Effects of non-invasive respiratory support in post-operative patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Re-intubation secondary to post-extubation respiratory failure in post-operative patients is associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality. Non-invasive respiratory support (NRS) alternative to conventional oxygen therapy (COT), i.e., high-flow nasal oxygen, continuous positive airway pressure, and non-invasive ventilation (NIV), has been proposed to prevent or treat post-extubation respiratory failure. Aim of the present study is assessing the effects of NRS application, compared to COT, on the re-intubation rate (primary outcome), and time to re-intubation, incidence of nosocomial pneumonia, patient discomfort, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and mortality (secondary outcomes) in adult patients extubated after surgery. METHODS: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials. A search from Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science from inception until February 2, 2024 was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies (11,292 patients) were included. Among all NRS modalities, only NIV reduced the re-intubation rate, compared to COT (odds ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.28; 0.87, p = 0.015, I2 = 60.5%, low certainty of evidence). In particular, this effect was observed in patients receiving NIV for treatment, while not for prevention, of post-extubation respiratory failure, and in patients at high, while not low, risk of post-extubation respiratory failure. NIV reduced the rate of nosocomial pneumonia, ICU length of stay, and ICU, hospital, and long-term mortality, while not worsening patient discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: In post-operative patients receiving NRS after extubation, NIV reduced the rate of re-intubation, compared to COT, when used for treatment of post-extubation respiratory failure and in patients at high risk of post-extubation respiratory failure.

How to Personalize General Anesthesia-A Prospective Theoretical Approach to Conformational Changes of Halogenated Anesthetics in Fire Smoke Poisoning.

Smoke intoxication is a central event in mass burn incidents, and toxic smoke acts at different levels of the body, blocking breathing and oxygenation. The majority of these patients require early induction of anesthesia to preserve vital functions. We studied the influence of hemoglobin (HMG) and myoglobin (MGB) blockade by hydrochloric acid (HCl) in an interaction model with gaseous anesthetics using molecular docking techniques. In the next part of the study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the top-scoring ligand-receptor complexes to investigate the stability of the ligand-receptor complexes and the interactions between ligands and receptors in more detail. Through docking analysis, we observed that hemoglobin creates more stable complexes with anesthetic gases than myoglobin. Intoxication with gaseous hydrochloric acid produces conformational and binding energy changes of anesthetic gases to the substrate (both the pathway and the binding site), the most significant being recorded in the case of desflurane and sevoflurane, while for halothane and isoflurane, they remain unchanged. According to our theoretical model, the selection of anesthetic agents for patients affected by fire smoke containing hydrochloric acid is critical to ensure optimal anesthetic effects. In this regard, our model suggests that halothane and isoflurane are the most suitable choices for predicting the anesthetic effects in such patients when compared to sevoflurane and desflurane.

A study of hemodynamic effects, postoperative recovery, and safety of esketamine (right handed) during flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: Flexible bronchoscopy during general anesthesia has become an indispensable tool. Anesthetics are widely utilized in flexible bronchoscopy (FB). This study delved into the application value of a subanesthetic dose of esketamine (ES) (right handed) in flexible bronchoscopy during general anesthesia. METHODS: A sample of 160 patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy during general anesthesia were selected as study subjects and were equally divided into the control and ES groups, with clinical baseline data (age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grading) collected. Hemodynamic parameters (mean artery pressure, heart rate, pulse blood oxygen saturation) at different time points, the onset time of anesthesia, surgery time, analgesia maintenance time, anesthesia awakening time, and perioperative adverse reactions were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) scales were utilized for assessing post-surgery satisfaction, cognitive function, and post-surgery early recovery quality. RESULTS: The hemodynamics were stable at each time point, but patients in the ES group were more stable than those in the control group. Patients in the ES group exhibited faster onset and awakening time of anesthesia, longer duration of analgesia, and lower total incidence of adverse reactions versus the control group. The patients' QoR-40 total scores in the ES group were improved versus the control group at 1 day after surgery. CONCLUSION: Compared with fentanyl, the use of ES (right handed) in flexible bronchoscopy during general anesthesia produces more stable hemodynamics, faster onset and recovery time of anesthesia, longer duration of analgesia, lower incidence of adverse reactions, and improved early postoperative recovery quality in patients.

The association between the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio and delirium after deep brain stimulation surgery in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Postoperative delirium (POD) remains one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric complications after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) has been shown to significantly correlate with the prognosis of many diseases related to inflammation. However, the association between FAR and POD remains unclear. We aimed to explore the association between POD and FAR in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) undergoing DBS surgery. Methods: Patients with PD who underwent DBS surgery in our hospital were included in this retrospective study. FAR was calculated from the blood sample collected on admission. The association between baseline FAR and delirium after surgery was assessed by binary logistic regression analysis, interaction analysis, and stratified analyses. Results: Of 226 patients, 37 (16.4%) suffered from delirium after surgery. The average age of the participants was 63.3 ± 7.2 years, and 51.3% were male patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that patients in the highest FAR tertile had a higher risk of POD compared with patients in the lowest FAR tertile (OR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.24 ~ 12.67). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that FAR and the preoperative Mini-Mental State Examination score (p = 0.013) had an association with delirium after surgery. Conclusion: Our data suggest that a higher preoperative FAR was significantly associated with delirium after DBS surgery. FAR on admission is a useful candidate biomarker to identify patients with PD who are at a high risk of delirium following DBS surgery.

Dental treatment provided to special needs children under general anesthesia in a tertiary care hospital - A cross sectional retrospective study.

Dental general anesthesia (DGA) can be a preferred approach for treating children with special health needs (CSHCN). It has many benefits, most importantly, the support of the anesthesia team to control the medical status and treat the patient safely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental treatment provided to (CSHCN) under (DGA) in a tertiary-care hospital. Moreover, to compare the dental procedures between different medical conditions. This retrospective study involves a sample of 730 children aged between (1-16 years) with complex medical conditions treated under DGA between January 2009 until April 2022. The results show that 4.93 % of these patients had DGA twice. For those children who had DGA only once, the most frequent medical conditions were neuro-developmental disorders (31.8 %), pediatric oncology (17.4 %), and behavioral disorders (autism, ADHD, etc.) (15.1 %). The average age was 6.9 years; almost half were preschool children (4-6 years old, 48.41 %) followed by younger school children (7-9 years old, 28.82 %). The most common dental procedures done were extractions followed by restorative procedures. The use of fissure sealant was significantly higher in neuro-developmental and behavioral disabilities patients than other medical conditions.

Anesthesia Preferences and Outcomes in Saudi Arabian Healthcare: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia choice is critical in ensuring optimal surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction. We aimed to investigate anesthesia preferences, trends, and outcomes in elective surgeries within Saudi Arabian healthcare settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted among anesthesia residents and attending anesthesiologists across Saudi Arabia. Participants provided demographic information and responded to questions regarding anesthesia preferences, trends, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with anesthesia preference. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 572 healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia. Among participants, 51.7% (n=296) preferred general anesthesia, while 48.3% (n=276) favored regional anesthesia for elective surgeries. Factors influencing anesthesia choice included patient preference, surgical complexity, and resource availability. Over half of the respondents reported an increase in regional anesthesia preference over the past five years, although some perceived inadequate training in this area. Common barriers to regional anesthesia adoption included equipment availability, patient reluctance, and limited training opportunities. Postoperative recovery was perceived as quicker with regional anesthesia by 52.3% (n=299) of participants, with postoperative nausea and vomiting being the most common complication associated with general anesthesia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that participants above 50 years had lower odds of preferring regional anesthesia, while those perceiving training adequacy in regional anesthesia as adequate had higher odds of preferring it (OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.41-0.98, p=0.041; OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.21-2.05, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into anesthesia practice patterns in Saudi Arabian healthcare settings. Individualized anesthesia care, ongoing training in regional anesthesia, and evidence-based decision-making are essential to optimize perioperative outcomes and patient satisfaction.

How to plan and provide general anesthesia for a troop of 98 hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) for contraceptive and preventative health interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Present an approach to the safe and efficient provision of anesthesia and birth control measures to a large group of primates. ANIMALS: 98 hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) held in a German zoological institution. METHODS: A group of 12 veterinarians, 2 zookeepers, and 6 volunteers anesthetized all animals within 2 days. The baboons were orally premedicated with midazolam (0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg) and anesthetized with medetomidine (40 to 60 µg/kg, IM) and ketamine (2 to 4 mg/kg, IM); isoflurane at rates of 1.5% to 2% was used for maintaining anesthesia if necessary. All animals received a physical examination, prophylactic medication, and tuberculin testing. For population management, the animals received a contraceptive implant (adult females), orchiectomy (young males), or vasectomy (breeding males). Young males received intratesticular blocks with lidocaine. All animals received atipamezole (125 to 150 µg/kg) before recovery. RESULTS: Premedication resulted in anxiolysis, which facilitated separating and darting. Median time from darting to access to the animal was 10 minutes. Mean anesthetic times were 25 minutes for females and 55 minutes for males. The depth of anesthesia was appropriate for the procedures. No fatalities were recorded. One animal was injured by other baboons but recovered after treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Health management and birth control measures are necessary in baboon troops under human care. Anesthesia and/or contraception of individual animals often leads to intraspecific aggression. This case series describes how to provide anesthesia and contraception to an entire troop as an alternative approach that can be adopted to future similar interventions.

Airway management of a patient with Mounier-Kuhn syndrome during general anesthesia - A case report.

BACKGROUND: Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (MKS) is a rare disorder characterized by abnormal dilation of the trachea and main bronchi. MKS can be easily missed on chest X-rays, making diagnosis difficult. Under general anesthesia, challenges such as airway leakage or collapse during mechanical ventilation may complicate the achievement of adequate tidal volumes. CASES: A 94-year-old woman requiring emergency hemiarthroplasty of the hip under general anesthesia was admitted. Preoperative chest X-rays revealed dilation of the trachea and main bronchi, but the patient exhibited no respiratory symptoms. We diagnosed her with MKS and opted for an 8.0-mm-inner-diameter reinforced tracheal tube. We positioned the cuff in the subglottic area, inflating it while monitoring for air leakage. Throughout the surgery, adequate tidal volume was maintained. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesiologists must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of patients with MKS, including a review of chest radiographs, and establish a meticulous anesthesia plan prior to surgery.

Association between preoperative lumbar skeletal muscle index and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is associated with postoperative complications; however, its impact on the quality of postoperative recovery, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain, remains unclear. We investigated the association of preoperative lumbar skeletal muscle mass index (LSMI) with PONV, postoperative pain, and complications. METHODS: Medical records of 756 patients who underwent pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) were retrospectively reviewed. The skeletal muscle areas were measured on abdominal computed tomography (CT) images. LSMI was calculated by dividing the skeletal muscle area by the square of the patient's height. We analyzed the correlations between preoperative LSMI calibrated with confounding variables and PONV scores, PONV occurrence, pain scores, rescue analgesic administration, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The median (1Q, 3Q) LSMI was 47.72 (40.74, 53.41) cm2/m2. The incidence rates of PONV according to time period were as follows: post-anesthesia care unit, 42/756 (5.6%); 0-6 h, 54/756 (7.1%); 6-24 h, 120/756 (15.9%); 24-48 h, 46/756 (6.1%); and overall, 234/756 (31.0%). The incidence of PONV was inversely correlated with LSMI 24-48 h post-surgery and overall. LSMI and PONV scores were negatively associated 6-24 h and 24-48 h post-surgery. There was no association between LSMI and postoperative pain scores, rescue analgesic administration, complications, or length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative LSMI was associated with PONV in patients undergoing PPPD. Therefore, LSMI measured on preoperative abdominal CT can be a predictive indicator of PONV. Appropriate PONV prophylaxis is necessary in patients with low LSMI before PPPD.

Effect of perioperative intravenous ibuprofen versus acetaminophen on postoperative opioid consumption and pain after general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are widely used as adjuvant analgesics for postoperative pain. This meta-analysis compared the effects of intravenous (IV) ibuprofen and acetaminophen on postoperative opioid consumption and pain intensity after general anesthesia. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify relevant studies published up to May 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of perioperative IV ibuprofen and acetaminophen on postoperative opioid consumption and pain after general anesthesia were included in the meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA). Results: Eight studies with 494 participants were included. Compared to IV acetaminophen, IV ibuprofen significantly reduced 24 h opioid consumption, presented as morphine equivalents (mean difference [MD]: -6.01 mg, 95% CI [-8.60, -3.42], P < 0.00001, I2 = 55%), and pain scores (on a scale of 0-10) at 4-6 h (MD: -0.83, 95% CI [-1.29, -0.37], P = 0.0004, I2 = 65%) and 12 h (MD: -0.38, 95% CI [-0.68, -0.08], P = 0.01, I2 = 11%) postoperatively. These results were statistically significant in TSA. Pain scores at 24 h postoperatively and side effects were not significantly different between the two groups in the meta-analysis, and TSA revealed that the sample size was too small to adequately evaluate the effects, requiring further studies for conclusive results. Conclusions: Perioperative IV ibuprofen reduced 24 h opioid consumption and pain severity up to 12 h postoperatively compared to acetaminophen. Additional research is required to assess pain intensity beyond 12 h and side effects.

Comparison of remimazolam and desflurane in emergence agitation after general anesthesia for nasal surgery: A prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: Remimazolam is an ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine. Few studies have evaluated the effects of remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on emergence agitation (EA). This study aimed to compare the incidence and severity of EA between TIVA using remimazolam and desflurane. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study enrolled 76 patients who underwent nasal surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomized into two groups of 38 each: desflurane-nitrous oxide (N2O) (DN) and remimazolam-remifentanil (RR) groups. The same protocol was used for each group from induction to emergence, except for the use of different anesthetics during maintenance of anesthesia according to the assigned group: desflurane and nitrous oxide for the DN group and remimazolam and remifentanil for the RR group. The incidence of EA as the primary outcome was evaluated using three scales: Ricker Sedation-Agitation Scale, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, and Aono's four-point agitation scale. Additionally, hemodynamic changes during emergence and postoperative sense of suffocation were compared. Results: The incidence of EA was significantly lower in the RR group than in the DN group in all three types of EA assessment scales (all P < 0.001). During emergence, the change in heart rate differed between the two groups (P = 0.002). The sense of suffocation was lower in the RR group than in the DN group (P = 0.027). Conclusions: RR reduced the incidence and severity of EA in patients undergoing nasal surgery under general anesthesia. In addition, RR was favorable for managing hemodynamics and postoperative sense of suffocation.

[Small tidal volume hyperventilation relieves intraocular and intracranial pressure elevation in prone spinal surgery: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different ventilation strategies on intraocular pressure (IOP) and intracranial pressure in patients undergoing spinal surgery in the prone position under general anesthesia. METHODS: Seventy-two patients undergoing prone spinal surgery under general anesthesia between November, 2022 and June, 2023 were equally randomized into two groups to receive routine ventilation (with Vt of 8mL/kg, Fr of 12-15/min, and etCO2 maintained at 35-40 mmHg) or small tidal volume hyperventilation (Vt of 6 mL/kg, Fr of18-20/min, and etCO2 maintained at 30-35 mmHg) during the surgery. IOP of both eyes (measured with a handheld tonometer), optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD; measured at 3 mm behind the eyeball with bedside real-time ultrasound), circulatory and respiratory parameters of the patients were recorded before anesthesia (T0), immediately after anesthesia induction (T1), immediately after prone positioning (T2), at 2 h during operation (T3), immediately after supine positioning after surgery (T4) and 30 min after the operation (T5). RESULTS: Compared with those at T1, IOP and ONSD in both groups increased significantly at T3 and T4(P < 0.05). IOP was significantly lower in hyperventilation group than in routine ventilation group at T3 and T4(P < 0.05), and ONSD was significantly lower in hyperventilation group at T4(P < 0.05). IOP was positively correlated with the length of operative time (r=0.779, P < 0.001) and inversely with intraoperative etCO2 at T3(r=-0.248, P < 0.001) and T4(r=-0.251, P < 0.001).ONSD was correlated only with operation time (r=0.561, P < 0.05) and not with IOP (r=0.178, P>0.05 at T3; r=0.165, P>0.05 at T4). CONCLUSION: Small tidal volume hyperventilation can relieve the increase of IOP and ONSD during prone spinal surgery under general anesthesia.

Determination of optimal positive end-expiratory pressure using electrical impedance tomography in infants under general anesthesia: Comparison between supine and prone positions.

AIMS: This study determined the optimal positive end-expiratory pressure levels in infants in supine and prone positions under general anesthesia using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). METHODS: This prospective observational single-centre study included infants scheduled for surgery in the prone position. An electrical impedance tomography sensor was applied after inducing general anesthesia. The optimal positive end-expiratory pressure in the supine position was determined in a decremental trial based on EIT and compliance. Subsequently, the patient's position was changed to prone. Electrical impedance tomography parameters, including global inhomogeneity index, regional ventilation delay, opening pressure, the centre of ventilation, and pendelluft volume, were continuously obtained up to 1 h after prone positioning. The optimal positive end-expiratory pressure in the prone position was similarly determined. RESULTS: Data from 30 infants were analyzed. The mean value of electrical impedance tomography-based optimal positive end-expiratory pressure in the prone position was significantly higher than that in the supine position [10.9 (1.6) cmH2O and 6.1 (0.9) cmH2O, respectively (p < .001)]. Significant differences were observed between electrical impedance tomography- and compliance-based optimal positive end-expiratory pressure. Peak and mean airway, plateau, and driving pressures increased 1 h after prone positioning compared with those in the supine position. In addition, the centre of ventilation for balance in ventilation between the ventral and dorsal regions improved. CONCLUSION: The prone position required higher positive end-expiratory pressure than the supine position in mechanically ventilated infants under general anesthesia. EIT is a promising tool to find the optimal positive end-expiratory pressure, which needs to be individualized.

Efficacy of peritonsillar infiltration with dexmedetomidine versus tramadol in comparison to placebo for pain control and sedation after tonsillectomy in pediatric patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: This article aimed to assess the efficacy of peritonsillar infiltration with dexmedetomidine-ropivacaine versus tramadol-ropivacaine for pain control and sedation after tonsillectomy in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: This double-blind clinical trial recruited 99 eligible children (4-8 years old) undergoing tonsillectomy and assigned to three block-randomized groups, receiving dexmedetomidine-ropivacaine (group A), tramadol-ropivacaine (group B), or placebo-ropivacaine (group C). The vital signs included blood pressure, heart rate, and SaO2 before anesthesia induction, during surgery at regular intervals until 24 h after surgery. The duration of surgery and recovery, complications, and analgesic consumption were recorded and pain scores were measured by Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) and Oucher scales as well as sedation scores by the Wilson sedation scale. Data were analyzed within SPSS 20 at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The lowest pain scores were measured by the CHEOPS scale in the dexmedetomidine-ropivacaine group (P < 0.05). Statistically significant difference was observed in the CHEOPS pain score between the first two groups at 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h after surgery (P < 0.01). The differences were revealed in the Oucher pain assessments among all groups from the time of recovery to four postoperative hours (P < 0.05), with the lowest in the dexmedetomidine-ropivacaine group whose sedation score was greater during recovery and 5 min after surgery (P < 0.05). Subjects in tramadol group had six cases of dizziness and nausea, while no side effects were observed in two other groups (P < 0.05). Only seven participants receiving dexmedetomidine required acetaminophen, but 29 in the tramadol group and all in the placebo group demanded to receive acetaminophen (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The authors concluded that dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine has better performance in local infiltration for intra- and post-tonsillectomy analgesia and postoperative sedation, without any special side effects (like the placebo group), and that it hence is recommended to be used for local infiltration during tonsillectomy.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists and General Anesthesia: Perioperative Considerations and the Utility of Gastric Ultrasound.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are very popular and useful medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Potent gastric emptying delay is common with these medications, serving as a major contributor to the postprandial glycemic control and weight loss benefits of these medications. Recently, multiple case reports and studies indicating safety risks for these medications and their use in patients planning to undergo general anesthesia have been published, as retained gastric contents can lead to intraoperative aspiration. New guidelines for these medications have been released to guide clinical practice for anesthesiologists. Some degree of preoperative cessation of these medications is required. At this time, the ideal window for cessation of these medications to optimize clinical efficacy while reducing aspiration risks has not yet been well elaborated on. Aspiration of gastric contents can still occur despite appropriate preoperative fasting in patients taking GLP-1 agonists. Gastric ultrasound appears to be an effective and objective way of preoperatively assessing a patient's stomach contents to make decisions regarding anesthetic management for patients prescribed these medications. This practice is limited by a general lack of training and implementation in current anesthesiology practice.

Anesthetic management with remimazolam for a patient with hereditary angioedema:a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE), a genetic disorder caused by C1-inhibitor deficiency or dysfunction, may cause mucosal edema in the upper airway during tracheal intubation and extubation. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old man with HAE and a history of laryngeal edema, scheduled to undergo cervical laminoplasty under general anesthesia. General anesthesia was induced by continuous injection of remimazolam and remifentanil, during which manual mask ventilation and intubation were performed without difficulty. The patient was extubated under deep anesthesia. After emergence from general anesthesia, he had no significant upper airway edema and was treated with a C1-inhibitor seven hours post-surgery because of slight tongue swelling. No additional airway edema was observed, and the patient was discharged from the intensive care unit the following day. CONCLUSIONS: Deep anesthesia tracheal extubation with remimazolam may be effective in preventing upper airway edema during anesthetic management in patients with HAE. J. Med. Invest. 71 : 184-186, February, 2024.

Immune Responses of Healthy Pregnant Women following an Elective Cesarean Section: Effects of Anesthetic Procedures.

A weakened immune system and more inflammatory cytokines being released are possible effects of the surgical stress that a cesarean section induces. This kind of reaction, in addition to the altered reaction to catecholamines, has the potential to significantly affect the immune system of the mother and the patients' general postoperative course. This prospective study compared the plasma levels of catecholamines and cytokines in healthy pregnant patients having cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia. A total of 30 pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean sections were divided into two groups: 15 who received general anesthesia (GA) and 15 who received spinal anesthesia (SA). Blood samples were collected from all subjects before anesthesia induction (pre-OP), 6 h postoperatively (6 h post-OP), and 12 h (12 h post-OP), to measure levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-4, IL-10, norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI). When we compared the two groups, we discovered that only IL-6 and IL-4 had significantly higher levels pre-OP, whereas all studied cytokines exhibited an increase in the GA versus SA group at 6 and 12 h post-OP. In the case of catecholamines, we discovered that serum levels are positively related with pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines, depending on the time of day and type of anesthetic drugs. Compared to SA, GA has a more consistent effect on the inflammatory response and catecholamine levels. The findings of this study confirm that the type of anesthesia can alter postoperative immunomodulation to various degrees via changes in cytokine and catecholamine production. SA could be a preferable choice for cesarean section because it is an anesthetic method that reduces perioperative stress and allows for less opioid administration, impacting cytokine production with proper immunomodulation.

Risk of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder After General Anesthesia in Infants and Toddlers: A Propensity Score-Matched Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: The potential role of anesthesia as an independent risk factor for childhood bipolar disorder (BD) remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a population-based cohort study employing propensity score matching to compare BD incidence between pediatric patients undergoing surgery with and without general anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Our study included patients aged 0-3 years who received at least 1 episode of general anesthesia and were hospitalized for over 1 day in Taiwan between January 2004 and December 2014. They were matched 1:1 with a population not receiving general anesthesia to assess pediatric BD incidence. STUDY RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 15 070 patients, equally distributed between the general anesthesia and nongeneral anesthesia groups (7535 each). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs; 95% CIs) for pediatric BD in the general anesthesia group as 1.26 (1.04-1.54; P = .021) compared to the nongeneral anesthesia group. Moreover, the incidence rate ratio (95% CI) for the general anesthesia group was 1.26 (1.03-1.53) compared to the nongeneral anesthesia group. CONCLUSIONS: Early childhood exposure to general anesthesia is significantly associated with an increased risk of pediatric BD. This expands understanding of pediatric BD's complex development, informing preventive strategies, and enhancing mental health outcomes for vulnerable young patients and global pediatric healthcare.

Efficacy and safety of ciprofol versus propofol for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Propofol has been the gold standard for anesthesia induction and maintenance due to its rapid onset and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. However, the search for alternative agents with improved safety and efficacy has led to the emergence of ciprofol (HSK3486), a structural analog of propofol. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively assess the safety and efficacy of ciprofol compared to propofol for anesthesia induction and maintenance in adult patients undergoing surgical procedures. METHODS: This study included only double-arm RCTs in which participants were aged eighteen or older undergoing surgery. For the statistical analysis of the extracted data, we employed RevMan 5.4.1. RESULTS: Ciprofol demonstrated a promising trend of higher anesthesiologists' satisfaction during the induction phase (MD 0.14, 95%, CI - 0.28 to 0.56, p = 0.51), whereas Propofol was favored during maintenance. Propofol also exhibited advantages with a shorter time to successful anesthesia induction (MD 0.08 min, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.15, p = 0.04), and quicker attainment of full alertness (MD 0.11 min, 95% CI - 1.29 to 1.52, p = 0.87), suggesting its efficiency in clinical practice. Importantly, there were no significant disparities in the success rate of anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Both ciprofol and propofol demonstrate comparable efficacy and safety for anesthesia induction and maintenance in adult patients undergoing surgery. While propofol provides a faster onset of induction, ciprofol exhibits advantages in terms of pain management. Clinicians should consider these findings when selecting anesthetic agents, and tailoring choices to individual patient needs and clinical scenarios.

Analgesia nociception index is an indicator of laparoscopic trocar insertion-induced transient nociceptive stimuli.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether analgesia nociception index (ANI) could be an indicator of perioperative pain during laparoscopic trocar insertion. Methods: A total of 280 participants of anesthesia receiving laparoscopic surgery were enrolled. Anesthesia induction and maintenance were performed using the Marsh model for target propofol and the Minto model for remifentanil. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), and ANI were recorded at skin incision, the first-, second, the last-trocar insertion, and 5 min after the last trocar insertion. Results: ANI was significantly different among the five groups in the last four time points (all P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation showed that ANI was negatively correlated with SBP (r = -0.114, P = 0.077) and HR (r = -0.247, P < 0.001). The area under the curve of ANI was positively correlated with those of SBP (r = 0.493, P < 0.001) and HR (r = -0.420, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the ANI was an independent factor associated with intraoperative hemodynamic adverse events only at 5 min after the last trocar insertion. Conclusions: Under general anesthesia, the change in ANI was consistent with changes in the balance between analgesia and nociceptive stimuli. The ANI can reflect the extent of transient pain but had a poor predictive performance for hemodynamic adverse events.