Anaesthesia for mechanical thrombectomy: a narrative review.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, and is associated with a huge societal and economic burden. Interventions for the immediate treatment of ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion are dependent on recanalisation of the occluded vessel. Trials have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. This has resulted in changes in management and organisation of stroke care worldwide. Major determinants of effectiveness of thrombectomy include: time between stroke onset and reperfusion; location of occlusion and local collateral perfusion; adequacy of reperfusion; patient age; and stroke severity. The role of anaesthetic technique on outcome remains controversial with published research showing conflicting results. As a result, choice of conscious sedation or general anaesthesia for mechanical thrombectomy is often dependent on individual operator choice or institutional preference. More recent randomised controlled trials have suggested that protocol-driven general anaesthesia is no worse than conscious sedation and may even be associated with better outcomes. These and other studies have highlighted the importance of optimal blood pressure management as a major determinant of patient outcome. Anaesthetic management should be tailored to the individual patient and circumstances. Acute ischaemic stroke is a neurological emergency; clinicians should focus on minimising door-to-groin puncture time and the provision of high-quality periprocedural care with a particular emphasis on the maintenance of an adequate blood pressure.

Procedural Sedation for Pediatric Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Sedative upper endoscopy is similar in pediatrics and adults, but it is characteristically more likely to lead to respiratory failure. Although recommended guidelines for pediatric procedural sedation are available within South Korea and internationally, Korean pediatric endoscopists use different drugs, either alone or in combination, in practice. Efforts are being made to minimize the risk of sedation while avoiding procedural challenges. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze data on the sedation methods used by Korean pediatric endoscopists to help physicians perform pediatric sedative upper endoscopy (PSUE). METHODS: The PSUE procedures performed in 15 Korean pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopic units within a year were analyzed. Drugs used for sedation were grouped according to the method of use, and the depth of sedation was evaluated based on the Ramsay scores. The procedures and their complications were also assessed. RESULTS: In total, 734 patients who underwent PSUE were included. Sedation and monitoring were performed by an anesthesiologist at one of the institutions. The sedative procedures were performed by a pediatric endoscopist at the other 14 institutions. Regarding the number of assistants present during the procedures, 36.6% of procedures had one assistant, 38.8% had 2 assistants, and 24.5% had 3 assistants. The average age of the patients was 11.6 years old. Of the patients, 19.8% had underlying diseases, 10.0% were taking medications such as epilepsy drugs, and 1.0% had snoring or sleep apnea history. The average duration of the procedures was 5.2 minutes. The subjects were divided into 5 groups as follows: 1) midazolam + propofol + ketamine (M + P + K): n = 18, average dose of 0.03 + 2.4 + 0.5 mg/kg; 2) M + P: n = 206, average dose of 0.06 + 2.1 mg/kg; 3) M + K: n = 267, average dose of 0.09 + 0.69 mg/kg; 4) continuous P infusion for 20 minutes: n = 15, average dose of 6.6 mg/kg; 5) M: n = 228, average dose of 0.11 mg/kg. The average Ramsay score for the five groups was 3.7, with significant differences between the groups (P < 0.001). Regarding the adverse effects, desaturation and increased oxygen supply were most prevalent in the M + K group. Decreases and increases in blood pressure were most prevalent in the M + P + K group, and bag-mask ventilation was most used in the M + K group. There were no reported incidents of intubation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A decrease in oxygen saturation was observed in 37 of 734 patients, and it significantly increased in young patients (P = 0.001) and when ketamine was used (P = 0.014). Oxygen saturation was also correlated with dosage (P = 0.037). The use of ketamine (P < 0.001) and propofol (P < 0.001) were identified as factors affecting the Ramsay score in the logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Although the drug use by Korean pediatric endoscopists followed the recommended guidelines to an extent, it was apparent that they combined the drugs or reduced the doses depending on the patient characteristics to reduce the likelihood of respiratory failure. Inducing deep sedation facilitates comfort during the procedure, but it also leads to a higher risk of complications.

Derivation and Validation of an Ensemble Model for the Prediction of Agitation in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Maintained Under Light Sedation.

OBJECTIVES: Light sedation is recommended over deep sedation for invasive mechanical ventilation to improve clinical outcome but may increase the risk of agitation. This study aimed to develop and prospectively validate an ensemble machine learning model for the prediction of agitation on a daily basis. DESIGN: Variables collected in the early morning were used to develop an ensemble model by aggregating four machine learning algorithms including support vector machines, C5.0, adaptive boosting with classification trees, and extreme gradient boosting with classification trees, to predict the occurrence of agitation in the subsequent 24 hours. SETTING: The training dataset was prospectively collected in 95 ICUs from 80 Chinese hospitals on May 11, 2016, and the validation dataset was collected in 20 out of these 95 ICUs on December 16, 2019. PATIENTS: Invasive mechanical ventilation patients who were maintained under light sedation for 24 hours prior to the study day and who were to be maintained at the same sedation level for the next 24 hours. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 578 invasive mechanical ventilation patients from 95 ICUs in 80 Chinese hospitals, including 459 in the training dataset and 119 in the validation dataset, were enrolled. Agitation was observed in 36% (270/578) of the invasive mechanical ventilation patients. The stepwise regression model showed that higher body temperature (odds ratio for 1°C increase: 5.29; 95% CI, 3.70-7.84; p < 0.001), greater minute ventilation (odds ratio for 1 L/min increase: 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.30; p = 0.019), higher Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (odds ratio for 1-point increase: 2.43; 95% CI, 1.92-3.16; p < 0.001), and days on invasive mechanical ventilation (odds ratio for 1-d increase: 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98; p = 0.001) were independently associated with agitation in the subsequent 24 hours. In the validation dataset, the ensemble model showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.918; 95% CI, 0.866-0.969) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test p = 0.459) in predicting the occurrence of agitation within 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed an ensemble model for the prediction of agitation in invasive mechanical ventilation patients under light sedation. The model showed good calibration and discrimination in an independent dataset.

Improving Care and Outcomes for Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infections.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric musculoskeletal infection (MSKI) is a common cause of hospitalization with associated morbidity. To improve the care of pediatric MSKI, our objectives were to achieve 3 specific aims within 24 months of our quality improvement (QI) interventions: (1) 50% reduction in peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) use, (2) 25% reduction in sedations per patient, and (3) 50% reduction in empirical vancomycin administration. METHODS: We implemented 4 prospective QI interventions at our tertiary children's hospital: (1) provider education, (2) centralization of admission location, (3) coordination of radiology-orthopedic communication, and (4) implementation of an MSKI infection algorithm and order set. We included patients 6 months to 18 years of age with acute osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or pyomyositis and excluded patients with complex chronic conditions or ICU admission. We used statistical process control charts to analyze outcomes over 2 general periods: baseline (January 2015-October 17, 2016) and implementation (October 18, 2016-April 2019). RESULTS: In total, 224 patients were included. The mean age was 6.1 years, and there were no substantive demographic or clinical differences between baseline and implementation groups. There was an 81% relative reduction in PICC use (centerline shift 54%-11%; 95% confidence interval 70-92) and 33% relative reduction in sedations per patient (centerline shift 1.8-1.2; 95% confidence interval 21-46). Empirical vancomycin use did not change (centerline 20%). CONCLUSIONS: Our multidisciplinary MSKI QI interventions were associated with a significant decrease in the use of PICCs and sedations per patient but not empirical vancomycin administration.

Ketamine for Acute Pain Management and Sedation.

TOPIC: Ketamine is beneficial in clinical settings ranging from procedural sedation to the treatment of chronic pain. This article describes the clinical benefits of ketamine for treatment of acute pain and for sedation of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ketamine causes analgesic and amnestic effects by noncompetitive inhibition of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and activation of the opioid µ and κ receptors. Unlike other sedatives, ketamine provides analgesia and amnesia without causing hypotension or respiratory depression. Several studies have elucidated the clinical benefits of ketamine. The use of ketamine has extended beyond critical care areas such as the operating room and intensive care units. Nurses must be familiar with optimal clinical scenarios, monitoring parameters, and contraindications of ketamine. PURPOSE: To highlight the clinical utility and pharmacological properties of ketamine through a literature review. Current studies of ketamine in acute pain and sedation management are summarized. CONTENT COVERED: This narrative review describes pharmacological properties, dosing strategies, adminis-tration considerations, and adverse effects of ketamine.

CIRSE Standards of Practice on Analgesia and Sedation for Interventional Radiology in Adults.

This CIRSE Standards of Practice document provides best practices for the safe administration of procedural sedation and analgesia for interventional radiology procedures in adults. The document is aimed at health professionals involved in the provision of sedation and analgesia during interventional radiology procedures. The document has been developed by a writing group consisting of physicians with internationally recognised expertise in interventional radiology, and analgesia and sedation.

The development of a Consensus Conference on Pediatric Procedural Sedation in the Emergency Department in Italy: from here where to?

BACKGROUND: In Italy, as in many European countries, Pediatric Emergency Medicine is not formally recognized as a pediatric subspecialty, hindering nation-wide adoption of standards of care, especially in the field of procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) in the Emergency Department (ED). For this reason PSA in Italy is mostly neglected or performed very heterogeneously and by different providers, with no reference standard. We aimed to describe the procedures and results of the first multidisciplinary and multi-professional Consensus Conference in Italy on safe and effective pediatric PSA in Italian EDs. METHODS: The preparation, organization and conduct of the Consensus Conference, held in Florence in 2017, followed the recommended National methodological standards. Professionals from different specialties across the country were invited to participate. RESULTS: Overall 86 recommendations covering 8 themes (pre-sedation evaluation, pharmacologic agents, monitoring, equipment and discharge checklists, training, non-pharmacologic techniques, the adult ED setting, impact on hospitalizations) were developed, taking into account the Italian training system and healthcare organization characteristics. CONCLUSION: The results of the first multidisciplinary and multi-professional Consensus Conference in Italy are meant to provide up-to-date national guidance to improve the standard of care of children undergoing painful and stressful procedures in the ED. The recommendations will be periodically updated as new relevant evidence is published.

Predictors of Failed Conscious Sedation in Patients Undergoing an Outpatient Colonoscopy and Implications for the Adenoma Detection Rate.

Guidelines to triage patients to conscious sedation (CS) or monitored anaesthesia care (MAC) for colonoscopy do not exist. We aimed to identify the CS failure rate, predictors of failure, and its impact on the adenoma detection rate (ADR). Strict (based on patient experience) and expanded (based on doses of sedative medications) definitions of CS failure were used. Patient and procedure-related variables were extracted. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors for CS failure and the ADR. Among 766 patients, 29 (3.8%) and 175 (22.8%) patients failed CS by strict and expanded definitions, respectively. Female gender (OR 3.50; 95% CI: 1.37-8.94) and fellow involvement (OR 4.15; 95% CI: 1.79-9.58) were associated with failed CS by the strict definition. Younger age (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07-1.49), outpatient opiate use (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.03-2.84), use of an adjunct medication (OR 3.34; 95% CI: 1.94-5.73), and fellow involvement (OR 2.20; 95% CI: 1.31-3.71) were associated with failed CS by the expanded definition. Patients meeting strict failure criteria had a lower ADR (OR 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.77). Several clinical factors may be useful for triaging to MAC. The ADR is lower in patients meeting strict criteria for failed CS.

Diagnostic needle arthroscopy of the tarsocrural joint in standing sedated horses.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and assess a needle arthroscopic technique to diagnose conditions of the tarsocrural joint (TCj) in standing sedated horses. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Six cadaveric hind limbs (phase 1) and six healthy horses (Phase 2). METHODS: In phase 1, each TCj was examined with a 1.2-mm-needle arthroscope. Suitability of the needle arthroscope and degree of joint visualization with traditional arthroscopic approaches were assessed. In phase 2, the feasibility of the procedure was assessed in six standing healthy horses. A custom-made splint and base were developed to maintain joint flexion during the procedure. RESULTS: Thorough evaluation of the dorsal intra-articular structures of the TCj via dorsomedial and dorsolateral approaches was possible in both phases. The procedure was feasible, quickly performed, and well tolerated by all horses. Complications consisted of moderate movement (2/6 horses) and hemarthrosis (3/6 horses). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic standing needle arthroscopy of the TCj allowed thorough evaluation of the dorsal aspect of the joint while avoiding the cost and risks associated with general anesthesia. Inadvertent puncture of the dorsomedial vasculature with the cannula and obturator led to significant hemarthrosis. CLINICAL IMPACT: Needle arthroscopy of the TCj offers an alternative diagnostic tool when traditional imaging techniques (radiography and ultrasonography) are unrewarding or nondiagnostic. The technique is conceived mainly for diagnostic purposes, but its use during short interventions warrants investigation.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management of sedoanalgesia and delirium in critically ill adult patients. / Guías de práctica clínica basadas en la evidencia para el manejo de la sedoanalgesia y delirium en el paciente adulto críticamente enfermo.

Given the importance of the management of sedation, analgesia and delirium in Intensive Care Units, and in order to update the previously published guidelines, a new clinical practice guide is presented, addressing the most relevant management and intervention aspects based on the recent literature. A group of 24 intensivists from 9 countries of the Pan-American and Iberian Federation of Societies of Critical Medicine and Intensive Therapy met to develop the guidelines. Assessment of evidence quality and recommendations was made according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group. A systematic search of the literature was carried out using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library databases such as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database and the database of Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS). A total of 438 references were selected. After consensus, 47 strong recommendations with high and moderate quality evidence, 14 conditional recommendations with moderate quality evidence, and 65 conditional recommendations with low quality evidence were established. Finally, the importance of initial and multimodal pain management was underscored. Emphasis was placed on decreasing sedation levels and the use of deep sedation only in specific cases. The evidence and recommendations for the use of drugs such as dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, ketamine and others were incremented.

Recommendations for good practice for sedation in assisted conception.

Conscious sedation is a commonly used approach to provide pain relief during transvaginal oocyte retrieval. It has been shown to be effective with high levels of acceptability and patient satisfaction. Fundamental Standards and Development Standards in safe sedation practice have been set out by the Royal College of Anaesthetists and they recommend that Royal Colleges, in association with the relevant sub-specialty organizations, should develop guidelines on sedation methods appropriate to clinical practice in their sphere of influence. This Policy and Practice paper outlines the human resources and equipment necessary to optimize patients' safety for the administration of intravenous (I.V.) sedation in assisted conception units, based on the most current evidence and guidance available.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for the Appropriate Level of Sedation to Manage Pain in Pediatric Oncology Patients Requiring Procedures: A Systematic Review From the Children's Oncology Group [Formula: see text].

Repeated invasive and painful procedures are often necessary components of pediatric cancer treatment. Adequate pain control during procedures is essential; however, procedure-related pain may be underestimated and undertreated. Currently, there is not a standard approach for the appropriate level of sedation to manage procedure-related pain in children with cancer. A team was assembled to review the evidence and develop recommendations to determine the appropriate level of sedation necessary for pain control in patients undergoing pediatric oncology procedures. After a systematic search of the literature, 15 research-based articles were synthesized and critically appraised. A recommendation was made related to the level of sedation utilized for bone marrow aspirates and bone marrow biopsies. There is a need for further research related to the necessary level of sedation for patients undergoing pediatric oncology procedures.

Creating a shielding place for children with leukaemia during sedation for intrathecal chemotherapy: A grounded theory study.

PURPOSE: Childhood cancer invades the child's daily life and has a strong influence on their living conditions and lifestyle. The treatment is an unpleasant experience and the children often perceive the treatment as worse than the actual disease. The aim of the present study was thus to explore the process of how healthcare professionals improved care for children undergoing sedation for intrathecal chemotherapy. METHOD: A constructivist grounded theory approach was applied and qualitative interviews with paediatricians (n = 2), anaesthetists (n = 2), paediatric nurses (n = 3) and nurse anaesthetists (n = 5). RESULTS: The theory of creating a shielding place emerged and conceptualized the pattern of behavior of healthcare professionals throughout the procedure of sedation for intrathecal chemotherapy for pediatric leukaemia. The theory explains the core category 'shielding' and the process of how healthcare professionals developed strategies to resolve their main concern: a striving to reduce discomfort and suffering induced by the procedure and the treatment. These strategies, used throughout the procedure, were; de-dramatizing, de-exposing and minimizing trespassing. CONCLUSIONS: The theory of creating a shielding place offers a greater understanding of how healthcare professionals included the child's perspective in their work and thereby enabled a more sensitive and supportive care that had an impact on both quality of care and patient safety. The results from the study contributes with theoretical knowledge that can be used for developing evidence-based care guidelines for the procedure of sedating a child with leukaemia for intrathecal chemotherapy.

An international multidisciplinary consensus statement on fasting before procedural sedation in adults and children.

The multidisciplinary International Committee for the Advancement of Procedural Sedation presents the first fasting and aspiration prevention recommendations specific to procedural sedation, based on an extensive review of the literature. These were developed using Delphi methodology and assessment of the robustness of the available evidence. The literature evidence is clear that fasting, as currently practiced, often substantially exceeds recommended time thresholds and has known adverse consequences, for example, irritability, dehydration and hypoglycaemia. Fasting does not guarantee an empty stomach, and there is no observed association between aspiration and compliance with common fasting guidelines. The probability of clinically important aspiration during procedural sedation is negligible. In the post-1984 literature there are no published reports of aspiration-associated mortality in children, no reports of death in healthy adults (ASA physical status 1 or 2) and just nine reported deaths in adults of ASA physical status 3 or above. Current concerns about aspiration are out of proportion to the actual risk. Given the lower observed frequency of aspiration and mortality than during general anaesthesia, and the theoretical basis for assuming a lesser risk, fasting strategies in procedural sedation can reasonably be less restrictive. We present a consensus-derived algorithm in which each patient is first risk-stratified during their pre-sedation assessment, using evidence-based factors relating to patient characteristics, comorbidities, the nature of the procedure and the nature of the anticipated sedation technique. Graded fasting precautions for liquids and solids are then recommended for elective procedures based upon this categorisation of negligible, mild or moderate aspiration risk. This consensus statement can serve as a resource to practitioners and policymakers who perform and oversee procedural sedation in patients of all ages, worldwide.

Impact of New Guidelines of Unscheduled and Scheduled Sedation for Cardiologists: JACC Council Perspectives.

Until 2019, guidelines for procedural sedation emphasized a detailed process most applicable for elective procedures scheduled well in advance. These guidelines provided by the American Society of Anesthesiologists were adopted by many specialties and institutions, and they have historically served the medical field well. However, cardiologists and other specialists often encounter urgent situations that demand unscheduled sedation. Physicians have been concerned about performing procedures in a fashion that "departs from the guidelines." In response, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has developed a set of guidelines for patients requiring urgent unscheduled sedation. Many of the recommendations made within the novel ACEP guidelines are appropriate for cardiology, but there remain fundamental differences between trauma and other emergencies encountered in the emergency department and urgent cardiac procedures. This paper examines the differences between the American Society of Anesthesiologists and ACEP guidelines and provides some points to consider regarding best practices for cardiologists.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: combination of ketamine and propofol versus ketamine alone for procedural sedation and analgesia in children.

Although ketamine has been used for procedural sedation and analgesia, some researchers have assessed ketamine-propofol as a better alternative because of its reduced adverse events. The goal of this review was to compare adverse events between ketamine-propofol and ketamine for procedural sedation and analgesia in children. We searched the literature from their inception to May 2018 without the restriction of language. We included all randomized controlled trials comparing ketamine-propofol with ketamine for procedural sedation and analgesia in children. The meta-analysis was conducted using the Stata software. A total of six studies involving 693 individuals were included. Pooling of data showed that subjects with ketamine-propofol had similar incidence of respiratory adverse events compared to those with ketamine (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.68-1.98). However, ketamine-propofol was effective in reducing cardiovascular adverse events compared to ketamine (RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.04-0.31). Ketamine-propofol was also effective in reducing psychomimetic adverse events compared to ketamine (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.93). In regard to nausea and vomiting, ketamine-propofol was significantly effective (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.25-0.74). In addition, we could not demonstrate differences in efficacious sedation between ketamine-propofol and ketamine. Although our study was not able to demonstrate differences in efficacious sedation between ketamine-propofol and ketamine, we confirmed that ketamine-propofol sedation had a lower frequency of adverse events compared to ketamine sedation in children.

Therapeutic hypothermia and N-PASS; results from implementation in a level 3 NICU.

BACKGROUND: Neonates that have been subjected to perinatal asphyxia and fulfill criteria for therapeutic hypothermia are cooled to 33.5 °C for 72 h. There is no consensus regarding sedation and analgesic use during hypothermia, but there is evidence supporting the importance of pain relief and adequate sedation. There is a need for assessment of the neonates need for pain relief and sedation, and for adjustments of medication to ensure adequate treatment. There are many different scoring tools available. We found the N-PASS (Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale) scoring tool to be the most suitable for this patient group as it assesses both pain and sedation. METHODS: We translated the scoring tool according to guidelines published by Wilder et al., and scored neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Sedation and analgesia were adjusted according to scoring results. At the end of the study a questionnaire was filled out by the nurses in charge of this group of patients. RESULTS: Both pain and sedation scores did not reach the desired levels until day 3. The nurses reported a high level of satisfaction (79.7% were extremely of very satisfied), and 96.7% of the nurses found the neonates to be better pain relieved after the initiation of the study. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the N-PASS scoring tool in our unit has been successful, and has led to better pain relief and sedation than before the implementation.

Moderate and deep sedation training and pharmacology for nonanesthesiologists: recommendations for effective practice.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to discuss current drugs used for intravenous moderate and deep sedation by nonanesthesiologists in the United States. We also explore training expectations for moderate and deep sedation as they play key roles in anesthetic selection and preprocedural planning. RECENT FINDINGS: Although opioids and benzodiazepines are considered the standard for moderate sedation, increased interest in propofol, dexmedetomidine, and other sedative-hyptonic drugs require additional attention in terms of training providers and complying with current practice guidelines. SUMMARY: Moderate sedation providers should be familiar with titrating benzodiazepines and opioids to achieve targeted sedation. The use of propofol and ketamine is generally reserved for deep sedation by qualified professionals. However, the role of dexmedetomidine in procedural sedation continues to evolve as its use is explored in moderate sedation. Providers of all sedation types should be aware of hypotension, apnea, hypoventilation, and hypoxia that can develop and they should be able to manage the patient under these circumstances. Preprocedural planning is an integral training expectation to minimize patient risks.