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Author(s): Michele Carron (corresponding author) [1]; Enrico Tamburini [2] INTRODUCTION Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitors cerebral oxygenation in anaesthesia and critical care.[sup.[1]] It uses near-infrared light to differentiate oxygenated from deoxygenated [...], Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is essential for monitoring cerebral oxygenation in anaesthesia and critical care, offering non-invasive insights into regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO[sub.2]). However, extracerebral contamination can compromise NIRS accuracy. The O3™ regional oximetry system, with its advanced multi-wavelength technology, may contribute by providing more accurate measurements. In a study involving brain-dead organ donors, near-normal rSO[sub.2] values were initially observed despite cerebral anoxia, suggesting extracerebral signal interference. Following aortic clamping and cessation of circulation, rSO[sub.2] levels dropped but remained above zero, indicating potential limitations in accurately detecting severe hypoxia. This case study demonstrated the effectiveness of the O3™ system in monitoring rSO[sub.2] in such critical situations, uniquely supported by the cerebral haemoglobin index, oxygenated haemoglobin index, and deoxygenated haemoglobin index. The findings emphasise the importance of understanding oxygen transport mechanisms and haemoglobin affinity to accurately interpret NIRS data, especially in brain-dead patients and organ donation procedures. Keywords: Brain-dead, cerebral haemoglobin index, deoxygenated haemoglobin index, near-infrared spectroscopy, organ donation, regional cerebral oxygen saturation, oxygenated haemoglobin index more...

Background: Midazolam is widely used in clinical anesthesia, but its effects on the Bispectral Index (BIS) and propofol concentration at the effector site (CeP) are underexplored. This study investigates the pharmacodynamic interaction between midazolam and propofol in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with target-controlled infusion (TCI), focusing on Schnider and Eleveld models. Methods: This prospective study included breast surgery patients receiving TIVA-TCI. BIS and CeP were assessed at loss of responsiveness (LoR), during maintenance (MA), and at return of responsiveness (RoR). Incidences of unwanted spontaneous responsiveness (USRE), burst suppression episodes (BSuppE), and postoperative delirium (POD) were recorded. Results: Midazolam premedication significantly reduced propofol doses and CeP at LoR and during MA, without affecting CeP at RoR. In the Schnider model, midazolam reduced total propofol dose, while in the Eleveld model, it lowered BIS at LoR. Unwanted anesthesia events occurred in 36.2% of patients, including USRE (10%), BSuppE (26.2%), and POD (1.2%). BSuppE rates were lower in the Schnider model and reduced in the midazolam group in the Eleveld model. Conclusions: Midazolam premedication influences CeP and BIS in TIVA-TCI, with model-specific variations, optimizing propofol management and improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background/Objectives: Managing postoperative pain in patients with obesity is challenging. Although using a combination of pain relief methods is recommended for these patients, the true effectiveness of various intravenous non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants in multimodal anesthesia needs to be better defined. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, ketamine, α-2 agonists, lidocaine, magnesium, and oral gabapentinoids in adult surgical patients with obesity. The analysis aimed to compare these treatments to a placebo/no treatment or alternative analgesics, with a primary focus on postoperative pain and secondary endpoints including rescue analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and recovery quality. English-language randomized controlled trials across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EMBASE were considered. Quality and evidence certainty were assessed with the RoB 2 tool and GRADE, and data was analyzed with R software. Results: NSAIDs, along with acetaminophen, lidocaine, α-2 agonists, ketamine, and oral gabapentinoids, effectively reduce early postoperative pain. NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen, as well as acetaminophen, ketamine, and lidocaine, also show benefits in later postoperative stages. Intravenous non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants show some degree of benefit in reducing PONV and the need for rescue analgesic therapy when using α-2 agonists alone or combined with oral gabapentinoids, notably decreasing the likelihood of PONV. Ketamine, lidocaine, and α-2 agonists are shown to enhance postoperative recovery and care quality. Conclusions: Intravenous non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants are valuable in multimodal anesthesia for pain management in adult surgical patients suffering from obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...