Anaesthesia
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A Patient Blood Management programme was established at the University Hospital of Zurich, along with a monitoring and feedback programme, at the beginning of 2014 with a first analysis reported in 2015. Our study aimed to investigate the further impact of this Patient Blood Management monitoring and feedback programme on transfusion requirements and related costs. We included adult patients discharged between 2012 and 2017. ⋯ This reduction in allogeneic blood transfusions led to savings of 12,713,754 Swiss francs (£ 9,497,000 sterling; EUR 11,100,000; US$ 12,440,000) in blood product acquisition costs over 4 years. In-hospital mortality was not affected by the programme. The Patient Blood Management monitoring and feedback programme sustainably reduced transfusion requirements and related costs, without affecting in-hospital mortality.
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Review
Peri-operative considerations for sedation-analgesia during cataract surgery: a narrative review.
Cataract surgery is usually of short duration and is associated with minimal pain when employing topical or regional anaesthesia. Patient education regarding the peri-operative process may help alleviate anxiety and avoid the need for sedation. ⋯ Many consider that pre-operative fasting is necessary due to the risk of aspiration but fasting may not be required if minimal sedation is administered. If the use of sedatives, hypnotics or analgesics is required, then their associated adverse events should be considered.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomised controlled trial of pectoral nerve-2 (PECS 2) block vs. serratus plane block for chronic pain after mastectomy.
Thoracic interfascial plane blocks are effective for post-mastectomy acute analgesia. However, their effects on chronic pain are uncertain. We randomly allocated 80 women equally to pectoral nerve-2 (PECS 2) block or serratus plane block. ⋯ The pectoral nerve-2 block reduced median (IQR [range]) morphine consumption in the first 24 postoperative hours from 6 (3-9 [1-25]) mg to 4 (2-7 [0-37]) mg, p = 0.04. However, acute pain scores after serratus plane and pectoral nerve-2 blocks were similar, median (IQR [range]) 23 (11-35 [0-70]) mm vs. 18 (11-27 [0-61]) mm, respectively, p = 0.44. Pectoral nerve-2 block reduced chronic pain 6 months after mastectomy compared with serratus plane block.