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Background: Misidentification of the cricothyroid membrane in a "cannot intubate-cannot oxygenate" situation can lead to failures and serious complications. The authors hypothesized that preprocedure ultrasound-guided identification of the cricothyroid membrane would reduce complications associated with cricothyrotomy.Methods: A group of 47 trainees were randomized to digital palpation (n = 23) and ultrasound (n = 24) groups. Cricothyrotomy was performed on human cadavers by using the Portex device (Smiths Medical, USA). Anatomical landmarks of cadavers were graded as follows: grade 1-easy = visual landmarks; 2-moderate = requires light palpation of landmarks; 3-difficult = requires deep palpation of landmarks; and 4-impossible = landmarks not palpable. Primary outcome was the complication rate as measured by the severity of injuries. Secondary outcomes were correct device placement, failure to cannulate, and insertion time.Results: Ultrasound guidance significantly decreased the incidence of injuries to the larynx and trachea (digital palpation: 17 of 23 = 74% vs. ultrasound: 6 of 24 = 25%; relative risk, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.39 to 5.94; P = 0.001) and increased the probability of correct insertion by 5.6 times (P = 0.043) in cadavers with difficult and impossible landmark palpation (digital palpation 8.3% vs. ultrasound 46.7%). Injuries were found in 100% of the grades 3 to 4 (difficult-impossible landmark palpation) cadavers by digital palpation compared with only 33% by ultrasound (P < 0.001). The mean (SD) insertion time was significantly longer with ultrasound than with digital palpation (196.1 s [60.6 s] vs. 110.5 s [46.9 s]; P < 0.001).Conclusion: Preprocedure ultrasound guidance in cadavers with poorly defined neck anatomy significantly reduces complications and improves correct insertion of the airway device in the cricothyroid membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: To evaluate predictors of desaturation and to identify practice for patient transport following general anesthesia. Design: Observational quality assurance study. Setting: Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) of a university-affiliated, tertiary-care hospital. Patients: All adult postsurgical patients who received general anesthesia and who were admitted to the PACU. Measurements: Patients were observed over a three-month study period during transfer to the PACU with or without oxygen supplementation. Sixteen variables related to patient, surgery, and anesthesia were recorded. Results: The study recorded a total of 502 PACU admissions. The practice pattern showed that 57% of patients were transferred without oxygen and 19% of the entire sample had an initial oxygen desaturation of less than 90% on arrival to the PACU. Only 0.8% of patients experienced oxygen desaturation when they were transferred with oxygen supplementation. After logistic regression analysis, the most significant predictor of desaturation was transport without oxygen. Conclusions: The majority of anesthesiologists did not use supplemental oxygen for patient transfer. As a result, a higher incidence of postoperative desaturation was noted in their patients. Significant predictors of desaturation after general anesthesia included patients' sedation score, low respiratory rate, and transport without oxygen. The use of oxygen almost completely prevented desaturation during transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with neurocognitive impairment – a known risk factor for postoperative delirium. However, it is unclear whether OSA increases the risk of postoperative delirium and whether treatment is protective. The objectives of this study were to identify OSA with a home sleep apnea test (HSAT) and to determine whether auto-titrating positive airway pressure (APAP) reduces postoperative delirium in older adults with newly diagnosed OSA undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods: We conducted a multi-centre, randomized controlled trial at three academic hospitals in Canada. Research ethics board approval was obtained from the participating sites and informed consent was obtained from participants. Inclusion criteria were patients who were ≥ 6 0 years and scheduled for elective hip or knee replacement. Patients with a STOP-Bang score of ≥ 3 had a HSAT. Patients were defined as having OSA if the apnea–hypopnea index was ≥ 10/h. These patients were randomized 1:1 to either: 1) APAP for 72 h postoperatively or until discharge, or 2) routine care after surgery. The primary outcome was postoperative delirium, assessed twice daily with the Confusion Assessment Method for 72 h or until discharge or by chart review. The secondary outcome measures included length of stay, and perioperative complications occurring within 30 days after surgery. Results: Of 549 recruited patients, 474 completed a HSAT. A total of 234 patients with newly diagnosed OSA were randomized. The mean age was 68.2 (6.2) years and 58.6% were male. Analysis was performed on 220 patients. In total, 2.7% (6/220) patients developed delirium after surgery: 4.4% (5/114) patients in the routine care group, and 0.9% (1/106) patients in the treatment group (P = 0.21). The mean length of stay for the APAP vs. the routine care group was 2.9 (2.9) days vs. 3.5 (4.5) days (P = 0.24). On postoperative night 1, 53.5% of patients used APAP for 4 h/night or more, this decreased to 43.5% on night 2, and 24.6% on night 3. There was no difference in intraoperative and postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusions: We had an unexpectedly low rate of postoperative delirium thus we were unable to determine if postoperative delirium was reduced in older adults with newly diagnosed OSA receiving APAP vs. those who did not receive APAP after elective knee or hip arthroplasty. Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov NCT02954224 on 03/11/2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Exposure to surgery and general anesthesia (GA) has been hypothesized to be a potential risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some basic science research studies have demonstrated AD pathology in animals following exposure to inhalational anesthetics. However, controversy exists as to whether GA is associated with an elevated risk of developing AD in human populations. While randomized controlled clinical trials would provide the strongest evidence for a causal relationship between exposure to surgery under GA and the subsequent development of AD, to date there have not been any trials to address this important question. Therefore, a potential relationship between GA and AD must currently be examined using observational methods. A recent meta-analysis of case–control studies (N=15) did not find that AD was associated with prior exposure to GA (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.93–1.19, p=0.4). A limited number of retrospective cohort studies have likewise not provided definitive information supporting an association. Therefore, at the present time there is limited information to support the hypothesis of AD developing as a consequence of GA, although there are few high quality studies in this area. Given the high prevalence and impact of AD, and the relatively frequent exposure of large populations to surgical procedures, the association between AD and GA requires further study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Study Objective: There exists no commonly accepted regimen for an intravenous lidocaine infusion (IVLI). This study aims to determine an appropriate end time for an IVLI during bowel surgery.Design: A systematic search for randomized controlled trials assessing IVLI for bowel surgery was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar, hand-searching references, and grey literature. Data were pooled for studies that stopped IVLI ≤60 minutes (intraoperative IVLI) after skin closure and where IVLI continued >60 minutes after surgery (postoperative continued IVLI). Quantitative analysis was done using the random-effects model.Main Results: Seven studies (n = 362) were identified after the systematic search. Three studies (n = 160) and 4 studies (n = 202) used an intraoperative and postoperative continued IVLI, respectively. An intraoperative IVLI significantly reduced pain scores at rest for 48 hours (standardized mean difference on a 0-10 scale, -1.24; 95% confidence interval, -1.93 to -0.56) and 72 hours (standardized mean difference, -1.12; 95% confidence interval, -1.79 to -0.44) compared with postoperative IVLI (test for interaction: P < .001 and P = .003, respectively). Although intraoperative IVLI reduced 24-hour pain scores on movement, this was not statistically different than pain scores in the postoperative IVLI group (test of interaction: P = 0.68). There were no differences between intraoperative IVLI and postoperative IVLI for postoperative in-hospital nausea, vomiting, time to bowel movement, and length of hospital stay.Conclusion: Continuing an IVLI beyond 60 minutes after surgery has no added analgesic or gastrointestinal benefit. Further research is needed to clarify an optimal IVLI regimen and end time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]