Population-based volume kinetics of Ringer's lactate solution in patients undergoing open gastrectomy.

In order to maintain stable blood pressure and heart rate during surgery, anesthesiologists need to administer the appropriate amount of fluid with appropriate fluid type to the patient, then quantifying how fluid is distributed and eliminated from the body is useful for establishing a fluid administration strategy. In this study we characterized the volume kinetics of Ringer's lactate solution in patients undergoing open gastrectomy. When propofol and remifentanil reached a pseudosteady state at the target concentration and blood pressure was stabilized following surgical stimulation, enrolled patients were administered 1000 mL of Ringer's lactate solution for 20 min, followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 6 mL/kg/h until the time of the last blood collection for volume kinetic analysis. Arterial blood samples were collected to measure the hemoglobin concentration at different time points. The change in hemoglobin-derived plasma dilution induced by the administration of Ringer's lactate solution was evaluated by nonlinear mixed effects modeling. Three hundred and twenty-three plasma dilution data points from 27 patients were used to determine the pharmacokinetic characteristics of Ringer's lactate solution. A two-volume model best described the pharmacokinetics of Ringer's lactate solution. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and body weight (WT) were significant covariates for the elimination clearance (kr) and central volume of distribution at baseline (Vc0), respectively. The parameter estimates were as follows: kr (mL/min) = 124 + (MAP/70)14.2, Vc0 (mL) = 0.95 + 3440 × (WT/63), Vt0 (mL) = 2730, and kt (mL/min) = 181. A higher MAP was associated with a greater elimination clearance and, consequently, less water accumulation in the interstitium. As body weight increases, volume expansion in the blood vessels increases.

Prognostic Impacts of Increases in Amino Transaminases Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting on Mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic impacts of postoperative increases in serum amino transaminases on 1-year mortality in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: A tertiary care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,950 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase ratios were calculated as the ratio between the peak aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase within the first 5 post-operative days and their respective upper limit of normal values. A ratio of 2.0 was seen to be the minimum for which a difference in 1-year mortality could be detected in univariate analysis, when considering simultaneously both aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase ratios. Multivariable analysis showed an association between an aspartate amino transaminase ratio > 2.0 and increased 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-5.05, P = 0.002), and also between both an aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase ratio > 2.0 and increased 1-year mortality (HR 3.90, 95% CI 1.87-8.14, P < 0.001). However, increases in alanine amino transaminase only above the upper limit of normal were not associated with increased 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative increases in aspartate amino transaminase only and increases in both aspartate amino transaminase and alanine amino transaminase greater than twice the upper limit of normal were associated with increased 1-year mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft.

Improved outcomes in liver transplantation in children with acute liver failure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to review the experiences of a living donor-dominant transplantation program for children with acute liver failure (ALF). METHODS: Data were derived from the retrospective chart review of 50 children with ALF in a major liver center in the Republic of Korea. RESULTS: A total of 50 children with ALF underwent 47 (94%) primary living donor liver transplantations and 3 (6%) cadaveric liver transplantations. The cumulative survival rates of the grafts at 1 and 5 years were 81.9% and 79.2%, respectively. The overall retransplantation rate was 12%. The cumulative survival rates of these patients at 1 and 5 years were all 87.9%. Most incidents of mortality followed the failure of the preceding graft. We observed no mortalities among donors. Based on multivariate analysis, children who had pretransplant thrombocytopenia or had to use the molecular adsorbent recycling system preoperatively were related to the graft loss. Age younger than 2 years and a hyperacute onset (within 7 days) of hepatic encephalopathy were associated with pretransplant thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Living donor-dominant transplantation program in the present study demonstrates tolerable achievements in terms of clinical outcomes of recipients and donors; however, putative factors, such as pretransplant thrombocytopenia, seem to play unclear roles in a poor prognosis following transplantation.

Improvement of volatile aromatic compound levels and sensory quality of distilled soju derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus co-fermentation.

Distilled soju, a Korean traditional alcoholic beverage, is produced by fermenting rice with a variety of microorganisms including molds, yeasts, and lactic acid-producing bacteria, followed by distillation. Our study sought to improve the quality of distilled soju through co-fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, known for producing volatile aromatic compounds during the early stages of fermentation. Analysis of volatile aromatic compounds in co-fermented distilled soju revealed a substantial increase in compounds with boiling points below 200 °C. Among them, ethyl hexanoate, isobutanol, and isoamyl alcohol were identified as the major volatile aromatic compounds based on Log2 fold change analyses of the volatile aromatic compound pattern. In sensory evaluation, co-fermented distilled soju received higher scores in terms of odor and overall preference. Therefore, incorporating W. anomalus may improve the quality of distilled soju.

Fermentation Characteristics of Unripe Citrus unshiu Vinegar Production Using Acetic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Traditional Fermented Vinegars.

Here, we aimed to isolate an acetic acid bacterium that is suitable for the production of unripe Citrus unshiu vinegar from traditional fermented vinegars. We compared the halo sizes of isolates to select a strain with superior acetic acid production capabilities and selected Komagataeibacter kakiaceti P6 (P6) as the final strain. Using Acetobacter pasteurianus CY (CY) and A. pasteurianus KACC 17058 (KACC 17058) as controls, we analyzed the total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activities, and organic acids of the selected strain to verify its suitability for acetic acid fermentation. On the 30th day of the fermentation period, P6 showed a total acidity of 4.86%, which was higher than that of control groups (CY, 4.16%; KACC 17058, 4.01%). The total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power values significantly increased during fermentation with P6 compared with the initial C. unshiu wine, and no significant differences were observed from the vinegars produced by CY and KACC 17058. Moreover, organic acid analysis revealed that the unripe C. unshiu vinegar produced with P6 had an acetic acid content of 26.15 mg/mL, which was significantly higher than those produced with CY and KACC 17058, indicating that the P6 strain effectively produces acetic acid without adversely affecting other quality aspects during fermentation. In conclusion, the novel P6 strain is expected to be used as a starter for fermenting unripe C. unshiu vinegar, and its excellent acetic acid production capabilities suggest potential applications for other vinegars.

Long-term outcomes of pediatric living donor liver transplantation at a single institution.

There have only been a few studies on the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors after pediatric LDLT. We conducted a retrospective, single-center assessment of the outcomes as well as the demographic and clinical factors that influenced the poor outcomes in 113 children aged <16 (median age 21 months; 6 months-15.5 yr) who underwent 115 LDLTs, predominantly for biliary atresia (60.9%) and FHF (14.8%), between 1994 and 2006 at Asan Medical Center. Left lateral segment or left lobe grafts were implanted into most of these children (86.9%) according to routine procedures. The overall rates of graft survival at one, five, and 10 yr were 89.6%, 83.0%, and 81.5%, respectively, and the overall rates of patient survival were 92.9%, 86.3%, and 84.8%, respectively. Virus-related disease (41.2%) and chronic rejection (29.4%) were the major causes of mortality. On multivariate analysis, UNOS status 1a and 1b and chronic rejection were significant risk factors for both graft and patient loss, whereas the PELD score >25 was a significant risk factor for graft loss. Patient and graft survival may be related not only to post-operative complications, but also to the patient's preoperative clinical condition.

Does Erector Spinae Plane Block Have a Visceral Analgesic Effect?: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The visceral analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is still a matter of debate. This study attempted to investigate the visceral analgesic efficacy of ESPB in clinical setting. After randomized, we performed ultrasound-guided bilateral rectus sheath block (RSB), which was aimed to prevent postoperative somatic pain on all patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Ultrasound-guided bilateral ESPB at T7 level was performed only to the intervention group to provide the visceral analgesic block. The intraoperative requirement for remifentanil (P = 0.021) and the cumulative fentanyl consumption at postoperative 24-hours was significantly lower in the ESPB group (206.5 ± 82.8 µg vs.283.7 ± 102.4 µg, respectively; P = 0.004) compared to non-ESPB group. The ESPB group consistently showed lower accumulated analgesic consumption compared with those in the non-ESPB group at all observed time-points (all P < 0.05) after 2 hours and the degree of the accumulated analgesic consumption reduction was greater (P = 0.04) during the 24-hour postoperative period. Pain severity was lower in the ESPB group at 6-hours postoperatively. The significantly reduced opioid consumption in ESPB group may imply that while preliminary and in need of confirmation, ESPB has potential visceral analgesic effect. Therefore, performing ESPB solely may be feasible in inducing both somatic and visceral analgesia.

Preoperative versus Postoperative Rectus Sheath Block for Acute Postoperative Pain Relief after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is multifactorial and usually not effectively treated. Rectus sheath block (RSB) has been proven to reduce the pain from midline abdominal incision and laparoscopic surgery. We investigated the preemptive analgesic effect of RSB after LC. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, single-center trial, 200 patients undergoing LC were randomized into preoperative RSB (pre-RSB) or postoperative RSB (post-RSB) group. An ultrasound-guided RSB was performed before skin incision in the pre-RSB group or after skin closure in the post-RSB group. The primary outcome was total rescue analgesic consumption at 24 h post-surgery. The secondary outcomes were cumulated rescue analgesic consumption and postoperative pain measured by numerical rating scale (NRS) at 0, 1, 2, 6, 9, 18, and 24 h post-surgery. RESULTS: Total rescue analgesic consumption at 24 h post-surgery was significantly lower in the pre-RSB group than in the post-RSB group (p = 0.020). The cumulated rescue analgesic consumption was significantly lower in the pre-RSB group than in the post-RSB group at 1 h (p = 0.023), 9 h (p = 0.020) and 18 h (p = 0.002) post-surgery. NRS was significantly lower in the pre-RSB group than in the post-RSB group at 0 h post-surgery (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: The pre-RSB reduced the analgesic requirements in patients undergoing LC compared with the post-RSB.

Effect of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program on pancreaticoduodenectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the noninferiority of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: In this single-center trial, we randomly assigned 276 adult patients who underwent open PD into ERAS and conventional groups with 138 patients in each, from 2015 through 2017. The primary endpoint was the incidence of overall morbidity until postoperative 3 months. The secondary endpoints were in-hospital or 30-day mortality, postoperative length of stay (LOS), nutritional status and overall hospital costs. RESULTS: Overall morbidity was reported in 64 patients (52.0%, ERAS group) and in 68 patients (54.8%, conventional group) (risk difference [RD] -2.81 percentage points (pp); 90% two-sided confidence interval -13.24 to 7.63). Mortality did not occur in any patients. The two groups did not differ significantly in median postoperative LOS (both 11 days; RD -8.46 pp), body mass index (22.4 ± 2.75 vs. 22.4 ± 2.65 kg/m2 ; RD -3.48 pp), Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment score over 4 (45 [40.5%] vs. 50 [43.1%] patients; RD -2.56 pp), and median overall hospital cost (15.61 vs. 16.04, ×106 KRW; RD -6.08 pp). CONCLUSIONS: Even in PD, modified ERAS protocol was not inferior to conventional protocol, while reducing treatment burden.

Efficacy of Pectoral Nerve Block Type II for Breast-Conserving Surgery and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

Objectives: The pectoral nerve block type II (PECS II block) is widely used for postoperative analgesia after breast surgery. This study evaluated the analgesic efficacy of PECS II block in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB). Methods: Patients were randomized to the control group (n=40) and the PECS II group (n=40). An ultrasound-guided PECS II block was performed after induction of anesthesia. The primary outcome measure was opioid consumption, and the secondary outcome was pain at the breast and axillary measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) 24 hours after surgery. Opioid requirement was assessed according to tumor location. Results: Opioid requirement was lower in the PECS II than in the control group (43.8 ± 28.5 µg versus 77.0 ± 41.9 µg, p < 0.001). However, the frequency of rescue analgesics did not differ between these groups. Opioid consumption in the PECS II group was significantly lower in patients with tumors in the outer area than that in patients with tumors in the inner area (32.5 ± 23.0 µg versus 58.0 ± 29.3 µg, p=0.007). The axillary NRS was consistently lower through 24 hr in the PECS II group. Conclusion: Although the PECS II block seemed to reduce pain intensity and opioid requirements for 24 h after BCS and SNB, these reductions may not be clinically significant. This trial is registered with Clinical Research Information Service KCT0002509.

The predictive performance of infusion strategy nomogram based on a fluid kinetic model.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, fluid kinetic models were applied to describe the volume expansion of the fluid space by administration of crystalloid and colloid solutions. However, validation of the models were not performed, it is necessary to evaluate the predictive performance of these models in another population. METHODS: Ninety five consenting patients undergoing elective spinal surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. These patients were randomly assigned to three fluid groups i.e. Hartmann's solution (H group, n = 28), Voluven® (V group, n = 34), and Hextend® (X group, n = 33). After completion of their preparation for surgery, the patients received a loading and maintenance volume of each fluid predetermined by nomograms based on fluid pharmacokinetic models during the 60-minute use of an infusion pump. Arterial samples were obtained at preset intervals of 0, 10, 20, and 30 min after fluid administration. The predictive performances of the fluid kinetic modes were evaluated using the fractional change of arterial hemoglobin. The relationship between blood-volume dilution and target dilution of body fluid space was also evaluated using regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 194 hemoglobin measurements were used. The bias and inaccuracy of these models were -2.69 and 35.62 for the H group, -1.53 and 43.21 for the V group, and 9.05 and 41.82 for the X group, respectively. The blood-volume dilution and target dilution of body-fluid space showed a significant linear relationship in each group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the inaccuracy of predictive performance, the fluid-kinetic model for Hartmann's solution showed better performance than the other models.

Antithrombotic effects of aspirin on 1- or 2-level lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a comparison between 2 groups discontinuing aspirin use before and after 7 days prior to surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical analysis. OBJECTIVE: To study proper discontinuation date of aspirin in spinal fusion surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: It is thought that excess bleeding can be normalized if aspirin intake is discontinued approximately 7 days before surgery; however, the average life span of a platelet is generally regarded to be 7 to 10 days. METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2009, a single surgeon performed 182 cases of 1- or 2-level lumbar fusion surgical procedures. Patients who were aspirin users (n = 86) were divided into 2 groups according to the number of days prior to surgery that they discontinued their aspirin use: the aspirin 1 group discontinued their aspirin use 3 to 7 days before surgery and the aspirin 2 group discontinued their aspirin use 7 to 10 days before surgery. Ninety-six patients who did not use aspirin before surgery were selected for the control group. We retrospectively compared the several hematological parameters among the 2 aspirin groups and the control group. RESULTS: Both the total amount of drained blood and the duration of indwelling of the drainage catheter were significantly less in the control group than in the aspirin 1 group in patients who underwent either type of 1-level fusion surgery. However, those were not significantly different between aspirin 2 group and control group in patients who underwent either type of 1-level fusion surgery. Only drainage catheter was significantly less in the control group than in the aspirin 1 group in patients who underwent 2-level fusion surgery. CONCLUSION: Only the aspirin 1 group, wherein patients discontinued aspirin use 3 to 7 days before surgery, showed a greater drained blood and drainage catheter than the control group. If aspirin was discontinued 7 days or longer before surgery, there was no difference in the study parameters, compared with the control group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Effects of anesthesia on fluid volume kinetics after infusion of colloid solution during blood donation.

BACKGROUND: The fluid kinetics of intravenously infused colloid during inhalation anesthesia and hemorrhage have not been investigated. We therefore assessed fluid space changes during infusion of hydroxyethyl starch solution after hemorrhage in conscious and desflurane-anesthetized individuals. METHODS: Following the donation of 400 ml of blood, 500 ml of hydroxyethyl starch solution was infused over 20 minutes into wakeful and desflurane-anesthetized volunteers. Blood was repeatedly sampled to measure hemoglobin concentration, a marker of plasma dilution, and fluid kinetic analysis was performed to evaluate changes in fluid space. RESULTS: Using a fluid kinetic model, we found that the mean volume of fluid space was 7,724 +/- 1,788 ml in wakeful volunteers and 6,818 +/- 4,221 ml in anesthetized volunteers, and the elimination rate constants were 7.1 +/- 3.5 ml/min and 19.4 +/- 4.6 ml/min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Infusion of colloid after mild hemorrhage resulted in similar expansions of plasma volume in desflurane-anesthetized and conscious individuals. During anesthesia, however, the expansion of plasma volume by colloid was decreased and of shorter duration than observed in conscious patients.

The effects of inspiratory to expiratory ratio on ventilation and oxygenation during high frequency partial liquid ventilation in a rabbit model of acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of varying inspiratory to expiratory (I : E) ratio on gas exchange and hemodynamics during high frequency partial liquid ventilation (HFPLV), a combination of high frequency ventilation (HFV) and partial liquid ventilation (PLV), in a rabbit model of acute lung injury. METHODS: Twelve rabbits treated with repeated saline lavage were divided into two groups. In the HFPL group (n = 6), 6 ml/kg of perfluorodecaline was administered through the endotracheal tube. Rabbits in this group and in the HFJ group (n = 6) were treated with high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) at I : E ratios of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 3 for 15 minutes, and arterial blood gas, mixed venous blood gas and hemodynamic parameters were measured. RESULTS: We observed no significant respiratory and hemodynamic differences between the two groups. At an I : E ratio of 1 : 1, the PaO2 was significantly higher, and the shunt rate and PaCO2 were significantly lower in both groups, compared with I : E ratios of 1 : 2 and 1 : 3. Cardiac output at the 1 : 3 I : E ratio was significantly higher than at 1 : 1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, in this model, a 1 : 1 I : E ratio was superior for oxygenation and ventilation than I : E ratios of 1 : 2 or 1 : 3, while having no detrimental effects on hemodynamics.