European journal of anaesthesiology
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Observational Study
Intra-operative electroencephalogram frontal alpha-band spectral analysis and postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study.
Postoperative delirium (POD) remains a frequent complication after cardiac surgery, with pre-operative cognitive status being one of the main predisposing factors. However, performing complete pre-operative neuropsychological testing is challenging. The magnitude of frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) α oscillations during general anaesthesia has been related to pre-operative cognition and could constitute a functional marker for brain vulnerability. ⋯ A lower intra-operative frontal α-band power is associated with a higher incidence of POD after cardiac surgery. Intra-operative measures of α power could constitute a means of identifying patients at risk of this complication.
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Pain after cardiac surgery via median sternotomy can be difficult to treat, and if inadequately managed can lead to respiratory complications, prolonged hospital stays and chronic pain. ⋯ The analgesic regimen for cardiac surgery via sternotomy should include paracetamol and NSAIDs, unless contraindicated, administered intra-operatively and continued postoperatively. Intra-operative magnesium and dexmedetomidine infusions may be considered as adjuncts particularly when basic analgesics are not administered. It is not clear if combining dexmedetomidine and magnesium would provide superior pain relief compared with either drug alone. Parasternal block/surgical site infiltration is also recommended. However, no basic analgesics were used in the studies assessing these interventions. Opioids should be reserved for rescue analgesia. Other interventions, including cyclo-oxygenase-2 specific inhibitors, are not recommended because there was insufficient, inconsistent or no evidence to support their use and/or due to safety concerns.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of paediatric caudal injection volume on optic nerve sheath diameter and regional cerebral oximetry: A randomised trial.
Caudal injections commonly used for neuraxial anaesthesia in children can displace cerebrospinal fluid cranially causing safety concerns in terms of raised intracranial pressure. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a noninvasive surrogate for the measurement of intracranial pressure. Regional cerebral oximetry (CrSO 2 ) can monitor brain oxygenation, which may decrease by a reduction in cerebral flow due to increased intracranial pressure. ⋯ Caudal injection with 1.25 ml kg -1 increased ONSD, an indirect measurement of ICP, more than 0.8 ml kg -1 and neither volume caused a clinically important reduction in CrSO 2 .
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The novel rapid formulation of intravenous dantrolene (NPJ5008) versus standard dantrolene (DANTRIUM IV): A clinical part-randomised phase 1 study in healthy volunteers.
Delays in treating anaesthesia-induced malignant hyperthermia increase risks of complications and death. NPJ5008 is a novel formulation of the indicated treatment, dantrolene sodium, developed to shorten preparation and administration times compared with the reference formulation Dantrium®. The two formulations have been compared preclinically. ⋯ NPJ5008 showed comparable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles to Dantrium®, while reducing dantrolene dose preparation/administration times, potentially reducing patient complications/healthcare resourcing in malignant hyperthermia.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Chronic postsurgical pain: A European survey.
Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a clinical problem, and large prospective studies are needed to determine its incidence, characteristics, and risk factors. ⋯ Unfortunately, our findings do not offer a new CPSP predictive score. However, we present reliable new data on the incidence, characteristics, and consequences of CPSP from a large European survey. Interesting new data on the time course of CPSP, its neuropathic pain component, and CPSP after endometriosis surgery generate new hypotheses but need to be confirmed by further research.