult patients after elective surgery. A randomised, double-blind controlled trial was carried out on 160 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III patients who were >40 years. The Mini-Mental State Evaluation, clock-drawing test and the Isaacs Set test were used to assess cognitive function at three timepoints: 1) preoperatively, 2) one hour postoperatively, and 3) at discharge. The anaesthetic protocol was the same for all patients, except for the neuromuscular block reversal, which was administered by random allocation using either sugammadex or neostigmine/atropine after the reappearance of T2 in the train-of-four sequence. POCD was defined as a decline ≥1 standard deviation in ≥2 cognitive tests. The incidence of POCD was similar in both groups at one hour postoperatively and at discharge (28% and 10%, in the neostigmine group, 23% and 5.4% in the sugammadex group, P=0.55 and 0.27 respectively). In relation to individual tests, a significant decline of clock-drawing test in the neostigmine group was observed at one hour postoperatively and at discharge. For the Isaacs Set test, a greater decline was found in the sugammadex group. These findings suggest that there are no clinically important differences in the incidence of POCD after neostigmine or sugammadex administration.

The Greek version of Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI): translation, cultural adaptation, and validation in patients with rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt a Greek version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) questionnaire and to validate its usage in Greek patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A forward and backward translation was performed, and the final version of the Greek questionnaire was administered to 134 outpatients (mean age 47.4 ± 14.5) with rotator cuff tear under conservative treatment. The questionnaire was re-administered 2-5 days later to assess test-retest reliability. Patients completed the Greek SPADI, the Greek version of the Quick DASH (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire) and the EuroQoL EQ-5D. 102 of the 134 questionnaires were considered valid. RESULTS: The internal consistencies of the SPADI total and its subscales measured with Cronbach's alpha coefficient were high (0.932 for SPADI-Total, 0.899 for SPADI-Disability, 0.905 for SPADI-Pain). Intraclass correlation coefficients showed excellent test-retest reliability (0.899 for Disability, 0.902 for Pain, and 0.929 for total SPADI). A significantly high positive correlation was found between the SPADI total score and its subscales, and Quick DASH for Pain and Disability. Significant correlations were also found between SPADI scales and EQ-5D variables. There was a moderate positive correlation with the variables "self-reliance" (r = 0.66), "common activities" (r = 0.58), and "pain/discomfort" (r = 0.49), and a weaker correlation with the "mobility" variable (r = 0.20). Factor analysis (PAF method) revealed a bidimensional formation of the SPADI. Eight items (five pain/three disability) weighted the first factor by >0.5, and five disability items weighted the second factor. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek SPADI represents a valid and reliable tool for measuring pain and disability in patients with painful shoulder disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Pretreatment with sevoflurane attenuates direct lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane exerts effects on pulmonary cells that could protect against lung injury. We evaluated the potential of pretreatment with sevoflurane to attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury. METHODS: LPS was administered intratracheally in Wistar rats to induce lung injury. Sevoflurane was administered for 30 min at 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 MAC 15 min before LPS or for 30 min at 0.5 MAC 24 hours before LPS. After initial analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells and total protein, the group of 0.5 MAC 15 min before LPS was further analyzed for surfactant aggregates subfractions, plasma malondialdehyde levels and lung histology. RESULTS: LPS instillation resulted in neutrophils sequestration in the lungs, loss of alveolar macrophages, increased BALF total protein and decreased large surfactant aggregates. Only inhalation of sevoflurane for 30 min at 0.5 MAC 15 min before LPS installation effectively reduced neutrophil accumulation, preserved alveolar epithelial cells and reduced total protein content in BALF. This regimen also reduced plasma malondialdehyde levels and increased large surfactant aggregates, despite the application of mechanical ventilation. This effect was preserved after LPS instillation and the favorable composition of surfactant was maintained. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with sevoflurane effectively attenuates direct severe lung injury, possibly by inhibition of neutrophil accumulation and alteration of the surfactant composition.

Incidence of inferior vena cava thrombosis detected by transthoracic echocardiography in the immediate postoperative period after adult cardiac and general surgery.

Venous thromboembolism is an important complication after general and cardiac surgery. Using transthoracic echocardiography, this study assessed the incidence of inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis among a total of 395 and 289 cardiac surgical and major surgical patients in the immediate postoperative period after cardiac and major surgery, respectively. All transthoracic echocardiography was performed by a specialist intensivist within 24 hours after surgery with special emphasis on using the subcostal view in the supine position to visualise the IVC. Of the 395 cardiac surgical patients studied, the IVC was successfully visualised using the subcostal view in 315 patients (79.8%) and eight of these patients (2.5%) had a partially obstructive thrombosis in the IVC. In 250 out of 289 (85%) general surgical patients, the IVC was also clearly visualised, but only one patient (0.4%) had an IVC thrombosis (2.5 vs 0.4%, P <0.05). In summary, visualisation of the IVC was feasible in most patients in the immediate postoperative period after both adult cardiac and major surgery. IVC thrombosis appeared to be more common after adult cardiac surgery than general surgery. A large prospective cohort study is needed to define the risk factors for IVC thrombus and whether early thromboprophylaxis can reduce the incidence of IVC thrombus after adult cardiac surgery.

Ultrasound-guided combined intermediate and deep cervical plexus nerve block for regional anaesthesia in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the application of an ultrasound-guided combined intermediate and deep cervical plexus nerve block for regional anaesthesia in patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery. METHODS: A total of 19 patients receiving ultrasound-guided combined intermediate and deep cervical plexus anaesthesia followed by neck surgery were examined prospectively. The sternocleidomastoid and the levator of the scapula muscles as well as the cervical transverse processes were used as easily depicted ultrasound landmarks for the injection of local anaesthetics. Under ultrasound guidance, a needle was advanced in the fascial band between the sternocleidomastoid and the levator of the scapula muscles and 15 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% was injected. Afterwards, the needle was advanced between the levator of the scapula and the hyperechoic contour of the cervical transverse processes and a further 15 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% was injected. The sensory block of the cervical nerve plexus, the analgesic efficacy of the block within 24 h after injection and potential block-related complications were assessed. RESULTS: All patients showed a complete cervical plexus nerve block. No patient required analgesics within the first 24 h after anaesthesia. Two cases of blood aspiration were recorded. No further cervical plexus block-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided combined intermediate and deep cervical plexus block is a feasible, effective and safe method for oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.

Influence of propofol and volatile anaesthetics on the inflammatory response in the ventilated lung.

BACKGROUND: The immunomodulatory effects of volatile anaesthetics in vitro and the protective effect of propofol in lung injury spurred us to study the effects of volatile anaesthetics and propofol on lung tissue in vivo. METHODS: Twenty-seven pigs were randomized to 4-h general anaesthesia with propofol (8 mg/kg/h, group P, n=9), sevoflurane [minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)=1.0, group S, n=9) or desflurane (MAC=1.0, group D, n=9). Four healthy animals served as the no-ventilation group. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained to measure the cell counts, platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AcH), phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Lung tissues were evaluated histologically and for caspase-3 expression. RESULTS: Volatile anaesthetics reduced PAF-AcH levels without affecting PLA(2) activity and resulted in decreased alveolar macrophage and increased lymphocyte counts in BALF (sevoflurane: 29 ± 23%; desflurane: 26 ± 6%, both P<0.05 compared with 4 ± 2% in the no-ventilation group). These findings were accompanied by atelectasis and inflammatory cells' infiltration in the inhalational anaesthetics groups. Also, sevoflurane reduced SOD activity and both sevoflurane and desflurane induced significant caspase-3 expression. In contrast, propofol resulted in a minor degree of inflammation and preserved BALF cells' composition without triggering apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Halogenated anaesthetics seem to trigger an immune lymphocytic response in the lung, inducing significant apoptosis and impairment of PAF-AcH. In contrast, propofol preserves anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant defences during mechanical ventilation, thus preventing the emergence of apoptosis.

Cardiovascular ultrasound in detecting central venous catheter thrombosis in the intensive care unit: splenectomy and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Venous thrombosis of the upper extremities is becoming increasingly prevalent in the intensive care unit as a result of chronic in-dwelling central venous catheters. We report two rare cases in which combined transoesophageal echocardiography and vascular ultrasound examination aided in the identification of catheter-related thrombosis in two patients suffering from splenectomy-induced thrombocytosis and antiphospholipid syndrome respectively.

Malfunction of SynchroMed II baclofen pump delivers a near-lethal baclofen overdose.

INTRODUCTION: Intrathecal baclofen therapy using implantable pumps is an established treatment for spasticity. The pumps occasionally experience serious malfunction. CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old girl suffering from spastic diplegia was implanted with a Medtronic SynchroMed II pump (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., USA). During a refill at 3 months 19 ml of baclofen were still in the pump. It was assumed that there was a lumbar catheter obstruction and a revision was performed. At 11 months she was receiving 180 microg/day. When she presented for refill, there were again 19 ml of baclofen in the reservoir. The pump was refilled, stopped and restarted at a lower dose. Ten minutes after restart the patient was complaining that she could not move her legs. Within the next 50 min she lapsed into coma, from a presumed baclofen overdose. She was intubated and ventilated. The reservoir was emptied of baclofen and the pump stopped. Seventeen hours after the baclofen overdose, the patient woke up gradually with no new neurological deficits. The pump was removed a week later. Medtronic laboratories examined the pump and reported no technical fault. DISCUSSION: The implanted Medtronic SynchroMed II pump suffered an unusual malfunction. It is postulated that the pump had suffered a motor stall, and when it was restarted, it gave an unusually high, potentially lethal, dose to the patient. CONCLUSION: Physicians who implant pumps for intrathecal baclofen administration need to be aware that these devices may suffer unheralded catastrophic failure that can lead to potentially lethal overdose administration.

Does hypothermic circulatory arrest or prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time affect early outcome in reoperative aortic surgery?

AIM: Prolonged cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) time, usually necessary for reoperations, is known to increase mortality in coronary bypass procedures and aortic reoperations. We investigated if prolonged CPB time and arch reconstruction in reoperations of the thoracic aorta affect in-hospital outcome. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients underwent reoperations on the thoracic aorta. The reoperations performed were aortic root replacement with composite graft without aortic arch involvement in ten patients, isolated ascending aorta replacement in six patients, aortic arch replacement as a primary procedure in two patients, and aortic arch in conjunction with ascending or descending aorta replacement in 11 patients. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had aortic reoperation with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and 15 without DHCA. The in-hospital mortality rate was 13.8%. The use deep hypothermic circulatory arrest or CPB time did not affect early outcome. Previous coronary artery bypass procedure was independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. Seven patients required re-exploration for bleeding. One patient suffered from stroke and finally five patients had prolonged ventilation, two requiring tracheostomy. There have been no deaths in the follow-up period. None of the patients has required repeat surgical intervention on the heart or the aorta. CONCLUSION: The use of DHCA or prolonged CPB time do not affect early outcome in reoperations of the thoracic aorta.

Desferrioxamine attenuates minor lung injury following surgical acute liver failure.

Acute liver failure (ALF) can be complicated by lung dysfunction. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that inhibition of oxidative stress through iron chelation with desferrioxamine (DFX) attenuates pulmonary injury caused by ALF. 14 adult female domestic pigs were subjected to surgical devascularisation of the liver and were randomised to a study group (DFX group, n = 7), which received post-operative intravenous infusion of DFX (14.5 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) for the first 6 h post-operatively and 2.4 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) until completion of 24 h), and a control group (n = 7). Post-operative lung damage was evaluated by histological and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis. DFX resulted in reduced BALF protein levels and tissue phospholipase (PL)A(2) activity. Plasma malondialdehyde and BALF nitrate and nitrite concentrations were lower, while catalase activity in the lung was higher after DFX treatment. PLA(2), platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase and total cell counts in BALF did not differ between groups. Histological examination revealed reduced alveolar collapse, pneumonocyte necrosis and total lung injury in the DFX-treated animals. DFX reduced systemic and pulmonary oxidative stress during ALF. The limited activity of PLA(2) and the attenuation of pneumonocyte necrosis could represent beneficial mechanisms by which DFX improves alveolar-capillary membrane permeability and prevents alveolar space collapse.