Transversus abdominis plane block or intravenous lignocaine in open prostate surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) and intravenous lignocaine are two analgesic techniques frequently used after abdominal surgery. We hypothesized that these two techniques improve post-operative analgesia after open prostate surgery and sought to compare their efficacy on immediate post-operative outcome after open prostate surgery. METHODS: After ethics committee approval, 101 patients were enrolled in this prospective study and randomly allocated to receive bilateral ultrasound-guided TAP (n = 34), intravenous lignocaine (n = 33) or placebo (n = 34). In addition, intravenous paracetamol was given every 6 h. The primary endpoint was the cumulative opioid consumption during the first 48 post-operative hours (median[IQR]). Secondary endpoints included pain scores at rest and upon coughing, need for rescue tramadol, incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), recovery of bowel function and incidence of bladder catheter-related discomfort. RESULTS: Cumulative piritramide consumption after 48 h was 28 [23] mg in the control group, 21 [29] mg in the TAP group and 21 [31] mg in the lignocaine group (P = 0.065). There was no significant difference in post-operative pain scores between groups. The proportions of patients requiring rescue tramadol, experiencing PONV or bladder catheter-related discomfort were similar in each group. Recovery of bowel function was also similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that TAP block and intravenous lignocaine do not improve the post-operative analgesia provided by systematic administration of paracetamol after open prostatectomy.

Recruitment of lung volume during surgery neither affects the postoperative spirometry nor the risk of hypoxaemia after laparoscopic gastric bypass in morbidly obese patients: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) combined with PEEP reverse the decrease in functional residual capacity (FRC) associated with anaesthesia and improve intraoperative oxygenation. Whether these benefits persist after operation remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that intraoperative RMs associated with PEEP improve postoperative spirometry including FRC and reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxaemia in morbidly obese (MO) patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass. METHODS: After IRB approval and informed consent, 50 MO patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass under volume-controlled ventilation (tidal volume 6 ml kg(-1) of IBW) were randomly ventilated with either 10 cm H2O PEEP or with 10 cm H2O PEEP and one RM carried out after induction of pneumoperitoneum, and another after exsufflation. Anaesthesia and analgesia were standardized. Spirometry was assessed before operation and 24 h after surgery. Postoperative oxygenation and the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) were recorded during the first postoperative night. RESULTS: Age, BMI, and STOP BANG score were similar in both groups. FRC decrease after surgery was minimal [0.15 (0.14) litre in control and 0.38 (0.19) litre in the RM group] and similar between the groups (P=0.35). FVC, FEV1, mean [Formula: see text], percentage of time spent with [Formula: see text] below 90%, and AHI did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that when added to a protective mechanical ventilation combining low tidal volume and high PEEP, two RMs do not improve postoperative lung function including FRC, arterial oxygenation, and the incidence of obstructive apnoea in MO patients after laparoscopic upper abdominal surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT 2011-000999-33.

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum: the typical echographic aspect is worth being known.

A 65-year-old man was scheduled for an on-pump coronary artery bypass graft procedure because of a three-vessels coronary artery disease. A right atrial mass appended to the interatrial septum was discovered during intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography. Therefore, the right atrium was opened. Gross examination revealed a fatty lesion of the interatrial septum. A biopsy was performed before the atrium was closed. A histological diagnosis of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum was made. Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is a mass of adipocytes infiltrating the interatrial septum. The aspect of "dumbbell" produced by the sparing of the Fossa Ovalis is typical. The lesion is benign and remains asymptomatic most of the time although it can be responsible for cardiac arrhythmias or circulatory obstruction. The typical echographic aspect should be known to avoid unnecessary surgical resection.

Intravenous lidocaine infusion reduces bispectral index-guided requirements of propofol only during surgical stimulation.

BACKGROUND: I.V. lidocaine reduces volatile anaesthetics requirements during surgery. We hypothesized that lidocaine would also reduce propofol requirements during i.v. anaesthesia. METHODS: A randomized controlled study of 40 patients tested the effect of i.v. lidocaine (1.5 mg kg(-1) then 2 mg kg(-1) h(-1)) on propofol requirements. Anaesthesia was maintained with remifentanil and propofol target-controlled infusions (TCI) to keep the bispectral index (BIS) around 50. Effect-site concentrations of propofol and remifentanil and BIS values were recorded before and after skin incision. Data were analysed using anova and mixed effects analysis with NONMEM. Two dose-response studies were then performed with and without surgical stimulation. Propofol TCI titrated to obtain a BIS around 50 was kept constant. Then patients were randomized into four groups: A, saline; B, 0.75 mg kg(-1) bolus then infusion 1 mg kg(-1) h(-1); C, 1.5 mg kg(-1) bolus and infusion 2 mg kg(-1) h(-1); and D, 3 mg kg(-1) bolus and infusion 4 mg kg(-1) h(-1). Lidocaine administration coincided with skin incision. BIS values and haemodynamic variables were recorded. Data were analysed using linear regression and two-way anova. RESULTS: Lidocaine decreased propofol requirements (P<0.05) only during surgery. In the absence of surgical stimulation, lidocaine did not affect BIS nor haemodynamic variables, whereas it reduced BIS increase (P=0.036) and haemodynamic response (P=0.006) secondary to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The sparing effect of lidocaine on anaesthetic requirements seems to be mediated by an anti-nociceptive action.

Effect of an intravenous infusion of lidocaine on cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular block duration: a randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous lidocaine can be used intraoperatively for its analgesic and antihyperalgesic properties but local anaesthetics may also prolong the duration of action of neuromuscular blocking agents. We hypothesized that intravenous lidocaine would prolong the time to recovery of neuromuscular function after cisatracurium. METHODS: Forty-two patients were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Before induction, patients were administered either a 1.5 mg/kg bolus of intravenous lidocaine followed by a 2 mg/kg/h infusion or an equal volume of saline. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained using propofol and remifentanil infusions. After loss of consciousness, a 0.15 mg/kg bolus of cisatracurium was administered. No additional cisatracurium injection was allowed. Neuromuscular function was assessed every 20 s using kinemyography. The primary endpoint was the time to spontaneous recovery of a train-of-four (TOF) ratio ≥ 0.9. RESULTS: The time to spontaneous recovery of a TOF ratio ≥ 0.9 was 94 ± 15 min in the control group and 98 ± 16 min in the lidocaine group (P=0.27). CONCLUSIONS: No significant prolongation of spontaneous recovery of a TOF ratio ≥ 0.9 after cisatracurium was found in patients receiving intravenous lidocaine.

Comparison between two intraoperative intravenous loading doses of paracetamol on pain after minor hand surgery: two grams versus one gram.

BACKGROUND: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely used for postoperative analgesia at a recommended dose of 1 g every six hours in adult patients. Increasing the loading dose to 2 g was suggested to improve immediate postoperative analgesia without increased toxicity in healthy adult patients. We tested the hypothesis that a loading dose of 2 g of intravenous paracetamol results in better postoperative analgesia after surgery as compared with a dose of 1 g. METHODS: Sixty adult patients scheduled for minor hand surgery under intravenous regional anaesthesia were randomized into two groups. The first group received 1 g of intravenous paracetamol before surgery while the second group received 2 g. Verbal numeric pain score, analgesic consumption, first night sleep quality, and patient's satisfaction were recorded during the first 24 hours. RESULTS: Verbal numeric pain scores during the first 24 hours after surgery were significantly lower in the 2 g paracetamol group as compared to the 1 g paracetamol group. No differences were found between the two groups with regard to rescue analgesic consumption, sleep quality and patient's satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: An intraoperative loading dose of 2 g paracetamol improves postoperative analgesia after minor hand surgery as compared to 1 g paracetamol.

Postoperative respiratory problems in morbidly obese patients.

Morbid obesity results in a restrictive pulmonary syndrome including decreased functional residual capacity. General anaesthesia further decreases functional residual capacity, and consequently alters gas exchanges more profoundly in morbidly obese patients than in nonobese patients. Moreover, these changes persist longer during the postoperative period, rendering obese subjects vulnerable to postoperative respiratory complications. In this review, we present postoperative measures improving respiratory function of these patients. Whether these measures affect outcome remains however unknown. Patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome deserve special considerations that are briefly described. Finally, the algorithm of the postoperative respiratory management of morbid obese patients used in our institution is provided.

Pulmonary embolism in a trauma patient with liver and orthopedic injuries.

We report the case of a 41-year-old man admitted for lower limb and liver trauma following a car accident. Surgical repair of a tibial fracture was performed under general anesthesia 5 days after admission while the liver injury was managed conservatively. At the time of tourniquet inflation, the patient presented a pulmonary embolism. Low-molecular-weight heparin administration had been delayed for 72 hours after admission due to the liver injury. Risk factors for bleeding and thromboembolism in trauma patients with liver injury are discussed.

Cerebral subarachnoid blood migration consecutive to a lumbar haematoma after spinal anaesthesia.

We report the case of a woman who received spinal anaesthesia for peripheral vascular surgery of the lower limbs and subsequently developed a spinal subarachnoid haematoma. Interestingly, low back pain was the only symptom of this spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage. During the following days, blood migrated from the spinal haematoma towards the cerebral subarachnoid spaces. The patient presented with stupor, nausea and vomiting that resolved within 2 weeks with conservative treatment.