British journal of anaesthesia
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Thrombocytopenia is a common perioperative clinical problem. While global haemostasis is influenced by many patient- and procedure-related factors, the contribution of thrombocytopenia to bleeding risk is difficult to predict, as platelet count does not linearly correlate with likelihood of bleeding. Thus, the widely used definition of thrombocytopenia and grading of its severity have limited clinical utility. ⋯ The benefits and risks of preoperative platelet transfusions should be assessed on a patient-by-patient basis, and alternatives to platelet transfusion should be considered. In non-emergent surgeries or in postoperative thrombocytopenic patients, haematology consultation should be considered to guide diagnostics and management. We present a pragmatic approach to the evaluation of perioperative thrombocytopenia.
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Studies on the effectiveness of multimodal analgesia, particularly in patients at higher perioperative risk from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), are lacking. We aimed to assess the impact of multimodal analgesia on opioid use and complications in this high-risk cohort. ⋯ In a population at high risk for perioperative complications from OSA, multimodal analgesia was associated with a stepwise reduction in opioid use and complications, including critical respiratory failure.
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Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Performance of Litholyme™ compared with Sodasorb™ carbon dioxide absorbents in a standard clinical setting.
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Perioperative studies of patients following hip fracture have large heterogeneity within their reported outcomes. This study aimed to develop a core outcome set for use in perioperative studies comparing the types of anaesthesia for hip fracture surgery. ⋯ http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/757.
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Observational Study
Role of leucocyte caspase-1 activity in epidural-related maternal fever: a single-centre, observational, mechanistic cohort study.
Epidural-related maternal fever (ERMF) has been reported in ∼26% of labouring women. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesised that ERMF is promoted by bupivacaine disrupting cytokine production/release from mononuclear leucocytes [mononuclear fraction (MNF)]. We examined whether bupivacaine (i) reduces caspase-1 activity and release of the anti-pyrogenic cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and (ii) is pro-inflammatory through mitochondrial injury/IL-1β. ⋯ Impaired release of anti-pyrogenic IL-1ra might explain ERMF mechanistically. Immunomodulation by bupivacaine during labour could promote ERMF.