Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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The accuracy of patient prognostication varies extensively in studies of select populations. Prognostication is an important component of patient selection for elective surgery. This retrospective study assessed patient prognostication prior to elective surgery by comparing the observed with the expected number of deaths in such patients. ⋯ The observed number of deaths within one year of elective surgery is significantly lower than expected, with minimal inter-surgeon variation. These results suggest that patient selection for major elective non-cardiac surgery identified individuals with better than expected survival and whose survival was not adversely influenced by their surgery.
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Although perioperative hypothermia may increase maternal morbidity, active warming is infrequently performed to maintain normothermia during Cesarean delivery (CD). The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the factors associated with maternal hypothermia in this setting. ⋯ Several predictive factors for maternal hypothermia during CD were identified. These factors should be taken into account to help prevent maternal hypothermia during CD.
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Perioperative use of serotonergic agents increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. We describe the occurrence of serotonin syndrome after fentanyl use in two patients taking multiple serotonergic agents. ⋯ Even small doses of fentanyl administered to patients taking multiple serotonergic medications and herbal supplements may trigger serotonin syndrome. Prompt reversal of serotonin toxicity in one patient by naloxone illustrates the likely opioid-mediated pathogenesis of serotonin syndrome in this case. It also highlights that taking serotonergic agents concomitantly can produce the compounding effect that causes serotonin syndrome. The delayed presentation of serotonin syndrome in the patient who received a large dose of midazolam suggests that outpatients taking multiple serotonergic drugs who receive benzodiazepines may require longer postprocedural monitoring.
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Good pain control is not a normal part of surgical care in sub-Saharan Africa due to lack of resources. The primary objective of this study was to determine an efficacious dose of subcutaneous ketamine for postoperative pain for use in a future randomized controlled trial. ⋯ Adding subcutaneous ketamine to standard analgesic measures resulted in decreases in postoperative pain scores without serious side effects. These data can be used to inform a randomized controlled trial to compare subcutaneous ketamine plus standard care with placebo plus standard care for reducing postoperative pain.
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Editorial Comment
We must ask relevant questions and answer with meaningful outcomes.