Strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats analysis of artificial intelligence in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine is quickly becoming a mainstay of clinical practice. Anesthesiology is a data-rich medical specialty that integrates multitudes of patient-specific information. Perioperative medicine is ripe for applications of AI and ML to facilitate data synthesis for precision medicine and predictive assessments. Examples of emergent AI models include those that assist in assessing depth and modulating control of anesthetic delivery, event and risk prediction, ultrasound guidance, pain management, and operating room logistics. AI and ML support analyzing integrated perioperative data at scale and can assess patterns to deliver optimal patient-specific care. By exploring the benefits and limitations of this technology, we provide a basis of considerations for evaluating the adoption of AI models into various anesthesiology workflows. This analysis of AI and ML in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine explores the current landscape to understand better the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) these tools offer.

Day-One Pain Reductions After Hip and Knee Replacement When Buprenorphine-Clonidine-Dexamethasone Is Added to Bupivacaine Nerve/Plexus Blocks: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pain outcome reports of patients undergoing hip or knee replacement who received single-injection nerve/plexus blocks with plain bupivacaine (BPV) with those of patients who received injections of buprenorphine-clonidine-dexamethasone (BCD) admixed with BPV. DESIGN: Prospective, parallel-arm, randomized, double-blind trial. SETTING: A single veterans' hospital. SUBJECTS: Ninety-eight veterans scheduled for total hip or knee replacement surgery with spinal as the primary anesthetic. METHODS: Participants were randomized to BPV-BCD or plain BPV groups. They underwent nerve/plexus blocks in the L2-L4 and L4-S3 distributions in advance of joint replacement surgery. The primary outcome was change in pain from baseline during the postoperative day, as assessed by the total pain score on the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire-v2 (SF-MPQ-2). Secondary outcomes were pain during movement, pain interference, range of motion, mobility, and quality of recovery. RESULTS: On postoperative day one, the SF-MPQ-2 total score for the BPV-BCD group demonstrated greater pain reduction than that of the plain BPV group (mean difference 1.8 points, 95% confidence interval 0.6 to 3.0, P = 0.003). The BPV-BCD group also had larger reductions in pain during movement in the surgical joint and less pain interference, along with increased range of hip and knee flexion, compared with the plain BPV group. Outcomes of mobility and quality of recovery were not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative BPV-BCD blocks in the L2-L4 and L4-S3 nerve distributions for hip and knee replacements led to less pain on postoperative day one and increased knee and hip range of motion, compared with plain BPV blocks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02891798.

Forty Years of Oxalobacter formigenes, a Gutsy Oxalate-Degrading Specialist.

Oxalobacter formigenes, a unique anaerobic bacterium that relies solely on oxalate for growth, is a key oxalate-degrading bacterium in the mammalian intestinal tract. Degradation of oxalate in the gut by O. formigenes plays a critical role in preventing renal toxicity in animals that feed on oxalate-rich plants. The role of O. formigenes in reducing the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stone disease and oxalate nephropathy in humans is less clear, in part due to difficulties in culturing this organism and the lack of studies which have utilized diets in which the oxalate content is controlled. Herein, we review the literature on the 40th anniversary of the discovery of O. formigenes, with a focus on its biology, its role in gut oxalate metabolism and calcium oxalate kidney stone disease, and potential areas of future research. Results from ongoing clinical trials utilizing O. formigenes in healthy volunteers and in patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), a rare but severe form of calcium oxalate kidney stone disease, are also discussed. Information has been consolidated on O. formigenes strains and best practices to culture this bacterium, which should serve as a good resource for researchers.

Disparities in Kidney Stone Disease: A Scoping Review.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the available evidence regarding health disparities in kidney stone disease to identify knowledge gaps in this area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed®, Embase® and Scopus® limited to articles published in English from 1971 to 2020. Articles were selected based on their relevance to disparities in kidney stone disease among adults in the United States. RESULTS: Several large epidemiological studies suggest disproportionate increases in incidence and prevalence of kidney stone disease among women as well as Black and Hispanic individuals in the United States, whereas other studies of comparable size do not report racial and ethnic demographics. Numerous articles describe disparities in imaging utilization, metabolic workup completion, analgesia, surgical intervention, stone burden at presentation, surgical complications, followup, and quality of life based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and place of residence. Differences in urinary parameters based on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status may be explained by both dietary and physiological factors. All articles assessed had substantial risk of selection bias and confounding. CONCLUSIONS: Health disparities are present in many aspects of kidney stone disease. Further research should focus not only on characterization of these disparities but also on interventions to reduce or eliminate them.

Extended Perineural Analgesia After Hip and Knee Replacement When Buprenorphine-Clonidine-Dexamethasone Is Added to Bupivacaine: Preliminary Report from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that buprenorphine-clonidine-dexamethasone (BCD) extends perineural analgesia compared with plain bupivacaine (BPV) nerve blocks used for hip and knee replacement surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, parallel-arms, randomized, double-blind trial. SETTING: A single veterans' hospital. SUBJECTS: Seventy-eight veterans scheduled for total hip or knee replacement with plans for spinal as the primary anesthetic. METHODS: Participants underwent nerve/plexus blocks at L2-L4 and L4-S3 in advance of hip or knee joint replacement surgery. Patients were randomized to receive BPV-BCD or plain BPV in a 4:1 allocation ratio. Patients answered four block duration questions (listed below). Time differences between treatments were analyzed using the t test. RESULTS: Significant (P < 0.001) prolongation of the time parameters was reported by patients after the BPV-BCD blocks (N = 62) vs plain BPV (N = 16). The time until start of postoperative pain was 26 vs 11 hours (mean difference = 15 hours, 95% CI = 8 to 21). The time until no pain relief from the blocks was 32 vs 15 hours (mean difference = 17 hours, 95% CI = 10 to 24). The time until the numbness wore off was 37 vs 21 hours (mean difference = 16 hours, 95% CI = 8 to 23). The time until the worst postoperative pain was 39 vs 20 hours (mean difference = 19 hours, 95% CI = 11 to 27). CONCLUSIONS: BPV-BCD provided 26-39 hours of perineural analgesia in the L2-L4 and L4-S3 nerve distributions after hip/knee replacement surgery, compared with 11-21 hours for plain BPV.