Anesthesia Teleconsultation: Quality, Medicoeconomic Interest, and Patient Satisfaction of Preoperative Assessment-A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Telemedicine can be defined as the use of telecommunication technology for performing medical acts remotely by health professionals. Currently in anesthesia, teleconsultation (TC) is becoming widespread, although the benefit and quality have not been well evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the quality, the patient satisfaction, as well as the ecological and medicoeconomic impacts of the preanesthesia TC. Methods: This prospective observational multicentric study was approved by the Société Française d'Anesthésie-Réanimation ethics committee. The study took place from October 2020 to March 2021, in eight French health care institutions. Every adult patient requiring TC before elective surgery could be included. Unavailability of videoconferencing for the patient was the main exclusion criteria. Five hundred three (n) patients, scheduled for surgery, were included. Their files were analyzed for quality, 375 were successfully interviewed for the second part of the study evaluating satisfaction and medicoeconomic impact. The study's evaluation criteria were the quality of the TeleMed-Cs, the satisfaction and comprehension for the patient, and the medicoeconomic impact of a remote evaluation compared with the face-to-face consultation with the surgeon. Results: Of the 503 files, 478 (95%) were reviewed and met all the high authority of health quality criteria. The electronic format of records was associated with higher completion rate. The median satisfaction was 10.0 (IQR 8.25-10.0). The cost of a TC in anesthesia was significantly lower than that of a face-to-face surgical consultation with a median cost of 1.49€ (IQR 0.8-1.99) versus 34.81€ (IQR 14.01-91.7) p < 0.001. Conclusions: TC in anesthesia seems to be a good alternative in terms of quality, patient satisfaction, and medicoeconomic gain for our patients. By facilitating access to preoperative evaluation, it could be adopted worldwide and thus reduce surgery-related morbidity and mortality in our patients.

Impact of increasing post-filter ionized calcium target on filter lifespan in renal replacement therapy with regional citrate anticoagulation: A before-and-after study.

INTRODUCTION: Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is the recommended method for anticoagulation in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). However, the optimal post-filter ionized calcium (iCa) target level remains unclear. This study aims to assess the effect of increasing the post-filter iCa target level from 0.25-0.35 mmol/L to 0.30-0.40 mmol/L on filter lifespan until clotting during RCA-CRRT. METHODS: This before-and-after single-center study included patients who underwent RCA-CRRT sessions without systemic anticoagulation during two periods. The first period included patients with a post-filter iCa target between 0.25 and 0.35 mmol/L, while the second period included those with a target between 0.30 and 0.40 mmol/L. The primary outcome was filter lifespan until clotting. RESULTS: A total of 1037 CRRT sessions were analyzed, with 610 sessions in the first period and 427 sessions in the second period. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no significant difference in filter lifespan until clotting between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.020 [0.703; 1.481]; p = 0.92). CONCLUSION: Increasing the post-filter iCa target level from 0.25-0.35 mmol/L to 0.30-0.40 mmol/L during RCA-CRRT does not reduce filter lifespan until clotting and may decrease unnecessary citrate exposure. However, the optimal post-filter iCa target should be individualized according to the patient's clinical and biological status.

Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique improves the efficiency of distal nerve blocks for carpal tunnel release.

BACKGROUND: Axillary block is the standard for carpal tunnel release (CTR), providing effective anesthesia, and tolerance of tourniquet. Conversely, distal blocks are less used due to poor tolerance of tourniquet. Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT), proposed for hand and wrist surgeries, avoids its use. This study assesses the benefits of the addition of WALANT to distal blocks during endoscopic CTR (eCTR). METHODS: This randomized, open-label, controlled trial prospectively enrolled 60 patients scheduled for eCTR. Patients were randomized to receive distal blocks at the wrist combined to either a high arm tourniquet (Distal block group) or a WALANT in the area of surgery (Distal + Walant group). The primary endpoint was the global pain score summing pain scores related to puncture, local anesthetic injection, pneumatic tourniquet, surgical procedure, tourniquet deflation, and residual sensitivity after surgery. RESULTS: Mean global pain score was significantly reduced in the Distal + Walant group (0.5 ± 1.4 vs. 2.2 ± 2.4; p < 0.001). No need for an additional anesthetic procedure was required in the Distal + Walant group. Even if the quality of visualization was high in both groups, it was better in the Distal block group (5 [5-5] vs. 4 [4-5]; p < 0.001). No rescue tourniquet was necessary for the Distal + Walant group. The rate of hematoma 15 days post-surgery was significantly reduced in the Distal + Walant group (20% vs. 57%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of WALANT to distal blocks is adapted for eCTR. This combined technique decreases perioperative pain scores, provides good surgery conditions, and reduces the risk of postoperative hematoma. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER AND REGISTRY URL: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04494100) on July 31, 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04494100?term=CMC+ambroise+pare&cntry=FR&draw=4&rank=28.

Association of preoperative COVID-19 and postoperative respiratory morbidity during the Omicron epidemic wave: the DROMIS-22 multicentre prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Preoperative COVID-19 has been associated with excess postoperative morbi-mortality. Consequently, guidelines were developed that recommended the postponement of surgery for at least 7 weeks after the infection. We hypothesised that vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 and the large predominance of the Omicron variant attenuated the effect of a preoperative COVID-19 on the occurrence of postoperative respiratory morbidity. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in 41 French centres between 15 March and 30 May 2022 (ClinicalTrials NCT05336110), aimed at comparing the postoperative respiratory morbidity between patients with and without preoperative COVID-19 within 8 weeks prior to surgery. The primary outcome was a composite outcome combining the occurrence of pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, unexpected mechanical ventilation, and pulmonary embolism within the first 30 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality, hospital length-of-stay, readmissions, and non-respiratory infections. The sample size was determined to have 90% power to identify a doubling of the primary outcome rate. Adjusted analyses were performed using propensity score modelling and inverse probability weighting. Findings: Of the 4928 patients assessed for the primary outcome, of whom 92.4% were vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2, 705 had preoperative COVID-19. The primary outcome was reported in 140 (2.8%) patients. An 8-week preoperative COVID-19 was not associated with increased postoperative respiratory morbidity (odds ratio 1.08 [95% CI 0.48-2.13]; p = 0.83). None of the secondary outcomes differed between the two groups. Sensitivity analyses concerning the timing between COVID-19 and surgery, and the clinical presentations of preoperative COVID-19 did not show any association with the primary outcome, except for COVID-19 patients with ongoing symptoms the day of surgery (OR 4.29 [1.02-15.8]; p = 0.04). Interpretation: In our Omicron-predominant, highly immunised population undergoing general surgery, a preoperative COVID-19 was not associated with increased postoperative respiratory morbidity. Funding: The study was fully funded by the French Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SFAR).

Subcostal transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in liver transplant recipients: a before-and-after study.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative pain management after orthotopic liver transplantation is complex due to impaired liver function and frequent acute kidney dysfunction. Subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block may be of interest in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of subcostal TAP block on opioid consumption after liver transplantation. METHODS: We conducted a before-and-after single center study. During the first period, we included patients whom did not receive an analgesic TAP block. During the second period, we included those with bilateral ultrasound-guided subcostal TAP block (20 mL ropivacaïne 0.2% each side). Patients requiring sedation within 48 hours of surgery as well as patients with combined liver and kidney transplants or skin-only closures were excluded. The primary outcome was cumulative oral morphine consumption within 48 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores and TAP block-related complications. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients were included in the non-TAP block group and 78 patients in the TAP block group. The median oral morphine equivalent consumption (IQR) within 48 hours following surgery was 74 mg (39; 112) for the non-TAP block group and 50 mg (20; 80) for the TAP block group (p<0.001). There was no difference in pain scores between the two groups. No complications related to the TAP block were reported. CONCLUSION: Subcostal TAP block appears to have a small opioid reducing effect after orthotopic liver transplantation surgery.

[Assessment of Teleconsultation for planned orthopaedic surgery]. / Faisabilité d'une téléconsultation d'anesthésie en chirurgie orthopédique programmée.

The COVID-19 pandemic has motivated the development of teleconsultation in anaesthesia. We have conducted a single centre prospective study in patients scheduled for planned orthopaedic surgery during 9 weeks between may and july 2020 to assess its practicability. The quality of the consultation and patients' satisfaction, were evaluated during this period. The teleconsultation was successful in 90% of the patients without the need of attendance to the hospital for assessment before anaesthesia. The process was satisfactory for 97% of these patients. The mean duration was 15 minutes. The support of a third party was required in 46% of patients older than 65 years. The main cause of failure was the poor quality of the connection. Only two patients were cancelled for surgery because they did not understand fasting rule. The teleconsultation is now an integral part of preoperative assessment of patients for anaesthesia with good practicability and reliability.

Effect of the use of an endotracheal tube and stylet versus an endotracheal tube alone on first-attempt intubation success: a multicentre, randomised clinical trial in 999 patients.

PURPOSE: The effect of the routine use of a stylet during tracheal intubation on first-attempt intubation success is unclear. We hypothesised that the first-attempt intubation success rate would be higher with tracheal tube + stylet than with tracheal tube alone. METHODS: In this multicentre randomised controlled trial, conducted in 32 intensive care units, we randomly assigned patients to tracheal tube + stylet or tracheal tube alone (i.e. without stylet). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with first-attempt intubation success. The secondary outcome was the proportion of patients with complications related to tracheal intubation. Serious adverse events, i.e., traumatic injuries related to tracheal intubation, were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 999 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis: 501 (50%) to tracheal tube + stylet and 498 (50%) to tracheal tube alone. First-attempt intubation success occurred in 392 patients (78.2%) in the tracheal tube + stylet group and in 356 (71.5%) in the tracheal tube alone group (absolute risk difference, 6.7; 95%CI 1.4-12.1; relative risk, 1.10; 95%CI 1.02-1.18; P = 0.01). A total of 194 patients (38.7%) in the tracheal tube + stylet group had complications related to tracheal intubation, as compared with 200 patients (40.2%) in the tracheal tube alone group (absolute risk difference, - 1.5; 95%CI - 7.5 to 4.6; relative risk, 0.96; 95%CI 0.83-1.12; P = 0.64). The incidence of serious adverse events was 4.0% and 3.6%, respectively (absolute risk difference, 0.4; 95%CI, - 2.0 to 2.8; relative risk, 1.10; 95%CI 0.59-2.06. P = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Among critically ill adults undergoing tracheal intubation, using a stylet improves first-attempt intubation success.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients may be at higher risk for severe coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19); however, the outcome of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been described yet. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study within the Lymphomes Oculo-Cérébraux national network (LOC) to assess the clinical characteristics and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in PCNSL patients (positive real-time polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal swab or evocative lung computed tomography scan). We compared clinical characteristics between patients with severe (death and/or intensive care unit admission) and mild disease. RESULTS: Between March and May 2020, 13 PCNSL patients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 11 (85%) of whom were undergoing chemotherapy at the time of infection. The mortality rate was 23% (3/13), and two additional patients (15%) required mechanical ventilation. Two patients (15%) had no COVID-19 symptoms. History of diabetes mellitus was more common in severe patients (3/5 vs 0/8, p = 0.03). Two patients recovered from COVID-19 after mechanical ventilation during more than two weeks and resumed chemotherapy. In all, chemotherapy was resumed after COVID-19 recovery in nine patients (69%) after a median delay of 16 days (range 3-32), none of whom developed unusual chemotherapy complication nor SARS-Cov2 reactivation. CONCLUSION: This preliminary analysis suggests that, while being at higher risk be for severe illness, PCNSL patients with COVID-19 might be treated maximally especially if they achieved oncological response at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chemotherapy might be resumed without prolonged delay in PCNSL patients with COVID-19.