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.     

Réhabilitation périopératoire des césariennes programmées non compliquées en France : enquête de pratique nationale

Introduction

Enhanced recovery is a concept currently recognised and adopted in a number of surgical specialties. In obstetrics however, this concept remains surprisingly underdeveloped. The purpose of this survey was to study the practice of obstetric anaesthetists in France as regards the recovery of women undergoing uncomplicated, elective caesarean section.

Material and method

An online 39-point questionnaire was displayed for 2 months on the Caro (Club d’anesthesie réanimation en obstétrique) website. The questionnaire related to uncomplicated, elective Caesarean sections and aimed to define the following: preoperative information given regarding the recovery period, intraoperative care – both anaesthetic and surgical, postoperative analgesia, measures taken to prevent post-partum haemorrhage, reintroduction of fluids and diet, return to mobility, local practices designed to promote bonding between mother and baby.

Results

The overall response rate for our survey was 45%. Forty-nine percent of practitioners report that patients are provided with specific information on the recovery period preoperatively. Sixty percent of those surveyed state the absence of any specific recovery protocol for this patient population in their hospital. Eighty-one percent of respondents state that, in the majority of cases, patients are admitted on the eve of surgery and remain hospitalised for more than 72 hours (89%). Ninety-nine percent of practitioners employ a regional technique to deliver anaesthesia for elective section and 44% rely on intrathecal morphine for postoperative analgesia. The concept of ‘Patient Controlled Oral Analgesia’ (PCOA), although widely recognised, is used by only 17% of practitioners. Forty-one percent of practitioners report the reintroduction of fluids as soon as patients return to the ward following surgery and at the same time as the urinary catheter is removed (51%). Diet is commenced 4 to 6 hours following surgery amongst 40% of those surveyed. Fifty-one percent of practitioners report removal of the intravenous catheter 24 hours postoperatively. Finally, 49% of practitioners feel patients are independently functioning and mobile within 24 hours of surgery.

Conclusion

This survey of national practice shows that the concept of ‘enhanced recovery’ following elective caesarean section can be again developed. Standardisation of practice with the design of local protocols relating to postoperative analgesia, timing of removal of the intravenous access and urinary catheter, time to first mobilisation and to commencement of diet would appear to be warranted. Surely this surgery, more than any other, merits an expeditious and effective return to normal and independent function, allowing mother to better look after baby.     

Cisaillements accidentels de cathéters périnerveux lors de poses échoguidées

We report two cases of inadvertent peripheral nerve catheter (PNC) shearing that occurred during placement under ultrasound guidance. Same PNC kits were used in two different hospitals. The possible causes of PNC shearing are exposed. Differences and mechanical properties of different PNC kits are discussed. The management of retained PNC carried out in these cases is presented.     

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.     

Analgésie locorégionale en soins palliatifs : bilan de quatre années d’utilisation

It could append that patient pain relief in palliative care is not achieved despite the use of opioids and the multimodal approach. Therefore, regional techniques are used in the palliative care unit of the Limoges University Hospital since four years.     

L’hémofiltration en cascade : principe,premières données expérimentales

High-volume hemofiltration has been suggested as an adjuvant treatment of septic shock (renal support and immunomodulation of the host response via the removal of middle molecular weight molecules such as cytokines). Nevertheless, high-volume hemofiltration presents some important drawbacks, such as the depletion of low molecular weight molecules (nutriments, vitamins, trace elements and antibiotics) due to the high ultrafiltration rate, or the significant financial cost and nursing workload. We describe cascade hemofiltration, a new high-volume hemofiltration system, which has been developed to limit these drawbacks by using a special extracorporeal circuit. Results of the first experimental study using this prototype are also reported. They demonstrate the technical feasibility, security and safety of the cascade system although other experimental and clinical studies are needed to continue evaluating this system.     

Épidémiologie du risque médico-légal lié à la pratique de la chirurgie ambulatoire en France : données SHAM

The medico-legal risk specifically associated with the practice of ambulatory surgery is still not well studied. SHAM insurances are the biggest French provider of medical liability insurances. The study of the insurance claims provided by this insurer is therefore a relevant source of data on the complications related to ambulatory surgery.     

Validation d’un index méthodologique (MINORS) pour les études non-randomisées

Background. - Because of specific methodological difficulties in conducting randomised trials, surgical research remains based mainly on observational or non-randomised studies. Few validated instruments are available to assess the methodological quality of such studies from the reader’s perspective or within the scope of a meta-analysis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate such an instrument.Methods. - After the first phase of conceptualisation of the methodological index for non-randomised studies (MINORS), a list of 12 items was sent to 100 experts from several surgical specialities for evaluation and was also assessed by 10 clinical methodologists. Subsequent testing of the MINORS involved the assessment of: inter-reviewer reliability, test-retest reliability 2 months later, internal consistency and external validity.Findings. - The final version of MINORS included 12 items (the first eight for non-comparative studies). Clinimetric validation was established owing to good inter-reviewer and test-retest reliabilities with high kappa coefficient, good internal consistency with high Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and good external validity with the ability of MINORS to recognise excellent trials.Interpretation. - The MINORS is a valid instrument to assess the methodological quality of non-randomised surgical studies (whether comparative or not). The next step will be to study its external validity by a large use and by comparing it with other available instruments.     

Traitements antifongiques en réanimation au cours des infections fongiques invasives documentées ou suspectées

Objective

Describe systemic antifungal therapy in non-neutropenic adult patients in intensive care unit (ICU).

Patients and method

A prospective, observational study was conducted during the first half of 2010 in the 7 ICU in a hospital with medical consultant on antimicrobial therapy. All non-neutropenic consecutive adult patients receiving systemic antifungal therapy for documented or suspected invasive fungal infection (IFI) apart from aspergillosis were included.

Results

Out of 1502 patients admitted in ICU, 104 (7 %) underwent systemic antifungal therapy, including 30 (29 %) for a documented IFI and 74 (71 %) for a suspected IFI. Candida albicans was identified in 23 (77 %) of the IFI and 45/52 (86 %) of the broncho-pulmonary and/or urinary colonizations in suspected IFI. Echinocandin was significantly more prescribed in patients with a documented infection (19/30 patients) and fluconazole in patients with a suspected infection (48/74 patients). The first line therapy was primarily stopped after recovery (11/30 patients) or de-escalation (9/30 patients) in documented infections, and for lack of indication (34/74 patients) or due to recovery (21/74 patients) in suspected infections after on average of 7 days of treatment.

Conclusion

For ICU non-neutropenic adult patients in our center, antifungal therapy is prescribed two times out of three for suspected, unproved infections, in most cases with fluconazole. Documented infections were more often treated by echinocandin with secondary de-escalation. An interventional prospective study to assess the role of antifungal pre-emptive or empirical therapy is necessary.     

Dissection artérielle carotidienne bilatérale dans un contexte de prééclampsie sévère : une cause inhabituelle de céphalées du post-partum

A 30-year-old woman with severe preeclampsia presented at 27 weeks of amenorrhea with left headache, neck pain, blurred vision and numbness of left hemiface that resolved spontaneously within 2 hours. A week later, hypertension remained poorly controlled despite combination of nicardipine and labetalol intravenous therapy; an urgent caesarean section was eventually performed due to onset of HELLP syndrome. At day 5 postpartum, the patient had a Horner syndrome with right ipsilateral disabling tinnitus. A CT-angiography of supra-aortic trunks was performed urgently; it showed a bilateral carotid arterial dissection without stroke, which was subsequently confirmed by MRI angiography. The patient was transferred in neurovascular intensive care unit. Anticoagulant therapy was implemented to prevent cerebral and retinal ischemic lesions. Symptoms resolved quickly and the patient was discharged at day 7 postpartum. MR-angiography performed 4 months later showed a full resolution of the bilateral carotid dissection. Anticoagulant therapy was therefore discontinued.