The Effects of Ketamine on Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients Undergoing Ophthalmic Surgery: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute postoperative cognitive dysfunction is characterized by neurocognitive dysfunction and confusion. In this study, we compared the cognitive status of a geriatric population undergoing ophthalmic surgery, as assessed by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) before and after ketamine administration. METHODS: Eighty patients were enrolled and randomly assigned in a double-blind study to receive either ketamine (0.3 mg/kg dose) or physiologic solution (control group). Sixty-five (control, n = 32; ketamine, n = 33) patients completed the trial. Cognitive performance was assessed with an abbreviated version of the SPMSQ. Measurements of analgesia, sedation, intraocular pressure, and hemodynamic variables were recorded. RESULTS: With respect to cognitive performance, the baseline evaluation was similar for the control and ketamine groups. Postoperative evaluation showed an improvement only in the ketamine group. No increase in intraocular pressure or a secondary nystagmus was observed. The average dose of midazolam was higher in the control group, but the difference was not clinically significant. After surgery, analgesic behavior was better in the ketamine group than in the control group. There were no differences between groups in the sedation scale or in hemodynamic variables. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of 0.3 mg/kg ketamine during ophthalmic surgery in geriatric patients changed their cognitive status as assessed by the SPMSQ, decreased the required dose of anesthetics, and produced no increase in intraocular pressure or in hemodynamic variables. However, because the evaluation only analyzed the immediate effects of the administered drug, further research will be required to examine the impact of ketamine on the postoperative cognitive performance of geriatric patients before the drug can be formally recommended for this purpose.

Acute Stress in Health Workers during Two Consecutive Epidemic Waves of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked generalized uncertainty around the world, with health workers experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, insomnia, and stress. Although the effects of the pandemic on mental health may change as it evolves, the majority of reports have been web-based, cross-sectional studies. We performed a study assessing acute stress in frontline health workers during two consecutive epidemic waves. After screening for trait anxiety/depression and dissociative experiences, we evaluated changes in acute stress, considering resilience, state anxiety, burnout, depersonalization/derealization symptoms, and quality of sleep as cofactors. During the first epidemic wave (April 2020), health workers reported acute stress related to COVID-19, which was related to state anxiety. After the first epidemic wave, acute stress decreased, with no increase during the second epidemic wave (December 2020), and further decreased when vaccination started. During the follow-up (April 2020 to February 2021), the acute stress score was related to bad quality of sleep. However, acute stress, state anxiety, and burnout were all related to trait anxiety/depression, while the resilience score was invariant through time. Overall, the results emphasize the relevance of mental health screening before, during, and after an epidemic wave of infections, in order to enable coping during successive sanitary crises.

Clínicas de ketamina: usos actuales según la evidencia / Ketamine clinics: current uses based on evidence

Resumen: La ketamina es un medicamento conocido por sus bondades como inductor anestésico y para disminuir la posibilidad de complicaciones, por ejemplo, exacerbación del dolor neuropático e hiperalgesia asociada a opioides. En esta revisión nos enfocaremos en otras indicaciones en las que también ha demostrado ser útil y que, bajo observación e instrucción adecuadas en una infraestructura diseñada para ello (clínicas de ketamina), mejora la calidad en el comportamiento y disminuye el estrés, ansiedad y dolor. Entre las indicaciones para su uso se encuentran los trastornos depresivos, el trastorno de ansiedad, el trastorno obsesivo compulsivo y los relacionados con traumas emocionales; el trastorno bipolar, anormalidades en conducta e ingesta alimentaria, al igual que los trastornos adictivos.

Abstract: Ketamine is a drug known for its benefits as an anesthetic inducer and to reduce the possibility of complications such as exacerbation of neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia associated with opioids. In this review we will focus on other indications in which it has also proven to be useful and that, under adequate observation and instruction in an infrastructure designed for it (ketamine clinics), improves the quality of behavior and decreases stress, anxiety and pain. Among the indications for its use are depressive disorders, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and those related to emotional trauma; bipolar disorder, abnormalities in behavior and eating intake as well as addictive disorders.

Sedoanalgesia con ketodex para la intubación selectiva en la resección de un aneurisma gigante de la arteria subclavia. Reporte de caso / Sedoanalgesia with ketodex for selective intubation in the resection of a giant aneurysm of the subclavian artery associated. Case report

Resumen: El aneurisma gigante de la arteria subclavia asociado a un síndrome de vena cava superior se presenta de forma poco frecuente. La complejidad del abordaje dependerá del tamaño, forma y disposición del aneurisma, particularmente cuando el colapso de la vía aérea es potencial por un efecto compresivo de la masa mediastinal durante la aplicación del relajante neuromuscular. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 57 años con disnea en decúbito dorsal que incrementa con el decúbito lateral izquierdo de cinco años de evolución. El estudio radiológico reporta masa mediastinal gigante compatible con aneurisma de la arteria subclavia derecha que causa compresión y desplazamiento de la vía aérea, particularmente en tráquea a nivel de la carina. El paciente es programado para resección del aneurisma y requiere de intubación selectiva para el aislamiento del pulmón derecho durante la cirugía, que fue realizada con la técnica de paciente despierto usando sedoanalgesia con ketodex. El objetivo del caso es compartir la experiencia con el uso de ketodex como una alternativa para la tolerancia de procedimientos que requieren de la cooperación del paciente, en donde el propofol y el relajante neuromuscular pueden ser un problema para la permeabilidad y el abordaje de la vía aérea.

Abstract: A giant subclavian artery aneurysm associated with superior vena cava syndrome occurs infrequently. Complexity of the approach will depend on the size, shape, and position of the aneurysm, particularly when a potential collapse of the airway is expected due to the compressive effect of the mediastinal mass after using neuromuscular relaxant for airway approach. We present a case in a 57-year-old male with shortness of breath in dorsal that increases with left lateral decubitus during five years of evolution. Radiological studies reported giant mediastinal mass compatible with an aneurysm of the right subclavian artery, which produces critical compression and airway displacement, particularly in trachea at level of the carina. The patient is scheduled for resection of the aneurysm and requires selective intubation for isolation of the right lung during surgery which was performed with the awake patient technique using sedoanalgesia with ketodex. The objective of the case is to share the experience using ketodex as an alternative for the tolerance of procedures that requires the cooperation of the patient where propofol and neuromuscular relaxant may be a problem for airway permeability and approach.

SASA: una escala sencilla de mortalidad postoperatoria explorada en un centro de atención de tercer nivel en México / SASA: a simple scale of postoperative mortality explored in a third-level care center in Mexico

Resumen: Introducción: Las complicaciones postquirúrgicas han sido causa importante de muerte. Por lo tanto, el uso de predictores sencillos de mortalidad con una nueva escala llamada SASA podría indicar un riesgo postoperatorio de mortalidad a los 30 días aplicado en una muestra en población mexicana. Material y métodos: Exploramos una asociación entre la clasificación de estado físico de la Sociedad Americana de Anestesiólogos (ASA-PS), el Apgar quirúrgico (sAs) y la puntuación de SASA con un análisis univariado en 371 pacientes estimando la relación de probabilidades (OR) y graficando las curvas de operación característica del receptor (receiver-operating-characteristic [ROC]) para cada escala. Resultados: Obtuvimos los valores de dos; [sensibilidad; 81.82% (IC del 95%: 48.2-97.72), especificidad; 40.56% (IC del 95%: 35.44-45.83)], 6; [sensibilidad; 81.82% (IC del 95 %: 48.2-97.72), especificidad; 77.5% (IC del 95%: 72.83-81.71)] y 10; [sensibilidad; 81.82% (IC del 95%: 48.2-97.72), especificidad; 83.6% (IC del 95%: 78.77-86.78)] como los mejores puntos de corte para el ASA-PS, sAs y SASA respectivamente. Conclusiones: el cálculo de SASA obtuvo la misma sensibilidad, pero mejor especificidad y área bajo la curva cuando se comparó con el ASA-PS y el sAs.

Abstract: Introduction: Post-surgical complications have been a significant cause of death. Therefore, the use of easy preoperative mortality predictors is recommended. A new SASA score could indicate a perioperative risk more globally at 30-days of the postoperative period applied in a Mexican sample. Material and methods: 371 patients were analyzed. We explore an association between the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA-PS), the surgical Apgar score (sAs), and the new SASA score to assess 30-days mortality after surgery using univariate analysis to estimate the odds ratio (OR). Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for each scale. Results: We obtained values of two; [sensitivity; 81.82% (95% CI: 48.2-97.72), specificity; 40.56% (95% CI: 35.44-45.83)] 6; [sensitivity; 81.82% (95% CI: 48.2-97.72), specificity; 77.5% (95% CI: 72.83-81.71)] and 10; [sensitivity; 81.82% (95% CI: 48.2-97.72), specificity; 83.6% (95% CI: 78.77-86.78)] as the best cut-off points for ASA-PS, sAs and SASA respectively. Conclusions: To predict postoperative 30-days mortality, SASA calculation as a new score obtained the same sensitivity but better specificity and area under the curve (AUC) for the ROC compared with the ASA-PS and the sAs.

Descripción de costos del tratamiento analgésico protocolizado con catéter epidural versus la analgesia convencional para la nefrectomía abierta del donador renal en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social / Cost description of protocolized analgesic treatment with epidural catheter versus conventional analgesia for open kidney donor nephrectomy in the Mexican Institute of Social Security

Resumen: Introducción: El dolor posterior a la nefrectomía abierta en donadores renales trasciende en la recuperación plena de las actividades de la vida diaria y expone un impacto económico en las instituciones de salud. Objetivo: Describir el costo de la analgesia protocolizada durante el período postoperatorio inmediato del paciente donante renal. Material y métodos: Realizamos un ensayo clínico controlado, aleatorizado, no ciego que comparó dos tratamientos analgésicos diferentes: uno protocolizado versus la analgesia convencional mediante un modelo de análisis de costos desde la perspectiva institucional. Resultados: En promedio, la analgesia protocolizada obtuvo un costo mayor con 53.25 US$ (52.34-53.79) versus el tratamiento analgésico convencional con 18.84 US$ (4.55-19.34), U = -6.0, p < 0.001. Sin embargo, 89.2% de los pacientes con analgesia protocolizada calificó como excelente esta intervención a diferencia de 41.2% de los pacientes que recibieron el tratamiento analgésico convencional, χ2 = 18.78; p < 0.001. Del mismo modo, los pacientes con analgesia protocolizada estuvieron más satisfechos reportando una mediana: (Me) = 10; (Percentil25 = 10 - Percentil75 = 10) en comparación con el otro tratamiento: Me = 8; (Percentil25 = 8 - Percentil75 = 9) (U = -5.9, p < 0.001). Conclusiones: En pacientes sometidos a nefrectomía abierta para donación renal, el uso de analgesia protocolizada con catéter epidural demostró una diferencia clínica y estadísticamente significativa con respecto a los reportes de dolor, eficacia y un mayor grado de satisfacción, aunque no disminuyó los costos de la atención analgésica durante el postoperatorio inmediato.

Abstract: Introduction: Pain in renal donors after open nephrectomy, transcends in full recovery of activities in daily life and exposes an economic impact in health institutions. Objective: To describe the costs of protocolized analgesia during the immediate postoperative period of renal donor patient. Material and methods: We conducted a longitudinal, randomized, non-blinded clinical trial which compared two different analgesic treatments: one protocolized versus conventional analgesia through a cost analysis model from the Institutional Social Security perspective. Results: In average, protocolized analgesia obtained a higher cost with 53.25 US$ (52.34-53.79) opposed to the conventional analgesia treatment with 18.84 US$ (4.55-19.34); U = -6.0, p < 0.001. However, 89.2% of the patients in protocolized analgesia qualified this intervention as excellent compared to the conventional treatment with only 41.2%, χ2 = 18.78; p < 0.001. Similarly, patients in protocolized analgesia were more satisfied with a reported median (Me) = 10; (25th percentile = 10-75th percentile = 10) compared to those who received conventional treatment, Me = 8; (25th percentile = 8-75th percentile = 9) (U = -5.9, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The use of Protocolized Analgesia with epidural catheter showed a clinical and statistically significant difference concerning to pain, efficacy and a greater satisfaction report in patients undergoing open nephrectomy for renal donation, although does not decrease the costs of analgesic care during immediate postoperative period.