Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2017
ReviewAn update on the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) remain common and distressing complications following surgery. PONV and PDNV can delay discharge and recovery and increase medical costs. The high incidence of PONV has persisted in part because of the tremendous growth in ambulatory surgery and the increased emphasis on earlier mobilization and discharge after both minor and major operations. ⋯ A combination of prophylactic antiemetic drugs should be administered to patients with moderate-to-high risk of developing PONV in order to facilitate the recovery process. Optimal management of perioperative pain using opioid-sparing multimodal analgesic techniques and preventing PONV using prophylactic antiemetics are key elements for achieving an enhanced recovery after surgery. Strategies that include reductions of the baseline risk (e.g., adequate hydration, use of opioid-sparing analgesic techniques) as well as a multimodal antiemetic regimen will improve the likelihood of preventing both PONV and PDNV.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jun 2017
Review Meta AnalysisClinical safety and effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in post-operative analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks can provide analgesia postoperatively for a range of surgeries. Abundant clinical trials have assessed TAP block showing positive analgesic effects. This systematic review assesses safety and effectiveness outcomes of TAP block in all clinical settings, comparing with both active (standard care) and inactive (placebo) comparators. ⋯ Postoperative pain within 24 h was reduced or at least equivalent in TAP block compared to its comparators. Therefore, TAP block is a safe and effective procedure compared to standard care, placebo and other analgesic techniques. Further research is warranted to investigate whether the TAP block technique can be improved by optimizing dose and technique-related factors.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jun 2017
Review Meta AnalysisClinical safety and effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in post-operative analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks can provide analgesia postoperatively for a range of surgeries. Abundant clinical trials have assessed TAP block showing positive analgesic effects. This systematic review assesses safety and effectiveness outcomes of TAP block in all clinical settings, comparing with both active (standard care) and inactive (placebo) comparators. ⋯ Postoperative pain within 24 h was reduced or at least equivalent in TAP block compared to its comparators. Therefore, TAP block is a safe and effective procedure compared to standard care, placebo and other analgesic techniques. Further research is warranted to investigate whether the TAP block technique can be improved by optimizing dose and technique-related factors.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jun 2017
ReviewPerioperative risk factors for death among patients with symptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism.
Perioperative pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a fatal complication that may occur in patients who are undergoing surgery. This study aimed to identify risk factors for PTE-related death. This study evaluated data for the most recent 5-year period (2007-2011) from the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists' database of patients who experienced perioperative PTE. ⋯ Logistic regression analyses revealed that male sex, an age of ≥ 80 years, bedridden status, heart failure, and the non-use of anticoagulant therapy were independent risk factors for PTE-related death. We found that male sex, an age of ≥ 80 years, bedridden status, heart failure, and the non-use of anticoagulant therapy were independent risk factors for perioperative PTE-related death. Therefore, appropriate interventions for bedridden patients and thromboprophylaxis using anticoagulants may help reduce the incidence of perioperative PTE-related mortality.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jun 2017
ReviewPrevention of chronic post-surgical pain: the importance of early identification of risk factors.
Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) is currently an inevitable surgical complication. Despite the advances in surgical techniques and the development of new modalities for pain management, CPSP can affect 15-60% of all surgical patients. The development of chronic pain represents a burden to both the patient and to the community. ⋯ Unfortunately, evidence about any effective actions to reduce this condition is limited. This review will focus on providing context to the challenging problem of CPSP. The possible role of both the surgeon and anesthesiologist in reducing the incidence of this problem will be explored.