A randomised controlled trial of intravenous dexmedetomidine added to dexamethasone for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and duration of interscalene block

Prolongation of peripheral nerve blockade by intravenous dexamethasone may be extended by intravenous dexmedetomidine. We randomly allocated 122 participants who had intravenous dexamethasone 0.15 mg.kg⁻¹ before interscalene brachial plexus block for day-case arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to intravenous saline (62 participants) or intravenous dexmedetomidine 1 μg.kg⁻¹ (60 participants). The primary outcome was time from block to first oral morphine intake during the first 48 postoperative hours. Fifty-nine participants reported taking oral morphine, 25/62 after placebo and 34/60 after dexmedetomidine, p = 0.10. The time to morphine intake was shorter after dexmedetomidine, hazard ratio (95%CI) 1.68 (1.00–2.82), p = 0.049. Median (IQR [range]) morphine doses were 0 (0–12.5 [0–50]) mg after control vs. 10 (0–30 [0–50]) after dexmedetomidine, a difference (95%CI) of 7 (0–10) mg, p = 0.056. There was no effect of dexmedetomidine on pain at rest or on movement. Intra-operative hypotension was recorded for 27/62 and 50/60 participants after placebo vs. dexmedetomidine, respectively, p < 0.001. Other outcomes were similar, including durations of sensory and motor block. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine shortened the time to oral morphine consumption after interscalene block combined with dexamethasone and caused intra-operative hypotension.     

早期肠内营养支持对胃癌术后患者肠黏膜屏障功能保护的研究进展

胃癌患者在手术应激状况下，内脏血流减少，肠黏膜处于低灌注状态，易发生肠黏膜损伤。此外，手术刺激可导致肠黏膜充血、水肿、糜烂，加重肠黏膜损伤。近年来，肠内营养被作为保护肠黏膜屏障功能的有效手段。早期肠内营养在肠黏膜屏障功能保护中的作用机制已被证实，然而不同研究结果有一定差异。本研究综述了国内外有关胃癌术后患者行早期肠内营养支持的相关研究，整理、分析既往研究的结论和争议，为早期肠内营养支持的推广应用提供参考。     

Time-interval to adjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative management after upper abdominal surgical procedures in advanced ovarian cancer

IntroductionIn advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), longer time-interval from surgery to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (TITC) is associated with decreased survival. Adding upper abdominal surgical procedures (UAP) increases rates of both complete gross resection and postoperative complications in EOC. Our objective was to investigate the association of UAP and TITC. Moreover, if specific postoperative monitoring after the most prevalent UAP increases early detection and management of complications.Material and methodsWomen diagnosed with EOC 2014–2016 in the Stockholm/Gotland Region in Sweden were identified in the Swedish Quality Registry for Gynaecologic Cancer. The association between UAP and TITC was investigated by multivariable linear regression and adjusted for predefined confounders. The follow-up and detection of postoperative complications after diaphragm resection, splenectomy and cholecystectomy was examined.Results240 women were selected for analysis. The TITC in women subjected to UAP was similar with a median of 30 days (p = 0.99). Moreover, despite a higher rate of postoperative and major complications (p < 0.001) and longer hospital stay (p < 0.001), in the adjusted analysis there was no association between UAP and prolonged TITC, with a mean difference of −2.27 days (95% Confidence Interval (CI), −5.99 to −1.45, p = 0.23). After the most prevalent UAP (diaphragm resection, splenectomy and cholecystectomy), eventual postoperative interventions were based on routine clinical management rather than procedure-specific postoperative surveillance.ConclusionUAP does not prolong TITC despite an increased rate of postoperative complications and longer length of hospital stay. Clinical non-specific surveillance is sufficient to detect postoperative complications after the most prevalent UAP.     

超声引导PVNB对老年食道癌开胸患者术后镇痛、应激及炎性因子水平的影响

目的 探讨超声引导下连续椎旁神经阻滞(PVNB)对老年食道癌开胸手术患者术后镇痛、应激及炎性因子水平的影响。方法 选取我院拟实施全麻下开胸手术的90例食道癌开胸手术患者作为研究对象,其中45例患者术前采用超声引导下PVNB麻醉复合全身麻醉(PVNB组)、对照组45例患者采用全身麻醉；两组患者术后均采用静脉自控镇痛(对照组)；对比两组患者术后2h、6h、24h及48h静息状态、咳嗽状态下的视觉模拟疼痛评分(VAS),术后镇痛药物用量及镇痛药物不良反应发生情况,术前及术后24h血清去甲肾上腺素(NE)、肾上腺素(E)、皮质醇(Cor)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)差异及术后肺部感染发生情况。结果 PVNB组患者和对照组在术后2h～术后48h的静息VAS评分及咳嗽VAS评分组间比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),PVNB组术后2h、6h及24h静息VAS评分及咳嗽VAS评分均高于对照组(P>0.05)。PVNB组患者术后的镇痛泵按压次数、舒芬太尼用量均低于对照组(P<0.05),PVNB组患者术后的镇痛泵按压次数、舒芬太尼用量均低于对照组(P<0.05),术前两组患者的血清NE、E、Cor水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)；术后两24h两组患者血清NE、E、Cor水平均较术前增高(P>0.05),术后24h PVNB组的血清NE、E、Cor水平低于对照组(P<0.05),术前两组患者的血清IL-6、TNF-α水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)；术后24h两组患者血清IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α水平均较术前增高(P<0.05),PVNB组的血清IL-6、TNF-α水平低于对照组(P<0.05),PVNB组术后发生肺部感染2例,发生率为4.4%,对照组术后发生肺部感染6例,发生率为13.3%,PVNB组术后肺部感染发生率低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论 超声引导下PVNB能够改善老年食道癌开胸患者术后镇痛效果,减轻手术创伤所致的应激反应,较少患者术后肺部感染的发生。     

Postoperative extremity compartment syndrome in a cancer center: Incidence and risk factors

ObjectivePostoperative compartment syndrome is a reported complication with known patient- and treatment-specific risk factors. Cancer patients carry unique risk factors associated with their underlying disease and long, complex procedures. While elevated serum lactate in traumatic and intensive care settings portends higher risk, no laboratory parameter has demonstrated utility in postoperative risk stratification. Postoperative extremity compartment syndrome in the study institution's cancer population was examined and whether intraoperative serum lactate correlates with postoperative compartment syndrome risk was investigated.MethodsA 1:2 case-control study was performed, which compared cancer patients with postoperative compartment syndrome to those who underwent similar surgical procedures without this complication. Twelve patients were matched to 24 controls by sex, age, surgical procedures, and duration of surgery. Patient and operative variables were analyzed for prognostic significance.ResultsThe compartment syndrome rate was 0.09% of all cases (n = 13,491); 0.12% of cases ≥ 3 h’ duration (n = 9,979), and 0.25% of cases ≥ 5 h (n = 4,811). Compared with controls, the case group had higher median BMI (31.7 kg/m2 vs. 25.4 kg/m2, P = 0.001), and median intraoperative lactate level (4.05 mmol/L vs. 1.5 mmol/L, P = 0.047).ConclusionOur institutional incidence of postoperative compartment syndrome was similar to that of non-oncologic institutions. While many traditional risk factors did not prove to be influential in our patients, elevated median body mass index and intraoperative serum lactate were identified as risk factors for postoperative compartment syndrome in a cancer population.     

The role of regional anaesthesia and multimodal analgesia in the prevention of chronic postoperative pain: a narrative review

Effective prevention of chronic postoperative pain is an important clinical goal, informed by a growing body of studies. Peri-operative regional anaesthesia remains one of the most important tools in the multimodal analgesic toolbox, blocking injury-induced activation and sensitisation of both the peripheral and central nervous system. We review the definition and taxonomy of chronic postoperative pain, its mechanistic basis and the most recent evidence for the preventative potential of multimodal analgesia, with a special focus on regional anaesthesia. While regional anaesthesia targets several important aspects of the mechanistic pathway leading to chronic postoperative pain, evidence for its efficacy is still mixed, possibly owing to the heterogeneity of risk profiles within the surgical patient, but also to variation in techniques and medications reported in the literature.