Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2017
Review Meta AnalysisContinuous Pulse Oximetry and Capnography Monitoring for Postoperative Respiratory Depression and Adverse Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Death and anoxic brain injury from unrecognized postoperative respiratory depression (PORD) is a serious concern for patient safety. The American Patient Safety Foundation has called for continuous electronic monitoring for all patients receiving opioids in the postoperative period. These recommendations are based largely on consensus opinion with currently limited evidence. The objective of this study is to review the current state of knowledge on the effectiveness of continuous pulse oximetry (CPOX) versus routine nursing care and the effectiveness of continuous capnography monitoring with or without pulse oximetry for detecting PORD and preventing postoperative adverse events in the surgical ward. ⋯ The use of CPOX on the surgical ward is associated with significant improvement in the detection of oxygen desaturation versus intermittent nursing spot-checks. There is a trend toward less ICU transfers with CPOX versus standard monitoring. The evidence on whether the detection of oxygen desaturation leads to less rescue team activation and mortality is inconclusive. Capnography provides an early warning of PORD before oxygen desaturation, especially when supplemental oxygen is administered. Improved education regarding monitoring and further research with high-quality randomized controlled trials is needed.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2017
Tranexamic Acid Administration During On-Pump Cardiac Surgery: A Survey of Current Practices Among Canadian Anesthetists Working in Academic Centers.
Tranexamic acid (TXA) is commonly administered during on-pump cardiac surgery to minimize bleeding. However, an optimal dosing regimen has not been described, and recent studies suggest that higher doses may be associated with seizure. Little is known about current practice among cardiac anesthetists. ⋯ TXA is given to nearly all patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery at academic hospitals in Canada. However, there is significant heterogeneity in practice between individuals and across provinces. Further research is needed to determine the TXA dose that maximizes efficacy and minimizes side effects.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2017
ReviewInitiation and Termination of Massive Transfusion Protocols: Current Strategies and Future Prospects.
The advent of massive transfusion protocols (MTP) has had a significant positive impact on hemorrhaging trauma patient morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, societal MTP guidelines and individual MTPs at academic institutions continue to circulate opposing recommendations on topics critical to MTPs. This narrative review discusses up-to-date information on 2 such topics, the initiation and termination of an MTP. ⋯ Societal recommendations on MTP termination emphasize applying clinical reasoning to identify patients who have bleeding source control and are adequately resuscitated. This review, however, focuses primarily on the recommendations presented by the Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma's MTP guidelines that call for prompt termination of the algorithm-guided model of resuscitation and rapidly transitioning into a resuscitation model guided by laboratory test results. We also discuss the evidence in support of laboratory result-guided resuscitation and how recent literature on viscoelastic hemostatic assays, although limited, highlights the potential to achieve additional benefits from this method of resuscitation.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2017
Review Case ReportsDexmedetomidine-Associated Hyperthermia: A Series of 9 Cases and a Review of the Literature.
Dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic agonist, can be used to perform mild to moderate sedation in critically ill patients. In this case series, 9 cardiovascular intensive care unit patients with hyperthermia during dexmedetomidine administration, suggestive of drug fever, are presented. Hyperthermia (>38.5°C) occurred 6 (4-10) hours (median [interquartile range]) after dexmedetomidine initiation at a dose of 1.0 (0.8-1.3) μg/kg/h and was resolved 3 (1-8) hours after discontinuation of dexmedetomidine. ⋯ This resulted in a "probable" ADR in all 9 patients (WHO) and a "probable" and "possible" ADR in 1 and 8 patients (Naranjo), respectively. This case series supports published case reports, suggesting that dexmedetomidine administration may be associated with the occurrence of clinically relevant hyperthermia. The underlying mechanisms and risk factors are uncertain and require further research.