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Summary: Background: Intra‐operative cardiac arrest is a rare but life‐threatening event. Over the past two decades, various initiatives have improved the care of patients undergoing surgery at our quaternary teaching hospital in Brazil. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of intra‐operative cardiac arrest and associated 30‐day mortality over an 18‐year period. A secondary aim was to identify associated risk factors. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using data collected from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2022. Factors associated with cardiac arrest and mortality were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the 154,178 cases, the overall rates of intra‐operative cardiac arrest (n = 297) and associated 30‐day mortality (n = 248) were 19.3 (95%CI (16.6–21.9)) and 16.1 (95% CI 13.9–18.3) per 10,000 anaesthetics, respectively. These decreased over time (2005–2010 vs. 2017–2022) from 26.3 (95%CI 21.0–31.6) to 15.4 (95%CI 12.0–18.7) per 10,000 anaesthetics, and from 23.4 (95%CI 18.8–28.1) to 13.7 (95%CI 10.8–16.7) per 10,000 anaesthetics, respectively. Factors associated with intra‐operative cardiac arrest included children aged < 1 year (adjusted OR (95%CI) 3.51 (1.87–6.57)); ASA physical status 3–5 (adjusted OR (95%CI) 13.85 (8.86–21.65)); emergency surgery (adjusted OR (95%CI) 10.06 (7.85–12.89)); general anaesthesia (adjusted OR (95%CI) 8.79 (4.60–19.64)); surgical procedure involving multiple specialities (adjusted OR (95%CI) 9.13 (4.24–19.64)); cardiac surgery (adjusted OR (95%CI) 7.69 (5.05–11.71)); vascular surgery (adjusted OR (95%CI) 6.21 (4.05–9.51)); and gastrointestinal surgery (adjusted OR (95%CI) 2.98 (1.91–4.65)). Discussion: We have shown an important reduction in intra‐operative cardiac arrest and associated 30‐day mortality over an 18‐year period. Identification of relative risk factors associated with intra‐operative cardiac arrest can be used to improve the safety and quality of patient care, especially in a resource‐limited setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between the personal predisposing factors of patients and the severity of pressure injuries (PIs) developed during surgery. This retrospective cohort study collected 439 cases of peri‐operative PIs. Using binary logistic regression to identify the variables associated with PI severity, the effects of interactions between associated variables were then tested. The results of this study revealed that among the personal predisposing factors, only higher patient age (P =.001) and higher body mass index (P <.001) posed a greater risk of stage 2 PIs or higher. Among the surgery‐related facilitating factors, only patients who were placed in the prone position during surgery and patients who lost ≥1000 mL of blood during surgery were at greater risk of stage 2 PIs or higher, compared, respectively, to those placed in the supine position and those who lost ≤100 mL of blood. Furthermore, the amount of blood lost during surgery moderated the influence of age on PI severity. For elderly patients who are expected to lose a large blood volume during surgery or lose an immeasurable amount of blood due to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, taking more precautionary measures to prevent PIs is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Scapulectomy is performed as a limb‐sparing procedure in the management of tumours of the proximal humerus and shoulder girdle. Analgesic outcomes following this procedure are poorly documented in the literature. In our case, satisfactory analgesia following extended scapulectomy and free‐flap reconstruction was achieved with a combination of multi‐site continuous nerve block catheters and patient‐controlled analgesia, for a patient with chronic pain who had a high pre‐operative opioid requirement. Multiple continuous nerve block catheters were used, including interscalene and paravertebral catheters to provide analgesia for the shoulder resection, with a fascia iliaca compartment catheter providing analgesia to free‐flap donor site on the the anterolateral thigh. These continuous nerve block catheters contributed to effective postoperative analgesia and low postoperative intravenous opioid requirements in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Contemporary guidance takes a patient‐centred approach and recommends discussing and planning treatments that should be considered, not just those that should be withheld. Although some organisations and communities still use specific DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) forms to recommend that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not attempted, this approach has been shown to have disadvantages and is no longer regarded as best practice. The following guidelines have been produced in response to this change. They are designed to help anaesthetists, as part of the wider healthcare team, to implement and respond to advance care planning documents before and during procedures. The guidelines apply to all procedures, however minor and low risk they are considered to be, and the same ethical and legal principles apply to procedures carried out under local or regional anaesthesia and/or conscious sedation, as well as to those under general anaesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]