Anesthesiology
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Preoperative frailty is strongly associated with postoperative complications and mortality. However, the pathways between frailty, postoperative complications, and mortality are poorly described. The authors hypothesized that the occurrence of postoperative complications would mediate a substantial proportion of the total effect of frailty on mortality after elective noncardiac surgery. ⋯ Complications mediate more than half of the association between frailty and postoperative mortality in elective noncardiac surgery.
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The median effective dose of ropivacaine required for producing an effective costoclavicular block has not yet been determined. The authors conducted this dose-finding study with the objective of determining the median effective dose of 0.5% ropivacaine required to produce a successful costoclavicular block for surgical anesthesia in 50% of the patients (ED50) as well as the calculated dose required for effective blockade in 95% of the patients (ED95). ⋯ A 19-ml dose of 0.5% ropivacaine is likely to produce an effective ultrasound-guided costoclavicular block for providing adequate surgical anesthesia to 95% of the patients.