Minerva anestesiologica
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Hypnosis is a physiological mind activity characterized by focused attention, absorption, dissociation and plastic imagination. In the early 19th century, several hundred surgical interventions were described with hypnosis as the sole anesthetic, in an epoch when no anesthetic drugs were available; then hypnosis was prejudicially abandoned and forgotten after its introduction. In the past two decades, an increasing number of studies on hypnosis has shown its capacity to modify the activity of the prefrontal cortex, default mode network and pain neuromatrix (including the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, thalamus, insula and somatosensory cortex) and increase pain threshold up to the level of surgical anesthesia. ⋯ The wealth of data available in the literature provides clear evidence of its meaningful effects on perioperative emotional distress, pain, medication consumption, physiological parameters, duration of surgery and outcome. Hypnosis may be used as follows: 1) as sole anesthetic, in minor surgery and invasive maneuvers and/or selected patients; 2) as adjuvant of pharmacological anesthesia (local anesthesia and/or sedation); 3) as an adjuvant technique in both pre- and postoperative phases in patients submitted to general anesthesia. Hypnosis, unlike any other therapeutic tools, does not call for drugs or equipment and is an attractive technique: it is free of charge, not burdened with proved adverse events and promises to help improving cost/benefits ratio.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2016
Multicenter Study Observational StudyResidual neuromuscular blockade in the postanesthesia care unit. Observational cross-sectional study of a multicenter cohort.
Residual neuromuscular blockade after general anesthesia using nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents has pathophysiological, clinical, and economic consequences. A significant number of patients under muscle relaxation sustain residual curarization. ⋯ The incidence of residual blockade in Spain is similar to that published in other settings and countries. Female gender, longer duration of surgery, and halogenated drugs for anesthesia maintenance were related to residual paralysis, as were NMBA specific items, such as the use of benzylisoquinoline drugs, and the absence of reversal or reversal with neostigmine.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of the Macintosh, GlideScope®, Airtraq®, and King VisionTM laryngoscopes in routine airway management.
We hypothesized that the use of the channeled King Vision™ and Airtraq® would shorten the time for tracheal intubation compared with the Macintosh or GlideScope® laryngoscopes in patients with normal airways. ⋯ The King Vision™ and Airtraq® require longer intubation times, as primary outcome, and cause less sore throat than the Macintosh and GlideScope® when used by anesthesiologists with limited experience in patients with normal airways. Our conclusion is difficult to extrapolate to the expert anesthesiologists who are using videolaryngoscopes on a regular basis.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Dec 2016
Multicenter StudyHospital disaster preparedness in Italy: a preliminary study utilizing the World Health Organization hospital emergency response evaluation toolkit.
Natural and human-initiated disasters are occurring with greater devastating consequences and increased frequency. During these events, hospitals have the burden to care for acutely ill and injured patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of disaster preparedness of Italian hospitals. ⋯ The study revealed that a large majority of Italian hospitals evaluated are not well prepared to manage potential disasters. Also, all important elements of hospital preparedness, such as the command system, surge capacity, and safety, were insufficiently implemented. Nationwide standards, guidelines and procedures are required to improve hospital disaster preparedness in Italy.