Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2019
ReviewThe impact of frailty and sarcopenia on patient outcomes after complex spine surgery.
Frailty and sarcopenia represent a state of increased fragility and decreased reserve, and both have been associated with worse outcomes after surgery. The present review focuses on the definitions and measurement tools used to assess frailty and sarcopenia in patients with spinal disorder, and the relationships between frailty, sarcopenia, and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing complex spine surgery. ⋯ Frailty and sarcopenia are increasingly recognized as important predictors of adverse outcomes after complex spine surgery. The optimal tool to measure frailty and sarcopenia in patients with spinal disorders remains unclear, and the role of surgery as an intervention to reverse frailty requires further investigation.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2019
ReviewRegional anesthesia and pain management in patients with sleep apnea: can they improve outcomes?
In several guidelines, regional anesthesia and analgesia have been suggested as safer alternatives for general anesthesia and systemic analgesia for their safety profile in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the underlying scientific basis is still evolving. The present review is intended to provide an up-to-date account on the question whether the use of regional anesthesia improves outcomes in patients with OSA. ⋯ Regional anesthesia can be recommended as a good strategy to treat patients with OSA whenever feasible, as it reduces the incidence of potentially catastrophic perioperative complications. However, the breadth of both surgical and regional anesthetic techniques analyzed is limited; further research should focus on extending the knowledge base beyond neuraxial anesthesia and orthopedics.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2019
ReviewHyperventilation in neurological patients: from physiology to outcome evidence.
Hyperventilation is commonly used in neurological patients to decrease elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) or relax a tense brain. However, the potentially deleterious effects of hyperventilation may limit its clinical application. The aim of this review is to summarize the physiological and outcome evidence related to hyperventilation in neurological patients. ⋯ Although hyperventilation is commonly applied in patients with TBI or intracranial hemorrhage or in those undergoing craniotomy, its effects on patient outcomes have not been proven by quality research. Hyperventilation should be used as a temporary measure when treating elevated ICP or to relax a tense brain. Outcome research is needed to better guide the clinical use of hyperventilation in neurological patients.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2019
ReviewAnesthetic management of complex spine surgery in adult patients: a review based on outcome evidence.
The aim of this article is to review the evidence regarding the anesthetic management of blood loss, pain control, and position-related complications of adult patients undergoing complex spine procedures. ⋯ As the number and complexity of spine procedures are being performed worldwide is increasing, we suggested to bundle the aforementioned effective interventions as part of an ERAS spine protocol to improve the patient outcome of spine surgery.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2019
ReviewPrimer on machine learning: utilization of large data set analyses to individualize pain management.
Pain researchers and clinicians increasingly encounter machine learning algorithms in both research methods and clinical practice. This review provides a summary of key machine learning principles, as well as applications to both structured and unstructured datasets. ⋯ In the coming years, machine learning is likely to become a key component of evidence-based medicine, yet will require additional skills and perspectives for its successful and ethical use in research and clinical settings.