Céphalées post-brèches méningées et blood-patch : aspects théoriques et pratiques

Objective

To review the current research and formulate a rational approach to the physiopathology, cause and treatment of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH).

Data sources

Articles published to December 2011 were obtained through a search of Medline for the MeSh terms “epidural blood-patch” and “post-dural puncture headache”.

Study selection

Six hundred and eighty-two pertinent studies were included and 200 were analysed.

Data synthesis

Resulting of a dural tap after spinal anaesthesia or diagnostic lumbar puncture or as a complication of epidural anaesthesia, PDPH occurs when an excessive leak of cerebrospinal fluid leads to intracranial hypotension associated to a resultant cerebral vasodilatation. Reduction in cerebrospinal fluid volume in upright position may cause traction of the intracranial structure and stretching of vessels. Typically postural, headache may be associated to nausea, photophobia, tinnitus or arm pain and changes in hearing acuity. In severe cases, there may be cranial nerve dysfunction and nerve palsies secondary to traction on those nerves. The Epidural Blood-Patch (EBP) is considered as the “gold standard” in the treatment of PDHP because it induces a prolonged elevation of subarachnoid and epidural pressures, whereas such elevation is transient with saline or dextran. EBP should be performed within 24–48 hours of onset of headache; the optimum volume of epidural blood appears to be 15–20 mL. Severe complications following EBP are exceptional. The use of echography may be safety puncture. The optimum timing of epidural blood-patch, the resort of repeating procedure if the symptomatology does not disappear, the alternative to the conventional medical treatment need to be determined by future clinical trial.     

Anesthésie et hypertension artérielle pulmonaire chez l’enfant en chirurgie non cardiaque

Paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a challenge for the paediatric anaesthetist. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, support should be provided by a dedicated team. Understanding the pathophysiology of PAH allows performing an appropriate therapeutic approach. In case of high vascular pulmonary resistance, the main objectives of anaesthetic management are to maintain an optimal pulmonary flow and to avoid the decrease in systemic arterial pressure. Haemodynamic monitoring is essential to detect the onset of an acute PAH crisis but also to give direct information on the efficacy of treatment.     

Organisation des soins en analgésie,anesthésie et réanimation en maternité en France métropolitaine : résultats comparés des enquêtes nationales périnatales 2003 et 2010

Objective

The equipment and practices in obstetric analgesia, anaesthesia and intensive care, as well as their evolution between 2003 and 2010 in metropolitan France, were described.

Population and methods

Data were derived from two representative samples of births in 2003 and 2010, based on all births in France during one week. The sample included 534 maternity units and 14,903 births in 2010 and 618 maternity units and 14,737 births in 2003.

Results

The caesarean operating room was adjacent or inside the labour ward in 66% of maternity units in 2010 vs 56% in 2003. An anaesthetist was appointed permanently to the labour ward in 38.9% of maternity units in 2010 vs 21.5% in 2003. Locoregional analgesia or anaesthesia rate increased significantly: 81.5% in 2010 compared to 74.9% in 2003. Almost all operative vaginal deliveries were performed under epidural anesthesia in 2010. Patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) was available in 58% of the units in 2010 but only 34.2% of women had PCEA. Newborn's resuscitations were performed mainly by paediatricians in 2010, but 11.4% of children were resuscitated by an anaesthetist in level 1 maternity units.

Conclusion

The conditions required to ensure anaesthetic care safety in maternity units has improved since 2003. Improvements in quality of care are still possible.     

Résections limitées du pancréas pour tumeur intracanalaire papillaire et mucineuse non invasive

Introduction

For non-invasive intraductal papillary and mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with limited extent, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) seem excessive due to the risk of pancreatic insufficiency. Enucleation (EN) or medial pancreatectomy (MP) are not commonly performed for IPMN. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and results of EN and MP for non-invasive IPMN.

Patients and methods

Of 249 patients with IPMN, we attempted a limited resection in 50 (20%) EN (n=31) or MP (n=20) with routine intra-operative frozen section pathology. One attempted EN was converted to MP. Indications for surgery were pain/pancreatitis (44%), suspicion of main duct involvement (28%), mural nodules in branch duct (14%), branch duct > 30mm (8%) or suspicion of mucinous cystadenoma (6%). Follow-up clinical assessment and MRI were performed on a yearly basis.

Results

Of the 31 attempted enucleations, 5 (13%) were immediately converted (4 PD, 1 MP) due to technical reasons (n=3) or due to findings on frozen section (n=2). At definitive pathological examination (accuracy of frozen sectioning=98%), branch ducts were involved by mild (n=21), moderate (n=7) or high grade dysplasia (n=2). One patient underwent a double EN.Of 20 attempted medial pancreatectomies, 8 (40%) required additional segmental resection due to significant IPMN lesions at pancreatic margins; 3 of the additional resection margins were tumor-free, and 5 were involved by IPMN (4 conversions to PD or DP, one contra-indication to PD). Overall, 49 pancreatic margins were analyzed by frozen sectioning with 98% accuracy. Resected specimens of 16 MP showed involvement by mild (n=7), moderate (n=7) or high grade dysplasia (n=2).There was no postoperative mortality. Median length of stay was 21 and 30 days respectively after EN and MP. Pancreatic fistula rate was 54% and 81% respectively after EN and MP. Three patients underwent early re-operation for hemorrhage. Overall median follow-up was 24 months (3-121). All patients are alive, 2 patients (5%) have presented with recurrent pain and 4 have developed tumor recurrence on imaging follow-up (4/33=12%). Two patients (5%) developed de novo diabetes (one after EN combined with DP) and a third patient developed worsening of pre-existing diabetes plus exocrine insufficiency. No patient had surgery for recurrence.

Conclusions

EN and MP are feasible for non-invasive IPMN. Their significant early morbidity is counterbalanced by low rates of both long-term functional disorders and tumor recurrence.     

La discipline anesthésie-réanimation et les pôles d’activité médicale (PAM) : résultats d’une enquête auprès des CHU et CHG

Objective

To know: (1) how French public services of anaesthesia and critical care (ACC) have applied the new principles of hospital management and (2) whether or not it has impacted the different components of ACC.

Study design

National questionnaire at the end of 2008, i.e., after 2 years of new hospital management.

Material

Heads of ACC services in general (GH) and university hospitals (UH).

Methods

Eighteen closed questions and open opinions analyzed. Comparisons of percentages (Chi² – Yates): linear correlation.

Results

Percentages of responses were 70% (n = 51) for UH and 37% (n = 146) for GH. The new management principles were mainly applied. The different clinical and academic components of the ACC specialty (ACC, emergency medicine, pain management) mainly remained associated in UH. In GH, the new management induced constant and various changes. They were mainly judged as defeating the object of the ACC speciality in GH, especially in those of lower and mild sizes.

Conclusion

The general tendency is that the ACC specialty was able to maintain the family ties of its different components in the UH. However, this principle was not a cornerstone of the new management in the GH.     

Échographie et anesthésie locorégionale

The use of ultrasound is the latest major evolution in regional anaesthesia. Review of available literature shows significant changes in clinical practice. Ultrasound guidance allows the visualization of anatomical variations or unsuspected intraneural injections, reduces the volume of local anaesthetic injections and confirms correct local anaesthetic distribution or catheter placement. No study has found a statistical difference in success rates and safety because all studies were underpowered. However, the ability to visualize an invasive procedure that has been performed blindly in the past is an undeniable progress in terms of safety. The necessity to be familiar with the machine and the learning curve can be repulsive. The aim of this article is to demystify ultrasound guidance by explaining the fundamentals of the clinical use of ultrasound. With the help of different chapters, the authors explain the different adjustments and possible artefacts and give easy solutions for the use of bedside ultrasound. Training is essential and can be performed on manikins or training phantom. For each region the main anatomical landmarks are explained. One must be familiar with several imaging techniques: short axis (transverse) or long axis (longitudinal) nerve imaging, in-plane or out-of-plane imaging and hydrolocalization. Viewing the needle's tip position during its progression remains the main safety endpoint. Therefore, electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound guidance should be combined, especially for beginners, to confirm proximity to neural structures and to help in case of difficulty. Optimizing safety and clinical results must remain a key priority in regional anaesthesia. Finally, specific regulations concerning the transducers are described. Paediatric specificities are also mentioned.     

Antibioprophylaxie pour césarienne : modification des pratiques et administration avant incision,enquête de faisabilité auprès des pédiatres du réseau de santé périnatale d’Auvergne (RSPA)

Objective

To describe the knowledge of paediatricians regarding the practice of antimicrobial prophylaxis for caesarean section in reference to the Consensus Conference of the French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SFAR) and assess the feasibility of a change in attitude (injection of the antibiotic prior to incision) among paediatricians Perinatal Health Network of Auvergne (RSPA) working in maternity.

Study design

Cross sectional study by survey.

Methods

First questionnaire was sent to 46 RSPA paediatricians working in maternity. Almost one-third of paediatricians who returned the questionnaire said they were not concerned. A second questionnaire was developed with two paediatricians of the CHU and sent to the same 46 paediatricians. The statistical part involved percentages.

Results

Response rates were respectively 61% and 67%. For the first questionnaire, only 25% of the paediatricians knew the antibiotic and the time for injection. For the second questionnaire, 87% were in favour of an administration before incision and 42% thought it will not affect the care of the newborn. For 35% of respondents, it could lead to a change in the duration of antibiotic therapy in cases of perinatal infection and for 13% only a delay in the implementation of antibiotic therapy in children.

Conclusion

The RSPA paediatricians did not know the practices of antibiotic prophylaxis for caesarean section. However, they did not appear opposed to an administration before cord clamping as it would not delay the implementation of any antibiotics in the newborn.     

Méta-analyse : ondansétron en prophylaxie des nausées et vomissements postopératoires chez l’adulte et l’enfant après craniotomie

Objective

To justify the use of ondansetron as a preventive treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) of adults and children in neurosurgery.

Study design

Meta-analysis.

Patients and methods

Six published, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials were selected to study the efficacy of ondansetron on PONV in adults undergoing craniotomy. Similarly, three studies were selected in children. The treated adults received 4 or 8 mg of ondansetron during the peroperative period. As for children, they were given a repeated dose of 0.15 mg/kg of ondansetron. The emetic episodes noted for 24 hours in children and until 48 hours in adults were analyzed. The results were presented as relative risks (RR) following a fixed model and a 95% confidence interval (CI). The test for heterogeneity was measured with the I² Altman DG test.

Results

At 24 hours, among the 308 adults tested, nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced by 22% and 57%, respectively; no significant reduction in vomiting was noted for the 149 children patients. At 48 hours, no significant modification was observed in adults.

Conclusions

Peroperative intravenous dose of ondansetron 4 mg in neurosurgery in adults is required to prevent PONV during the first postoperative 24 hours. However, further studies are needed to determine best time and dose infusion to prolong clinical efficacy.