Post-operative Sore Throat: Comparing the Monitored Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure and Pilot Balloon Palpation Methods.

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal tube cuff (ETTc) inflation pressure is usually not regarded as an important aspect during intubation. In this study, we compared measuring ETTc pressure and pilot balloon palpation method in causing post-operative airway complications. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-two surgical patients requiring intubation were recruited into this prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled study. Group A patients had their ETTc initially inflated, checked by a cuff pressure gauge, recorded and then set to 25 cmH2O. Group B patients had their ETTc inflated using the pilot balloon palpation method. Patients were then followed up for post-operative sore throat, hoarseness and cough. RESULTS: The overall incidence of post-operative sore throat was 39.0% versus 75.3% (P < 0.001), hoarseness 6.2% versus 15.1% (P < 0.05) and cough 7.5% versus 21.9% (P < 0.05) in Group A and B, respectively. Group A patients experienced a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of sore throat up to 24 h post-operatively (P < 0.001), hoarseness at the first hour (P = 0.004) and cough at first and 12 h post-operatively (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Adjusting the ETTc pressure to 25 cmH2O reduces post-operative sore throat, hoarseness and cough compared to pilot balloon palpation method.

The Impact of Laparoscopic Intraperitoneal Instillation of Ropivacaine in Enhancing Respiratory Recovery and Reducing Acute Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Double-Blinded Randomised Control; RELiEVE Trial.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic intraperitoneal instillation of local anaesthetic in bariatric surgery proven to reduce postoperative pain. Limited data are available regarding the use of instillation ropivacaine and its impact on the recovery of respiratory effort. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in reducing acute postoperative pain and enhancing the recovery of respiratory effort in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blinded RCT enrolled 110 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM from November 2020 to May 2021. Any patients with previous abdominal surgery, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease were excluded. The patients were randomised into two groups: (i) the IPLA group which received ropivacaine intraperitoneal instillation at the dissected left crus and (ii) the placebo group (sterile water instillation). Perioperative analgesia was standardised. The first 24-h postoperative pain was assessed using a VAS. The respiratory effort was assessed using incentive spirometry simultaneously. RESULTS: Total of 110 patients were recruited. The VAS score was lower with an enhanced recovery of respiratory effort in the local anaesthetic group compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05) within the first 24 h postoperatively. In addition, the placebo group required additional postoperative analgesia (P < 0.05). No side effects were reported with the use of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine. CONCLUSION: The use of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is recommended as it is safe, effectively reduces acute postoperative pain, and enhances the recovery of respiratory effort postoperatively.

Effects of Sugammadex and Neostigmine on Post-operative Nausea and Vomiting in ENT Surgery.

We aim to compare the effects of sugammadex on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) with those of neostigmine-atropine mixture. A total of 136 American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I or II patients, aged 18 to 65 years who underwent ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery under general anesthesia, were recruited in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study to receive either sugammadex 2 mg/kg or neostigmine 2.5 mg with atropine 1 mg for reversal of neuromuscular blockade. PONV scores and the need for the rescue of anti-emetic were assessed upon arrival in the post-anesthesia recovery unit and at 1-, 6-, 12-, and 24-h post-reversal. The incidence of PONV was significantly lower in patients who received sugammadex (3%) compared to patients who received neostigmine-atropine mixture (20%) at 6 h postoperative (p = 0.013). The incidence of PONV was comparable at other time intervals. None of the sugammadex recipients require rescue antiemetic whereas two patients from the neostigmine-atropine group required rescue antiemetic at 1 and 6 h post-reversal, respectively. The need for the rescue antiemetic was not statistically significant. We concluded that reversal of neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex showed lower incidence of PONV compared to neostigmine-atropine combination in the first 6 h post-reversal.

An approach to develop clinical prediction rule for candidemia in critically ill patients: A retrospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Early detection of candidemia in critically ill patients is important for preemptive antifungal treatment. Our study aimed to identify the independent risk factors for the development of a new candidemia prediction score. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective observational study evaluated 2479 intensive care unit (ICU) cases from January 2016 to December 2018. A total of 76 identified candidemia cases and 76 matched control cases were analyzed. The patients' demographic characteristics and illness severity were analyzed, and possible risk factors for candidemia were investigated. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified renal replacement therapy (RRT) (odds ratio [OR]: 52.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.82-356.92; P < 0.0001), multifocal Candida colonization (OR: 23.55; 95% CI: 4.23-131.05; P < 0.0001), parenteral nutrition (PN) (OR: 63.67; 95% CI: 4.56-889.77; P = 0.002), and acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR: 7.67; 95% CI: 1.24-47.30; P = 0.028) as independent risk factors. A new prediction score with a cut-off value of 5.0 (80.3% sensitivity and 77.3% specificity) was formulated from the logit model equation. CONCLUSIONS: Renal replacement therapy, AKI, PN, and multifocal Candida colonization were the independent risk factors for the new candidemia prediction score with high discriminatory performance and predictive accuracy.

The Performance of Flexible Tip Bougie™ in Intubating Simulated Difficult Airway Model.

This prospective, randomized, cross-over study compared the performance of the novel Flexible Tip Bougie™ (FTB) with a conventional bougie as an intubation aid in a simulated difficult airway manikin model among anaesthesiology trainees with regards of first pass success rate, time to intubation, number of attempts and ease of use. Sixty-two anesthesiology trainees, novice to the usage of FTB, participated in this study. Following a video demonstration, each participant performed endotracheal intubation on a manikin standardized to a difficult airway view. Each participant performed direct laryngoscopy and intubated the manikin using a conventional bougie and FTB, at least 1 day in between devices, in a randomized order. The first pass success rate was significantly higher with FTB (98.4%) compared to conventional bougie (85.5%), p = 0.008. The median time to intubation was significantly faster when using FTB, median = 32.0 s [Interquartile range (IQR): 23.8-41.3 s] compared to when using conventional bougie, median = 41.5 s (IQR: 31.8-69.5 s), p < 0.001. The FTB required significantly less intubation attempts compared to conventional bougie, p = 0.024. The overall ease of use, scored on a Likert scale from 1 to 5, was significantly higher in the FTB (4.26 ± 0.53) compared to the conventional bougie (3.19 ± 0.83), p < 0.001. This simulated difficult airway manikin study finding suggested that FTB is a useful adjunct for difficult airway intubation. The FTB offered a higher first pass success rate with a faster time to intubation and less required attempts.