Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2004
Resident training level and quality of anesthesia care in a university hospital.
In this study, we analyzed the relationship between resident training and patient safety in anesthesia. A retrospective quality improvement database review was used to calculate the relative risk of any quality problem and specific types of quality problems (injury, escalation of care, or operational inefficiency) between anesthesia teams with CA1, CA2, and CA3 residents. It was expected that teams with less experienced residents (CA1) would have more frequent quality problems than teams with more experienced residents (CA2 and CA3 teams). Data showed that risk of injury did not differ between CA1, CA2, and CA3 teams. CA2 teams had higher rates of critical incidents and escalation of care than CA1 and CA3 teams and higher rates of operational inefficiency than CA3 teams. The CA2 yr is when residents move into specialty training, requiring more advanced skills and a larger knowledge base. Their higher relative risk for critical incidents, escalation of care, and operational inefficiencies may reflect lack of experience, uncertainty, and less skill mastery compared with CA3 residents. The higher inefficiency and escalation of care rates associated with CA2 teams may translate into larger costs for the institution. ⋯ Appropriate supervision of anesthesia residents helps to ensure patient safety. Anesthesia management problems are most common during the CA2 yr and result in higher costs for the institution.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2004
Meta AnalysisA dose-response meta-analysis of prophylactic intravenous ephedrine for the prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery.
We systematically reviewed available studies to determine the dose-response characteristics of prophylactic i.v. ephedrine for the prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies-obtained through MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and reference lists of published articles-in which two or more different doses of prophylactic i.v. ephedrine were used to prevent hypotension during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Four RCTs and one cohort study were found (total n = 390). There was a significant dose-response relationship in the RCTs pooled for hypotension (slope = -0.0128; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.0213 to -0.0044), hypertension (slope = 0.0563; 95% CI, 0.0235 to 0.0892), and umbilical arterial pH (slope = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.00). The efficacy of ephedrine for preventing hypotension was small. At 14 mg, the number-needed-to-treat was only 7.6 (95% CI, 4.8-21.1), and this was the same as the number-needed-to-harm (7.6; 95% CI, 3.7-23.4). At larger doses, the likelihood of causing hypertension was actually more than that of preventing hypotension, and there was also a minor decrease in umbilical arterial pH. ⋯ The authors performed a systematic review of dose-response studies of i.v. bolus ephedrine for preventing hypotension during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Prophylactic ephedrine cannot be recommended. The efficacy is poor at smaller doses, whereas at larger doses, the likelihood of causing hypertension is actually more than that of preventing hypotension.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2004
Clinical TrialIncreases in P-wave dispersion predict postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In this study we examined the effect of surgery on atrial electrophysiology as measured by P-wave characteristics and to determine the potential predictive value of P-wave characteristics on the incidences of postoperative AF in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Patients undergoing elective CABG surgery were monitored by continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) telemetry during the in-hospital period until discharge for the occurrence of postoperative AF. Differences in P-wave characteristics (P-wave duration, amplitude, axis, dispersion, PR interval, segment depression, and dispersion) were compared between the pre- and postoperative 12-lead ECG measurements, and also between patients with and without postoperative AF. The association of postoperative AF and potential clinical predictors and P-wave characteristics were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Postoperative AF occurred in 81 (27%) of 300 patients. Univariate analysis showed that patients who subsequently developed postoperative AF compared with those without AF were significantly older (mean age 68 +/- 8 versus 63 +/- 10 yr, P < 0.0001), had a larger body surface area (BSA) (2.03 +/- 0.24 versus 1.92 +/- 0.22 m(2), P = 0.0002), were more likely to have a history of AF (8 of 81 versus 1 of 219, P = 0.003), used preoperative antiarrhythmic medications more frequently (7 of 81 versus 4 of 219, P = 0.01), and had a more frequent rate of return to the operating room for postoperative complications (9 of 81 versus 9 of 219, P = 0.029). Furthermore, the postoperative P-wave duration decreased to a larger extent (mean change -11.3 +/- 0.1 ms versus -8.4 +/- 0.1 ms, P < 0.0001), and the P-wave dispersion increased postoperatively to a larger extent (3.1 +/- 15.5 ms versus -1.6 +/- 14.6 ms, P = 0.028) in those who subsequently developed AF compared with those without AF. Multivariate logistic regression showed age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.15, P < 0.0001), BSA (OR = 38.1, 95% CI: 8.2-176, P < 0.0001), and an increase in postoperative P-wave dispersion (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, P = 0.01) to be independent predictors of postoperative AF. No surgical factor was identified to be responsible for this postoperative change in atrial electrophysiology. ⋯ In addition to clinical factors, such as advanced age and body surface area, we demonstrated that electrophysiologic changes involving an increase in P-wave dispersion postoperatively independently predict atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2004
Case ReportsRigid bronchoscope-assisted endotracheal intubation: yet another use of the gum elastic bougie.
We describe a technique by which a gum elastic bougie (GEB) is used to facilitate an anticipated difficult endotracheal intubation in a patient undergoing rigid bronchoscopy. After placing the GEB through the lumen of the rigid bronchoscope, the GEB-suction catheter assembly was used to safely withdraw the bronchoscope in a manner mimicking the withdrawal of an intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA) over the endotracheal tube using a stabilizer rod. The rationale for management and potential advantages of this approach versus use of an airway exchange catheter (including increased stability of an intubation guide) are discussed. ⋯ We describe a technique of using a gum elastic bougie to facilitate an endotracheal intubation in a patient undergoing rigid bronchoscopy, which can be useful in a variety of clinical situations when the rigid bronchoscope is used in patients with abnormal airway.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2004
Case ReportsSevere hypotension in the prone position in a child with neurofibromatosis, scoliosis and pectus excavatum presenting for posterior spinal fusion.
A 34-mo-old boy with neurofibromatosis, scoliosis, and pectus excavatum developed severe hypotension when positioned prone. A magnetic resonance image study revealed neurofibromas encircling the great vessels. During the next anesthetic the patient was placed in the prone position on transverse bolsters and hypotension ensued again. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealed compression of the right ventricle by the sternum. When the child was turned supine, the blood pressure returned to baseline. The patient was returned to the prone position, this time with bolsters placed longitudinally, without problem. This case supports a cardiac evaluation, possible intraoperative TEE, and avoidance of sternal pressure in patients with chest wall deformities requiring prone positioning. ⋯ A child with neurofibromatosis, scoliosis, and a chest wall deformity presenting for spinal fusion developed severe hypotension while prone. This was due to compression of the heart by the sternum, not compression of the great vessels by neurofibromas. Sternal pressure in prone patients with chest wall deformities should be avoided. Unique management included the use of transesophageal echocardiography to determine the cause of the hypotension.