Dreaming during Anesthesia and Anesthetic Depth in Elective Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Dreaming reported after anesthesia remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Dreaming may be related to light anesthesia and represent near-miss awareness. However, few studies have assessed the relation between dreaming and depth of anesthesia, and their results were inconclusive. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that dreaming during anesthesia is associated with light anesthesia, as evidenced by higher Bispectral Index values during maintenance of anesthesia.

Methods: With approval, 300 consenting healthy patients, aged 18-50 yr, presenting for elective surgery requiring relaxant general anesthesia with a broad range of agents were studied. Patients were interviewed on emergence and 2-4 h postoperatively. The Bispectral Index was recorded from induction until the first interview. Dream content and form were also assessed.

Results: Dreaming was reported by 22% of patients on emergence. There was no difference between dreamers and nondreamers in median Bispectral Index values during maintenance (37 [23-55] vs. 38 [20-59]; P = 0.68) or the time at Bispectral Index values greater than 60 (0 [0-7] vs. 0 [0-31] min; P = 0.38). Dreamers tended to be younger and male, to have high home dream recall, to receive propofol maintenance or regional anesthesia, and to open their eyes sooner after surgery. Most dreams were similar to dreams of sleep and were pleasant, and the content was unrelated to surgery.     

Predicting Stricture in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Logistic Regression Analysis

Gastrojejunostomy stricture after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass occurs in 3 to 27% of morbidly obese patients in the USA. We questioned whether preoperative patient characteristics, including demographic attributes and comorbid disease, might be significant factors in the etiology of stricture. In this study from November 2001 to February 2006 (51 months), at a high-volume bariatric center, of the 1,351 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass, 92 developed stricture (6.8%). All but two were treated successfully by endoscopic dilation. All patients stopped nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications 2 weeks prior to surgery and did not restart them. The operative procedure included the use of a 21-mm transoral circular stapler to create the gastrojejunostomy; the Roux limb was brought retrogastric, retrocolic. In an effort to reduce our center’s stricture rate, late in the study, U-clips used at the gastrojejunostomy were replaced by absorbable sutures, and postoperative H₂ antagonists were added to the treatment protocol. The change to absorbable polyglactin suture proved to be significant, resulting in a lower stricture rate. The addition of H₂ antagonists showed no significant effect. Following the retrospective review of the prospective database, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with the development of stricture. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and age were each shown to be statistically significant independent predictors of stricture following laparoscopic gastric bypass. Presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, May 20–24, Los Angeles, CA (poster presentation).     

Primary Hemiarthroplasty for Proximal Humeral Fractures in the Elderly: Long-Term Functional Outcome and Social Implications

Abstract Background: Primary shoulder hemiarthroplasty is an established treatment modality for complex fractures of the proximal humerus. Long-term functional outcome is often disappointing. However, little is known about social implications particularly in the elderly. Methods: A single-institution case series of consecutive geriatric patients (age > 70 years) treated with shoulder hemiarthroplasty for complex fractures of the proximal humerus between 1994 and 1997 was analysed. Postoperative morbidity, long-term function, radiological outcome and social implications were evaluated. Results: Seventy-seven patients fulfilled the study criteria. Median age at the time of operation was 80 years (range 70–93 years). Systemic and local postoperative complications were observed in 8% including 2 patients (3%) with revision surgery. Postoperative mortality was 1%. Forty-eight patients (62%) were available for follow-up (median 49 months, range 25–80 months), 22 (29%) died from causes unrelated to hemiarthroplasty before follow-up and 7 patients (9%) did not attend follow-up examination. Median Constant-Murley score was 41 points (range 17–77 points). Long-term results concerning pain were satisfying. The Oxford shoulder score ranged from 14 to 40 (median 30). Forty-one patients (85%) still lived in their original environment and managed their daily life independently despite poor shoulder function. Four patients (8%) lived in a retirement home and 3 (6%) in a nursery home. Eighty percent of our patients were still able to use public transportation, do the daily shopping and wash their whole body by themselves. Conclusion: Most patients managed their daily life independently despite poor shoulder function.     

Hybrid procedures as a combined endovascular and open approach for pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies

OBJECTIVES: to report our experience with hybrid vascular procedures in patients with pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. METHODS: 68 patients were treated for thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies between October 1999 and February 2004; 19 patients (16 men; mean age 68, range 40-79) with high risk for open thoracoabdominal repair were considered to be candidates for combined endovascular and open repair. Aortic pathologies included five thoracoabdominal Crawford I aneurysms, one postdissection expanding aneurysm, three symptomatic plaque ruptures (Crawford IV), five combined thoracic descending and infrarenal aneurysms with a healthy visceral segment, three juxtarenal or para-anastomotic aneurysms, and two patients with simultaneous open aortic arch replacement and a rendezvous maneuver for thoracic endografting. Commercially available endografts were implanted with standardized endovascular techniques after revascularization of visceral and renal arteries. RESULTS: Technical success was 95%. One patient developed a proximal type I endoleak after chronic expanding type B dissection and currently is waiting conversion. Nine patients underwent elective, five emergency and five urgent (within 24 h) repair. 17 operations were performed simultaneously, and 2 as a staged procedure. Postoperative complications include two retroperitoneal hemorrhages, and one patient required long-term ventilation with preexisting subglottic tracheal stenosis. Thirty-day mortality was 17% (one multiple organ failure, one secondary rupture after open aortic arch repair, one myocardial infarction). Paraplegia or acute renal failure were not observed. Total survival rate was to 83% with a mean follow-up of 30 months. CONCLUSIONS: Midterm results of combined endovascular and open procedures in the thoracoabdominal aorta are encouraging in selected high risk patients. Staged interventions may reduce morbidity.     

Characteristics of children with hip displacement in cerebral palsy

Background  

Hip dislocation in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is a common and severe problem. The dislocation can be avoided, by screening and preventive treatment of children with hips at risk. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of children with CP who develop hip displacement, in order to optimise a hip surveillance programme.     

Rationale,design, and protocol for the prevention of low back pain in the military (POLM) trial (NCT00373009)

Background  

There are few effective strategies reported for the primary prevention of low back pain (LBP). Core stabilization exercises targeting the deep abdominal and trunk musculature and psychosocial education programs addressing patient beliefs and coping styles represent the current best evidence for secondary prevention of low back pain. However, these programs have not been widely tested to determine if they are effective at preventing the primary onset and/or severity of LBP. The purpose of this cluster randomized clinical trial is to determine if a combined core stabilization exercise and education program is effective in preventing the onset and/or severity of LBP. The effect of the combined program will be compared to three other standard programs.     

Distinct osteogenic mechanisms of bones of distinct origins

Mammalian bones have three distinct origins (paraxial mesoderm, lateral plate mesoderm, and neural crest) and undergo two different modes of formation (intra-membranous and endochondral). Bones derived from the paraxial mesoderm and lateral plate mesoderm mainly form through the endochondral process. During this process, hypertrophic chondrocytes play a vital role in inducing both osteogenesis and angiogenesis. One of the essential osteogenic factors secreted from hypertrophic chondrocytes is Indian hedgehog (Ihh). In contrast, bones derived from the neural crest mainly form through the intramembranous pro-cess and do not require Ihh. Thus, depending on their origin, bones have distinct signaling properties, which need to be considered in the research and application of bone biology.Presented at the 18th Annual Research Meeting of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, Kitakyushu, Japan, October 17, 2003