British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of propofol and fentanyl administered at the end of anaesthesia for prevention of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia in children.
Propofol 1 mg/kg reduces emergence delirium in children, without increasing nausea, vomiting or length of PACU stay, unlike fentanyl 1 mcg/kg.
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Review Meta Analysis
Impact of perioperative dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia and side-effects: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Intraoperative dexamethasone produces a small, though clinically insignificant post-operative analgesic benefit.
pearl -
Review Meta Analysis
Opioid-induced respiratory depression in paediatrics: a review of case reports.
Opioids remain the cornerstone of modern-day pain treatment, also in the paediatric population. Opioid treatment is potentially life-threatening, although there are no numbers available on the incidence of opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) in paediatrics. To get an indication of specific patterns in the development/causes of OIRD, we searched PubMed (May 2012) for all available case reports on OIRD in paediatrics, including patients 12 yr of age or younger who developed OIRD from an opioid given to them for a medical indication or due to transfer of an opioid from their mother in the perinatal setting, requiring naloxone, tracheal intubation, and/or resuscitation. ⋯ In eight cases, OIRD was due to an iatrogenic overdose. Three distinct patterns in the remaining data set specifically related to OIRD include: (i) morphine administration in patients with renal impairment, causing accumulation of the active metabolite of morphine; (ii) codeine use in patients with CYP2D6 gene polymorphism associated with the ultra-rapid metabolizer phenotype, causing enhanced production of the morphine; and (iii) opioid use in patients after adenotonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis and/or obstructive sleep apnoea, where OIRD may be related to hypoxia-induced enhancement of OIRD. Despite the restrictions of this approach, our analysis does yield an important insight in the development of OIRD, with specific risk factors clearly present in the data.
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N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations predict cardiovascular outcome in many settings. There are very few data assessing the utility of NT-proBNP concentrations in the prediction of long-term outcome after cardiac surgery. We assessed the ability of NT-proBNP to predict 3 yr mortality compared with validated clinical risk prediction tools. ⋯ Preoperative NT-proBNP concentrations and the EuroSCORE have equivalent, and moderate, predictive accuracy for mortality 3 yr after cardiac surgery. EuroSCORE uses clinical data but is not routinely used for individual clinical risk prediction. NT-proBNP measurement would incur additional costs but can be measured quickly and objectively. With such similar predictive accuracy, factors such as the ease of calculation and cost will likely determine their use in clinical practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Balanced crystalloid compared with balanced colloid solution using a goal-directed haemodynamic algorithm.
Controversy exists regarding the optimal i.v. fluids for use with a goal-directed haemodynamic algorithm. ⋯ Using a goal-directed haemodynamic algorithm to optimize stroke volume, a balanced HES solution is associated with better haemodynamic stability and reduced need for fresh-frozen plasma. There were no signs of renal impairment by colloid solutions when fluid administration is targeted to optimize cardiac preload.