Guidelines for inhaled sedation in the ICU.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Sedation is used in intensive care units (ICU) to improve comfort and tolerance during mechanical ventilation, invasive interventions, and nursing care. In recent years, the use of inhalation anaesthetics for this purpose has increased. Our objective was to obtain and summarise the best evidence on inhaled sedation in adult patients in the ICU, and use this to help physicians choose the most appropriate approach in terms of the impact of sedation on clinical outcomes and the risk-benefit of the chosen strategy. METHODOLOGY: Given the overall lack of literature and scientific evidence on various aspects of inhaled sedation in the ICU, we decided to use a Delphi method to achieve consensus among a group of 17 expert panellists. The processes was conducted over a 12-month period between 2022 and 2023, and followed the recommendations of the CREDES guidelines. RESULTS: The results of the Delphi survey form the basis of these 39 recommendations - 23 with a strong consensus and 15 with a weak consensus. CONCLUSION: The use of inhaled sedation in the ICU is a reliable and appropriate option in a wide variety of clinical scenarios. However, there are numerous aspects of the technique that require further study.

Anaphylactic shock versus Kounis syndrome in cardiac surgery: Differential diagnosis. / Shock anafiláctico versus síndrome de Kounis durante el intraoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca: diagnóstico diferencial.

Although Kounis syndrome was described almost 3 decades ago, there has been a notable increase in the reports of cases of acute coronary syndromes developed in the context of allergic reactions, also known as Kounis syndrome. This article discusses the diagnostic possibility in the face of an acute biventricular failure in the course of an anaphylactic reaction during the intra-operative period of a cardiac valve surgery.

[Assessment of concordance between CAM-ICU scale and nursing delirium scale in postoperative period of ICU patients after cardiac surgery]. / Valoración de la concordancia entre la escala CAM-ICU y la nursing delirium screening scale en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca en una unidad de críticos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate concordance between the scale of delirium assessment CAM-ICU and the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (NDSS) in postoperative cardiac surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study in tertiary hospital with consecutive selection of patients after cardiac surgery. During the stay in the Intensive Care Unit, CAM-ICU and NDSS were administered by the same researcher. For demographic and preoperative risk factors of delirium, descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Concordance was assessed using kappa index. RESULTS: 106 patients were included, performing 214 evaluations. Incidence of delirium with the CAM-ICU scale was of 8.4%, and of 16.8% with NDSS. The concordance expressed by the index Kappa was of 0.541. CONCLUSIONS: The concordance between the CAM-ICU scale and the NDSS in the postoperative cardiac surgery and during the stay in the Intensive Care Unit is low. Currently, the use of the CAM-ICU was recommended in this context, but it must not be replaced for the NDSS.

Sedation with sevoflurane in postoperative cardiac surgery: influence on troponin T and creatinine values.

INTRODUCTION: To compare the potential beneficial effects on markers of myocardial injury (troponin T) and renal function between sedation with sevoflurane vs propofol after cardiac surgery using extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: A prospective study with sequential selection of patients undergoing coronary or coronary and valve cardiac surgery. Intraoperative anesthesia consisted in sevoflurane and remifentanil, while in the postoperative period patients were divided in two groups to receive sedation with either sevoflurane through the AnaConDa© system or propofol. The patients were sedated during a minimum of 120minutes. Markers of myocardial injury and plasmatic creatinine were measured 4, 12, 24, and 48hours after surgery. RESULTS: Data from 129patients, 62sedated with propofol and 67with sevoflurane, were analyzed. The analysis of the troponin T levels showed differences 12 and 48 hours after admission. Mean values at 12hours were 0.89 (standard deviation 0.55) µg.L(-1) in the propofol group and 0.69 (standard deviation 0.40) µg. L(-1)in the sevoflurane group (p = 0.026). TnT levels at 48hours were 0.60 (standard deviation 0.46) µg.L-(1)in the propofol group and 0.37 (standard deviation 0.26) µg.L(-1)in the sevoflurane group (p = 0,007). No differences were found in the groups in the creatinine levels before discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The post-operative sedation with sevoflurane after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is a valid alternative to propofol. It does not increase the number of side effects related to kidney damage in patients with no prior renal disease, leading to reduced troponin T levels 12and 48hours after admission.

Estenosis traqueal por ectasia del tronco braquiocefálico derecho / Tracheal stenosis due to ectasia of the right brachiocephalic trunk

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[Agreement between verbal numerical scale and visual analog scale assessments in monitoring acute postoperative pain]. / Concordancia entre la escala verbal numérica y la escala visual analógica en el seguimiento del dolor agudo postoperatorlo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the agreement between verbal numerical and visual analog scale assessments of acute postoperative pain on 3 consecutive days. METHODS: Pain data were recorded for 2 months for sequentially enrolled patients receiving parenteral opioids or neuraxial blocks for analgesia after major surgery in a tertiary level hospital. Each patient was asked to assess pain on the visual analog and verbal numerical scales every 24 hours for 3 consecutive days. Agreement was estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient and the Spearman correlation coefficient. The results were analyzed in 2 age strata: age 65 years or younger and older than 65 years. RESULTS: Data for 159 patients (105 < or =65 years; 54 >65 years) were analyzed. The visual analog scale could not be used with 12 patients; all patients were able to assess pain on the verbal numerical scale. The intraclass correlation coefficient was > 0.70 for all 3 days; the highest coefficients were for patients over 65 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Agreement between pain assessments on the visual analog and verbal numerical scales can be considered good or very good on all 3 days, with stronger agreement when the scales are used in patients over the age of 65 years. Cooperation was better for the numerical scale than for the visual analog scale. Scores on the verbal numerical scale were consistently higher than scores on the visual analog scale.

Concordancia entre la escala verbal numérica y la escala visual analógica en el seguimiento del dolor agudo postoperatorio / Agreement between verbal numerical scale and visual analog scale assessments in monitoring acute postoperative pain

Objetivo: Evaluar la concordancia entre la escala verbal numérica y la escala visual analógica en la valoración del seguimiento del dolor agudo postoperatorio durante 3 días consecutivos. Métodos: Recogida secuencial de datos a los pacientes sometidos a cirugía mayor subsidiaria de pauta de analgesia postoperatoria con opiáceos parenterales o técnicas neuroaxiales en un hospital terciario durante 2 meses consecutivos. Se interrogó a los pacientes durante 3 días consecutivos con intervalos de 24 horas mediante las escalas visual numérica (EVN) y visual analógica (EVA). Para valorar la concordancia entre variables cuantitativas se utilizó el coeficiente de correlación intraclase, y coeficiente de correlación de Spearman, estratificándose los resultados por edad (menos o mayor de 65 años). Resultados: Se analizaron datos de 159 pacientes (105 <= 65 años y 54 > 65 años). La valoración de la EVA no fue posible realizarla en 12 pacientes, mientras que la valoración de la EVN fue posible en todos los pacientes. Los valores del coeficiente de correlación interclase fueron globalmente > 0,70 durante los tres días, siendo más altos los coeficientes en mayores de 65 años. Conclusiones: La concordancia entre las EVA y EVN de dolor se puede considerar como buena o muy buena durante los tres días de seguimiento, siendo mejor en pacientes con edad superior a 65 años. El grado de colaboración para recoger los datos fue mejor para la EVN que para la EVA. En la comparación de las valores numéricos del dolor la EVN mostró repetidamente valores más altos que la EVA(AU)

Objective: To determine the agreement between verbal numerical and visual analog scale assessments of acute postoperative pain on 3 consecutive days. Methods: Pain data were recorded for 2 months for sequentially enrolled patients receiving parenteral opioids or neuraxial blocks for analgesia after major surgery in a tertiary level hospital. Each patient was asked to assess pain on the visual analog and verbal numerical scales every 24 hours for 3 consecutive days. Agreement was estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient and the Spearman correlation coefficient. The results were analyzed in 2 age strata: age 65 years or younger and older than 65 years. Results: Data for 159 patients (105 65 years; 54 > 65 years) were analyzed. The visual analog scale could not be used with 12 patients; all patients were able to assess pain on the verbal numerical scale. The intraclass correlation coefficient was > 0.70 for all 3 days; the highest coefficients were for patients over 65 years of age. Conclusions: Agreement between pain assessments on the visual analog and verbal numerical scales can be considered good or very good on all 3 days, with stronger agreement when the scales are used in patients over the age of 65 years. Cooperation was better for the numerical scale than for the visual analog scale. Scores on the verbal numerical scale were consistently higher than scores on the visual analog scale(AU)

Ventilación mecánica no invasiva nasal en la sedación de un paciente con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica durante una gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea / No disponible

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[Evaluation of a protocol for predicting difficult airway in routine practice: interobserver agreement]. / Evaluación de un protocolo de predicción de vía aérea difícil en la práctica habitual: estudio de concordancia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a protocol for routine assessment of potential risk factors for difficult airway intubation in an anesthesia department, by measuring interobserver agreement and the behavior of the factors in a predictive model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study group of 320 consecutive patients undergoing major surgery requiring orotracheal intubation was assessed for possible difficult airway. We calculated interrater agreement for recording of the Mallampati score, thyromental distance less than 6 cm, thick neck, kyphosis, small mouth, macroglossia, and dental prosthesis during the preanesthesia examination (by an anesthetist) and on the day of the operation (by an anesthetist and a resident). We constructed a model to predict difficult intubation (requiring 3 or more attempts). RESULTS: The kappa indices of agreement between the anesthetists at the preoperative examination and in the operating room or the resident were all less than 0.6. Factors like thyromental distance, small mouth, and kyphosis had kappa indices less than 0.21. The kappa index between the resident and the anesthetist in the operating room was over 0.55. The only factor that had a different level of agreement was the presence or not of a dental prosthesis. None of the studied individual factors, nor these factors in association with the Mallampati score, achieved significance in a bivariate regression model to predict difficult intubation. CONCLUSIONS: There is poor interobserver agreement on factors for predicting difficult airway in comparisons between preoperative and operating room assessment by an anesthetist or a resident. The individual predictive factors and their association with the Mallampati score did not prove useful for predicting difficult intubation.