Mucosal tonometry as early warning of gastrojejunal leak in laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass.

The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is the standard surgical procedure for morbidly obese patients in many centers worldwide. The gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA) leak has a 2 % incidence and a 10 % mortality. This prospective study aims to test gastroenteric tonometry as an early warning of GJA leak risk. A nasogastric tube with tonometric capability was used to monitor gastroenteric mucosal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PgeCO2) in 32 consecutive patients during the first 24 to 72 postoperative hours after LRYGB. Sensitivity was 100 %, specificity 96.77 %, likelihood ratio 31, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.984. The only early gastrojejunal leak occurred to the patient with maximal PgeCO2 (13.9 kPa) of the cohort. The remaining patients kept a PgeCO2 below 11 kPa except one; none of these developed early GJA leak. Mucosal gastroenteric tonometry may be a useful predictor of early GJA leak of the LRYGB.

Helmet noninvasive mechanical ventilation in patients with acute postoperative respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: The physiological and clinical effects of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on acute postoperative respiratory failure are relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prediction factors for failure in the use of NIV with a helmet in this context. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. The use of NIV was assessed for a period of 2 years in a postoperative ICU. Demographic data were collected, as well as acute respiratory failure (ARF) and arterial gas readings. Hemodynamic changes were assessed using pulse contour cardiac output technology, and the clinical development of subjects was recorded. All subjects who developed ARF were treated using NIV as their primary care, depending on whether the technique was successful or the subject required intubation. The risk factors that determined failure in the application of NIV were subsequently determined. RESULTS: Of the 99 subjects presenting with postoperative ARF treated with NIV using a helmet, 74 did not require intubation (74.7%). Following a multivariate analysis using logistic regression, we determined that there are 3 independent risk factors for the failure of NIV. Three factors were associated with respiratory failure: ARDS, pneumonia, and lack of improvement with NIV in 1 hour (increase in the P(aO(2))/F(IO(2))). CONCLUSIONS: NIV using a helmet could provide an effective alternative to conventional ventilation in selected patients with postoperative ARF.

Effect of combined spinal-epidural analgesia versus epidural analgesia on labor and delivery duration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether combined spinal-epidural analgesia (CSEA) can decrease the known epidural effect of lengthening delivery. METHODS: Between April and May 2010, 144 women undergoing childbirth in hospital with epidural pain relief were randomized to receive either low-dose epidural analgesia (LEA) or CSEA. The spinal component included 2.5mg of bupivacaine, 25 µg of fentanyl, and 200 µg of morphine. The epidural component of the CSEA procedure was started once pain returned. The primary outcome was total labor duration measured from the time of initiation of labor analgesia to delivery. RESULTS: The difference in duration between LEA (n=72) and CSEA (n=72) was 5 minutes for labor (P=0.82), 2 minutes for delivery (P=0.60), and 7 minutes for total labor duration (P=0.75). The combined group used less levobupivacaine (P<0.001) and had lower sensory blockade at the dermatomal level (P=0.037). Women in the CSEA group had a higher incidence of pruritus (P=0.002) and lightheadedness (P=0.02) during labor; and a higher incidence of pruritus (P=0.002), nausea-vomiting (P=0.026), and drowsiness (P=0.003) in the postpartum period. CONCLUSION: As compared with LEA, CSEA did not shorten the duration of labor length; however, it did reduce levobupivacaine consumption and motor weakness.