Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialThe use of Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange (THRIVE) for pre-oxygenation in neurosurgical patients: a randomised controlled trial.
This study explored the use of high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) in both pre-oxygenation and apnoeic oxygenation in adults who were intubated following a non-rapid sequence induction. Fifty patients were randomised to receive pre-oxygenation via a standard facemask or the Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange (THRIVE) device. After five minutes of pre-oxygenation, induction and muscle relaxant agents were given. ⋯ No complications were observed in either group. HFNO produces a higher PaO2 after pre-oxygenation and safe PaO2 during intubation. However, the subsequent fall in PaO2 and rise in PaCO2 indicates that it is not as effective as BMV in maintaining oxygenation and ventilation following neuromuscular blockade.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialIntravenous tranexamic acid and lower limb arthroplasty-a randomised controlled feasibility study.
Tranexamic acid (TA) is widely reported to reduce bleeding and the risk of blood transfusion in patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty. No study in this setting has had adequate power to examine for the effect of TA on either uncommon, but clinically important, adverse events or patient-centric endpoints. A large randomised controlled trial (RCT) is required to address these questions. ⋯ No significant differences were seen between groups in the secondary endpoints. Despite a lower rate of transfusion than that widely reported, IV TA reduced transfusion in patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty. Our trial methodology would be feasible in the setting of a large multicentre study to investigate whether TA is safe and reduces bleeding in lower limb arthroplasty.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2018
Observational StudyA prospective observational study of the change in systemic ionised calcium following 4% citrate locking of venous haemodialysis catheters in intensive care patients.
Traditionally heparin has been the anticoagulant of choice for venous dialysis catheter locking. There is systemic leakage of heparin catheter locking solutions at the time of injection. Alternative agents, such as citrate, are increasingly being used. ⋯ There was no evidence this difference differed by length of catheter P=0.26) or site of catheter P=0.85) insertion, but there was some evidence that this differed by receipt of citrate dialysis circuit anticoagulation P=0.013). Patients who received citrate dialysis circuit anticoagulation had an increase in catheter locking iCa2+ by 0.017 mmol/l (95% CI 0.00 to 0.028). Locking of venous dialysis catheters with 4% citrate solution has no clinically significant effect on systemic iCa2+ in intensive care patients with indwelling venous dialysis catheters.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2018
Survey of occupational fatigue in anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand.
Occupational fatigue in anaesthetists is recognised as a patient safety risk. Better understanding of the issues surrounding their fatigue is needed. This study aimed to ascertain the sources and effects of occupational fatigue amongst anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ Fatigue-related behaviour was reported more by men (OR [odds ratio]=2.6) and less by respondents reporting eight or more hours of sleep before work (OR=0.6). Reporting at least one instance of less than five hours off between shifts was predictive of falling asleep while administering an anaesthetic (OR=1.6). More data are required to support practices and policies that promote more time off between work periods and increased time for sleep to reduce risk of fatigue.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2018
The safety of anaesthetising biochemically hyperthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy-a retrospective cohort study.
Traditionally it is recommended that hyperthyroid patients should be made euthyroid prior to thyroidectomy. However, several small observational studies have reported no increase in adverse events when hyperthyroid patients undergo thyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes following total thyroidectomy in patients who were biochemically hyperthyroid at the time of surgery compared to those who were euthyroid. ⋯ The only significant difference between the two groups was a higher use of intraoperative beta-blockers amongst hyperthyroid patients (28.1% versus 8.5%, P=0.002). Our findings suggest that thyroidectomy for mild to moderate biochemical hyperthyroidism performed by an experienced thyroid surgeon and anaesthetist, is associated with increased intraoperative beta-blocker use but no statistical difference in mortality, length of postoperative stay or intraoperative signs consistent with thyrotoxicosis. While we still recommend attempting to achieve a euthyroid state whenever possible prior to thyroid surgery, mild to moderate degrees of residual biochemical hyperthyroidism when appropriately managed may not be associated with an increase in adverse outcomes.