Postoperative deep body temperature rhythm

The postoperative deep body temperature rhythms of fifteen patients who received aorto-coronary bypass surgery (group I), and of seven patients who received non-cardiac major surgery (group II), were studied. Postoperative patients, especially those who received aortocoronary bypass surgery, showed greatly disturbed deep body temperature rhythm. There existed infradian and ultradian rhythm in both groups, and there existed two patients in group I who did not show sinusoidal rhythm. The patients of group I also showed a longer period of rhythm than did those of group II. The mesor and amplitude of the patients in group I showed a greater individual variation than did those in group II. The acrophase of both groups deviated widely. The patients who underwent cardiac surgery needed a longer time for temperature rhythm recovery than did those who underwent general surgery.     

Postoperative ghrelin levels and delayed recovery from body weight loss after distal or total gastrectomy

BACKGROUND: Body weight loss is a common but one of the most serious sequelae after gastrectomy. Ghrelin, a novel gastric hormone that up-regulates body weight through appetite control and metabolic reaction, seems to be affected by gastric surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Early postoperative alteration of serum ghrelin was evaluated at days 3 and 7 after gastrectomy for 13 hospital patients. In 64 outpatients who had previously undergone total gastrectomy (TG: 26 patients) or distal gastrectomy (DG: 38 patients) 4.6 months to 136 months (average, 41 months) earlier, the association between their serum ghrelin and leptin levels and postoperative body weight was investigated. RESULTS: Serum ghrelin declined immediately and greatly after TG to 12% of the preoperative level (day 3 and day 7), whereas the decline was less significant after DG at 39% (day 3) and 56% (day 7). In outpatients, serum ghrelin after TG was very low compared with the control (18.6 fmol/mL versus 92.1 fmol/mL, P<0.0001), irrespective of the period after surgery, whereas the level after DG recovered and was equivalent to the control (73.4 fmol/mL, P=0.355). Body weight loss was more apparent in TG patients than in DG patients, showing postoperative reduction of body mass index (DeltaBMI) -3.940 versus -1.949 (P<0.0001). Serum leptin concentration, reflecting the systemic fat volume, significantly correlated with BMI in both TG and DG patients, and tended to be lower in TG patients than in DG patients (800 pg/mL versus 1158 pg/mL, P=0.236). CONCLUSION: Persistent decline of serum ghrelin and body weight was observed commonly after total gastrectomy. Further study is needed as to whether or not ghrelin administration can improve the body weight level for these patients.     

Dexmedetomidine for the prevention of delirium in adults admitted to the intensive care unit or post-operative care unit: A systematic review of randomised clinical trials with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

Objectives

To assess any benefit or harm, we conducted a systematic review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) allocating adults to dexmedetomidine versus placebo/no intervention for the prevention of delirium in intensive care or post-operative care units.

Data Sources

We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and other databases. The last search was 9 April 2022.

Data Extraction

Literature screening, data extraction and risk of bias volume 2 assessments were performed independently and in duplicate. Primary outcomes were occurrences of serious adverse events (SAEs), delirium and all-cause mortality. We used meta-analysis, Trial Sequential Analysis, and GRADE (Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation).

Data Synthesis

Eighty-one RCTs (15,745 patients) provided data for our primary outcomes. Results from trials at low risk of bias showed that dexmedetomidine may reduce the occurrence of the most frequently reported SAEs (relative risk [RR] 0.69; 95% CI 0.43–1.09), cumulated SAEs (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.52–0.95) and the occurrence of delirium (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.43–0.89). The certainty of evidence was very low for delirium. Mortality was very low in trials at low risk of bias (0.4% in the dexmedetomidine groups and 1.0% in the control groups) and meta-analysis did not provide conclusive evidence that dexmedetomidine may result in lower or higher all-cause mortality (RR 0.47; 95% CI 0.18–1.21). There was a lack of information from trial results at low risk of bias for all primary outcomes.

Conclusions

Trial results at low risk of bias showed that dexmedetomidine might reduce occurrences of SAEs and delirium, while no conclusive evidence was found for effects on all-cause mortality. The certainty of evidence ranged from very low for occurrence of delirium to low for the remaining outcomes.     

全麻患者术后麻醉重症监护室中新发下肢深静脉血栓的危险因素

目的 筛选全麻术后转入麻醉重症监护室（AICU）的患者新发下肢深静脉血栓（DVT）的危险因素。
方法 回顾性收集2022年5—8月择期行全麻下手术后带气管插管转入AICU的患者192例，男105例，女87例，年龄18～85岁，BMI 18～31 kg/m²，ASA Ⅱ或Ⅲ级。收集患者基线资料、麻醉手术资料及实验室检查资料。根据入AICU 6 h内的超声结果是否有新发DVT将患者分为两组：DVT组和非DVT组。采用多因素Logistic回归分析筛选AICU中患者术后6 h内新发DVT的危险因素及其95%可信区间（CI）。
结果 全麻术后在AICU新发DVT的患者有64例（33.3%），均为小腿肌间静脉血栓（CMVT）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，术前心律失常（OR=2.236，95%CI 1.011～4.943，P=0.047）、术前血小板计数高（OR=1.006，95%CI 1.002～1.010，P=0.007）、术前D-二聚体浓度高（OR=1.203，95%CI 1.046～1.383，P=0.010）、术中低血压（OR=1.010，95%CI 1.002～1.019，P=0.020）和术中应用去甲肾上腺素（OR=3.796，95%CI 1.697～8.492，P=0.001）是全麻术后AICU中患者新发DVT的危险因素；阿司匹林规律服用史（OR=0.176，95%CI 0.060～0.518，P=0.002）是其保护因素。
结论 术前心律失常、术前血小板计数高、术前D-二聚体浓度高、术中低血压及术中应用去甲肾上腺素是全麻手术后AICU患者6 h内新发DVT的危险因素。     

脊柱外科术后患者深静脉血栓预防及管理的最佳证据应用

目的将脊柱外科术后深静脉血栓预防及管理的最佳证据应用于临床实践,降低患者深静脉血栓发生率。方法遵循澳大利亚JBI证据临床应用模式,检索并总结脊柱外科术后患者深静脉血栓预防及管理的最佳证据,制定审查指标,通过证据应用前的基线审查、实践变革和证据应用后再审查,判断实施效果。结果最佳证据应用后,患者深静脉血栓发生率由2.90%降至0;医护人员深静脉血栓预防及管理知识得分,出血风险评估、机械及药物预防、健康宣教执行率显著提高(均P0.01)。结论深静脉血栓预防及管理最佳证据的应用,可提高医护人员深静脉血栓预防及管理水平,规范预防管理行为,降低患者深静脉血栓发生率。     

Heat and moisture exchangers and the body temperature: a peroperative study

The importance of conditioning the inhaled gas for maintaining the body temperature during artificial respiration was investigated. The mean body temperature (MBT) was deduced from readings from five measuring sites, four of which were situated at the skin and the fifth in the rectum. Temperature recordings were made every 15th min. Twenty patients were admitted to the study. In 10 patients a heat and moisture exchanger was used (the HME group), and the other 10 were ventilated without an HME (the control group). The patients were normoventilated, and a non-rebreathing system was used. All operations were made in the ENT-region of the body. Great care was taken to avoid variation of external factors that may affect the MBT. We found that the MBT decreased 0.2 degrees C/h less in the HME group than in the control group. If corrections were made for differences in amounts of fluids given and age factors, a difference in heat loss of 41.6 kJ/h between the two groups could be derived from this figure. This difference was statistically significant. Our finding correlated fairly well with a predicted reduction of heat loss of 26.0 kJ/h for the type of HME used. A certain margin of error seemed to be inevitable in measuring body temperatures, and the reason for this is discussed. Our results support the fact that the investigation is adequately designed, and that the heat conserved with an HME is rather low.     

Abolished circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion in sedated and artificially ventilated intensive care patients

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance is common in intensive care patients. Aside from its unpleasantness, there is a correlation with intensive care unit (ICU) syndrome/delirium. Reasons for sleep deprivation appear to be multifactorial, including the underlying illness, an acute superimposed disturbance, medications, and the ICU environment itself. There are reasons to believe that alterations of the 'biological clock' might contribute. Melatonin secretion is one reflection of this internal sleep/wake mechanism. Melatonin levels are normally high during the night and low during daytime, being suppressed by bright light. METHODS: Melatonin levels in blood and urine were studied over 3 consecutive days in eight critically ill patients during deep sedation and mechanical ventilation. Sedation was assessed with the sedation-agitation (SAS) scale and bispectral index (BIS) monitor. RESULTS: The circadian rhythm of melatonin release was abolished in all but one patient, who recovered much more quickly than the others. There was no correlation between melatonin levels and levels of sedation. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that dyssynchronization of the melatonin secretion rhythm is common in critically ill and mechanically ventilated patients. It could be hypothesized that an impairment of the melatonin rhythm may play a role in the development of sleep disturbances and delirium in intensive care patients, and that melatonin supply could reduce the incidence of these phenomena.     

Intracerebral temperature monitoring in severely head injured patients

Summary In a series of 6 severely head injured patients, intraventricular as well as rectal, bladder and jugular vein temperature is recorded. The relationship between these temperatures in different conditions is evaluated. Intracerebral temperature is 0.5±0.2 °C (mean ± SD) higher than bladder temperature except in conditions such as brain death. It is concluded that rectal temperature is not representative and therefore not a good alternative to the measurement of brain temperature. More data on human intracerebral temperature are mandatory as well as prospective studies correlating intracerebral temperature with final outcome in head injury.     

Quality of sedation during mechanical ventilation

The aim of the study was to determine the quality of sedation in ventilated patients on a general paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), including those treated with infusions of neuromuscular blocking agents. Twenty-eight ventilated children on a PICU had their level of sedation determined using an arousability scale dependent upon the response to tracheal suction. Observed levels of sedation were then compared to a predetermined desired level of sedation. A total of 81 assessments were performed and 90% were considered satisfactory. Thirty-two of these assessments were performed in 15 children following the temporary discontinuation of infusions of neuromuscular blocking agents; 97% of these assessments were considered satisfactory. A regime of continuous intravenous midazolam and morphine with additional oral sedation using chloral hydrate and antihistamines when required provides a satisfactory level of sedation for the majority of children ventilated on a PICU, including those treated with infusions of neuromuscular blocking agents.     

Postoperative infectious complications in paediatric liver transplantation: a study of 48 transplants

We studied, retrospectively, postoperative infectious complications following paediatric liver transplantation at a single university centre. The objectives were to characterize the epidemiology of infection and to determine the associated risk factors during the early postoperative period, either the first postoperative month or the entire duration of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay. Forty-eight liver transplants were performed on 46 patients. Sixty-three infections occurred in 32 patients who underwent 34 liver transplantations (1.36 infection/patient); 47 were bacterial, 6 fungal and 10 viral. The most common sites of infection were bloodstream (36.5%) and abdomen (30%). Gram-positive bacteria (78%) predominated over gram-negative bacteria (22%). Initial analysis revealed infection risk factors to be age <1 year, body weight <10 kg, extrahepatic biliary atresia, intraoperative transfusion > 160 ml x kg(-1), mechanical ventilation > 8 days and PICU stay > 19 days. After stratified analysis, the main risk factor for infection was low body weight of the recipient.     

pKa of fentanyl varies with temperature: implications for acid-base management during extremes of body temperature

OBJECTIVE: The pKa of fentanyl has not been measured previously at varying extremes of body temperature. The goal of this laboratory investigation was to test the hypothesis that the pKa of fentanyl changes with temperature. DESIGN: The investigation involved measuring the pKa values of aqueous fentanyl at varying temperatures. SETTING: The investigation was conducted in a controlled laboratory environment. PARTICIPANTS: No human or animal subjects were involved. Interventions: Because no live subjects were involved in the investigation, no interventions were necessary. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This paper reports the effect of temperature on the pKa of fentanyl. The pKa of aqueous fentanyl was measured at 15 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 37 degrees C, 42 degrees C, and 47.5 degrees C by potentiometric titration in 0.01 mmol/L of potassium chloride after extensive degassing. Data were analyzed using the least squares method with an appropriately fitting equation. The pKa of fentanyl was found to change in a similar manner to the neutral point of water at varying temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: This finding has implications for the bioavailability of fentanyl at extremes of body temperature in association with the clinical acid-base management of the patient. Clinical implications for differing methods of intraoperative acid-base management at varying temperatures are discussed.     

The use and safety of transoesophageal echocardiography in the general ICU -- a minireview

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been evaluated predominantly in medical and cardiac surgical ICUs. This article reviews the pertinent literature and evaluates the impact of TEE in a general surgical ICU. METHODS: Twenty studies on TEE in the ICU were evaluated for complications, indications, diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical impact on patient management. Diagnostic impact was defined as identification of the underlying cardiovascular pathology, therapeutic impact as changes in patient management and surgical impact as indication for operative procedures. In addition, we reviewed the TEE reports and patient charts of 216 critically ill patients in a 16-bed multidisciplinary surgical ICU at our university hospital, who underwent a TEE for differential diagnosis of hemodynamic instability from July 1995 to December 1998 to assess the impact of TEE on patient management in a general surgical ICU. RESULTS: The diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical impact in a total of 2,508 patients ranged from 44 to 99% (weighted mean 67.2%), 10-69% (36.0%), and 2-29% (14.1%), respectively. The complication rate was 2.6%, with no examination related mortality. In our series in a general surgical ICU, a diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical impact was inferred in 191 (88.4%), 148 (68.5%) and 12 (5.6%) patients, respectively. Adverse effects were observed in 5.6%. CONCLUSION: TEE is safe, well-tolerated and useful in the management of critically ill patients. This applies as well for hemodynamically unstable patients in a general surgical ICU.     

灵活家庭探视制度对ICU患者谵妄影响的Meta分析

目的 评价灵活家庭探视制度对ICU患者谵妄的影响,为针对性干预提供参考。方法 计算机检索PubMed、Cochrane Library、Web of Science、中国生物医学文献数据库、中国知网、万方数据等有关灵活家庭探视制度对ICU患者谵妄影响效果的研究,检索时限从建库至2023年1月13日,由2名研究者独立筛选文献、提取资料、评价质量后进行Meta分析。结果 共纳入17篇文献,Meta分析结果显示,与常规探视制度相比,灵活家庭探视制度能有效降低患者谵妄发生率［OR=0.41,95%CI（0.31,0.55）,P＜0.05］。结论 灵活家庭探视制度可降低ICU患者谵妄发生率。     

重症监护病房成人患者护理人文关怀专家共识

人文关怀是护理的本质和核心,护理人文关怀对改善患者就医体验、促进医护患关系和谐、助力护理专业发展及健康中国建设具有极为重要的作用。而重症监护病房患者由于病房环境及病情特殊性,有着与普通病房患者不同的特殊需求。为推动危重症患者人文关怀管理的规范化,促进以患者为中心最大化人文关怀的目标,改善重症患者体验,特组织相关领域专家共同撰写重症监护病房患者护理人文关怀专家共识,从基本要求、患者入住重症监护病房前、重症监护病房住院期间和出重症监护病房4个方面提出护理人文关怀规范化实施内容,旨在为ICU患者人文关怀实践提供指引。     

预防护理干预对老年患者外科术后下肢深静脉血栓形成的影响

目的:探讨预防护理干预在降低老年外科手术后下肢深静脉血栓发生的应用效果。方法:随机选取2013年3月—2015年3月在我院收治的老年术后患者47例为对照组,随机选取2015年3月—2017年3月在我院收治的老年术后患者47例为观察组;对照组采用一般常规护理方法,观察组采用预防护理干预方法进行护理,比较两组下肢深静脉血栓的发生率。结果:观察组和对照组下肢深静脉血栓的发生率分别为4.2%(2/47)、23.4%(11/47),组间差异经统计比较,具有统计学意义(P 0.05)。结论:预防护理干预可明显降低老年术后下肢深静脉血栓的发生,提高护理工作质量,值得临床选择和进一步推广。     

Postoperative care of the adult cardiac surgical patient

Adult cardiac surgical patients are managed by standardized protocols after surgery. For most of the patients this is an extended recovery period following elective major surgery, and communication is crucial in the management of early postoperative period. Some patients are critically ill before surgery and undergo complex and emergency cardiac procedures. These patients are more likely to experience complications such as bleeding, cardiac tamponade, arrhythmias, infection, stroke, gut failure and renal failure. Some of these complications are life threatening and early diagnosis and treatment is essential. Near patient tests and transoesophageal echocardiography facilitate early diagnosis of bleeding and tamponade. Patients with renal or neurological dysfunction need to be managed in general intensive care unit. Cardiac advanced life support follows different algorithms for cardio pulmonary resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest because of the unique nature of the aetiology and facilities available. Advanced cardiac support in the form of mechanical devices such as intra-aortic balloon pump and ventricular assist devices is available for patient management.