Anesthesiologist: the patient's perception / O anestesiologista: a visão do doente

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anesthesia is still a major concern for patients, although the anesthetic complications have decreased significantly. Additionally, the role assigned to the anesthesiologist remains inaccurate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concerns with anesthesia and assess the patient's knowledge about the anesthesiologist's duties. METHODS: Prospective study conducted over three months with patients in the preoperative anesthetic visit in a university hospital. Demographic information about the level of education and prior anesthesia was obtained. The knowledge of patients regarding the anesthesiologists' education was evaluated. Patients' concerns and anesthesiologist and surgeon responsibilities were classified with a 5-point scale. The analysis was performed with SPSS 21, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We included 204 patients, and 135 (66.2%) recognized the anesthesiologist as a specialist physician. Not waking up after surgery and postoperative infection were the main concerns compared to all others (p < 0.05). Women expressed more concern than men about not waking up after surgery, nausea and postoperative vomiting, medical problems, and waking up during surgery (p < 0.05). Ensure that patients do not wake up during surgery was the anesthesiologist task most recognized, compared to all other (p < 0.05). The surgeon was more recognized (p < 0.05) than the anesthesiologist in post-operative, antibiotics administration, and blood transfusions pain management. CONCLUSIONS: Patients need to be informed about the current safety of anesthesia and the anesthesiologist's functions. The patient involvement will demystify some fears and reassure the confidence in the health system.

JUSTIFICATIVA/OBJETIVOS: A anestesia ainda é uma preocupação importante para os doentes, embora as complicações anestésicas tenham diminuído significativamente. Adicionalmente, o papel atribuído ao anestesiologista permanece impreciso. Avaliar as preocupações com a anestesia e verificar o conhecimento dos doentes acerca das funções do anestesiologista foram os objetivos deste estudo. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospetivo decorrido durante 3 meses em doentes com consulta de anestesia pré-operatória num Hospital Universitário. Foi questionada informação demográfica, nível de educação e anestesia prévia. Foi avaliado o conhecimento dos doentes relativamente à educação do anestesiologista. As preocupações dos doentes, responsabilidades dos anestesiologistas e cirurgiões foram classificadas usando uma escala de 5 pontos. A análise foi realizada com SPSS 21, p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 204 doentes. 135 (66,2%) reconheceram o anestesiologista como médico especialista. Não acordar após a cirurgia e infeção pós-operatória foram as principais preocupações, comparativamente a todas as outras (p < 0,05). As mulheres manifestaram maior preocupação do que os homens com (p < 0,05): não acordar após a cirurgia, náuseas e vómitos pós-operatórios, problemas médicos e acordar durante a cirurgia. Assegurar que os doentes não acordem durante a cirurgia foi a tarefa mais reconhecida no anestesiologista, comparativamente a todas as outras (p < 0,05). O cirurgião foi mais reconhecido (p < 0,05) do que o anestesiologista na gestão da dor pós-operatória, administração de antibióticos e transfusões sanguíneas. CONCLUSÕES: Os doentes necessitam de ser informados acerca da atual segurança da anestesia e sobre as funções do anestesiologista. Envolver o doente irá desmistificar alguns receios e reassegurar a confiança no sistema de saúde.

Glomerular damage as a predictor of renal allograft loss

Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) are the most common cause of renal graft failure. Chronic transplant glomerulopathy (CTG) is present in approximately 1.5-3.0 percent of all renal grafts. We retrospectively studied the contribution of CTG and recurrent post-transplant glomerulopathies (RGN) to graft loss. We analyzed 123 patients with chronic renal allograft dysfunction and divided them into three groups: CTG (N = 37), RGN (N = 21), and IF/TA (N = 65). Demographic data were analyzed and the variables related to graft function identified by statistical methods. CTG had a significantly lower allograft survival than IF/TA. In a multivariate analysis, protective factors for allograft outcomes were: use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI; hazard ratio (HR) = 0.12, P = 0.001), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; HR = 0.17, P = 0.026), hepatitis C virus (HR = 7.29, P = 0.003), delayed graft function (HR = 5.32, P = 0.016), serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL at the 1st year post-transplant (HR = 0.20, P = 0.011), and proteinuria ≥0.5 g/24 h at the 1st year post-transplant (HR = 0.14, P = 0.004). The presence of glomerular damage is a risk factor for allograft loss (HR = 4.55, P = 0.015). The presence of some degree of chronic glomerular damage in addition to the diagnosis of IF/TA was the most important risk factor associated with allograft loss since it could indicate chronic active antibody-mediated rejection. ACEI and MMF were associated with better outcomes, indicating that they might improve graft survival.

Experimental model for the study of chronic renal ischemia in rats: morphologic, histological and ultra-structural analysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate a model of chronic renal ischemia in rats and to characterize the effects on renal tissue. METHODS: 168 Wistar rats were divided into two equal groups, control (GC) and ischemia (GI). The animals of the GI (n=84) were submitted to partial ligation of the left renal artery, and the animals of GC (n=84) stayed with the renal artery intact. In seven successive and identical periods of time, in weekly intervals, 12 animals of each group were submitted to nephrectomy, with morphometric determinations and histological and ultra-structural analysis. RESULTS: The GI presented progressive reduction in renal weight, volume and cortical thickness observed from the 7th day of the experiment, reaching maximum degree in the 49th day (p < 0.05). The proximal tubular atrophy in the GI was observed in 75/84 analysis (89,2 percent), with highly significant difference among the groups starting from the 7th day (p=0 .0009) and in the other periods of the experiment (p=0 .00001). The most prevalent interstitial alteration was the infiltrate, present in 98,8 percent of the GI, with highly significant difference among the groups in the whole experiment (p=0 .00001). Ultra-structural analysis didn't demonstrate glomerular lesions, evidencing that the glomerule preserves its intact architecture during chronic ischemia. CONCLUSION: The model showed that chronic renal ischemia in rats provokes progressive renal atrophy, with preservation of glomerular structure.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar um modelo de isquemia renal crônica em ratos e caracterizar os efeitos no tecido renal. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 168 ratos Wistar divididos em dois grupos iguais, controle (GC) e isquemia (GI). Os animais do GI (n=84) foram submetidos à ligadura parcial da artéria renal esquerda, e os animais do GC (n=84) permaneceram com a artéria renal intacta. Em sete períodos de tempo sucessivos e iguais, em intervalos semanais, 12 animais de cada grupo foram submetidos à nefrectomia, com determinações morfométricas e análises histológica e ultra-estrutural. RESULTADOS: O GI apresentou redução progressiva no peso, volume e espessura cortical renal a partir do 7° dia do experimento, atingindo grau máximo no 49° dia (p < 0.05). A atrofia tubular proximal no GI ocorreu em 75/84 análises (89,2 por cento), com diferença altamente significativa entre os dois grupos a partir do 7° dia (p=0.0009) e nos demais períodos do experimento (p=0.00001). A alteração intersticial mais comum no GI foi o infiltrado, presente em 98,8 por cento, com diferença altamente significativa entre os dois grupos (p=0.00001). A análise ultra-estrutural não demonstrou lesões glomerulares, evidenciando que os glomérulos preservam sua arquitetura intacta durante a isquemia crônica. CONCLUSÃO: O modelo mostrou que a isquemia renal crônica em ratos provoca atrofia renal progressiva, com preservação da estrutura glomerular.