Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2020
ReviewMedical cannabis for chronic pain: can it make a difference in pain management?
Globally, chronic pain is a major therapeutic challenge and affects more than 15% of the population. As patients with painful terminal diseases may face unbearable pain, there is a need for more potent analgesics. Although opioid-based therapeutic agents received attention to manage severe pain, their adverse drug effects and mortality rate associated with opioids overdose are the major concerns. ⋯ Healthcare professionals should keep themselves updated with the changing state of medical cannabis and its applications. The pharmacokinetics and safety of medical cannabis need to be studied by conducting clinical research. The complex and variable chemically active contents of herbal cannabis and methodological limitations in the administration of cannabis to study participants, make the clinical research difficult.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2020
Non-invasive carbon dioxide monitoring in patients with cystic fibrosis during general anesthesia: end-tidal versus transcutaneous techniques.
The gold standard for measuring the partial pressure of carbon dioxide remains arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. For patients with cystic fibrosis undergoing general anesthesia or polysomnography studies, continuous non-invasive carbon dioxide monitoring may be required. The current study compares end-tidal (ETCO2), transcutaneous (TCCO2), and capillary blood gas carbon dioxide (Cap-CO2) monitoring with the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) from an ABG in patients with cystic fibrosis. ⋯ While Cap-CO2 most accurately reflects PaCO2 as measured on ABG, of the non-invasive continuous monitors, TCCO2 was a more accurate and reliable measure of PaCO2 than ETCO2, especially in patients with worsening pulmonary function (FEV1% ≤ 81%) and/or a higher BMI (≥ 18.7 kg/m2).
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialA single paravertebral injection via a needle vs. a catheter for the spreading to multiple intercostal levels: a randomized controlled trial.
Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) provides a unilateral nerve block at multiple intercostal levels allowing injection of a local anesthetic into paravertebral space (PVS) via a needle or catheter. However, the most effective injection method remains unclear. This study compared the real-time spread of ropivacaine between two paravertebral injection methods using thoracoscopy. ⋯ Paravertebral injection via a needle typically resulted in spreading to multiple intercostal levels, especially across the ribs on the peripheral side of injection site, whereas injection via a catheter resulted in variable spreading patterns. Therefore, injections via needles are more stable.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2020
ReviewAutomated systems for perioperative goal-directed hemodynamic therapy.
Perioperative goal-directed hemodynamic therapy (GDHT) has evolved from invasive "supra-physiological" maximization of oxygen delivery to minimally or even noninvasively guided automated stroke volume optimization. Over the past four decades, investigators have simultaneously developed novel monitors, updated strategies, and automated technologies to improve GDHT. Decision support technology, which proposes an intervention based on the patient's real time physiologic status, was an important step towards automation. ⋯ Most notably, automated preload optimization guided by dynamic indicators of fluid responsiveness has shown its feasibility, safety, and impact. Making the leap into fully automated GDHT has been accomplished on a small scale, but there are considerable challenges that must be surpassed before integrating all hemodynamic components into an automated system during general anesthesia. In this review, we will discuss the evolution and potential future of automated GDHT during the perioperative period.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2020
ReviewContemporary personalized β-blocker management in the perioperative setting.
Beta-adrenergic blockers (β-blockers) are clearly indicated for the long-term treatment of patients with systolic heart failure and post-acute myocardial infarction. Early small-scale studies reported their potential benefits for perioperative use; subsequent randomized controlled trials, however, failed to reproduce earlier findings. ⋯ This case-based review presents an overview of contemporary literature on perioperative β-blocker use with a focus on data available since 2008 when the PreOperative ISchemic Evaluation (POISE) trial was published. Our review suggests that studies should determine the effects of situational-based guidelines on perioperative β-blocker use on the risk of cardiac adverse events and mortality in the perioperative period.