Cattleya Thongrong

Current Purpose and Practice of Hypertonic Saline in Neurosurgery: A Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE To review and summarize controversies and current concepts regarding the use of hypertonic saline during the perioperative period in neurosurgery. METHODS Relevant literature was searched on PubMed and Scopus electronic databases to identify all studies that have investigated the use of hypertonic saline in neurosurgery. RESULTS Fluid management during the course of neurosurgical practice has been debated at length, especially strategies to control intracranial pressure and small volume resuscitation. The goal of fluid therapy includes minimizing cerebral edema, preserving intravascular volume, and maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure. Mannitol is widely recognized as the gold standard for treating intracranial hypertension but can result in systemic hypotension. Thus, hypertonic saline provides volume expansion and may improve cerebral and systemic hemodynamics. Recently published prospective data, however, regarding the use of osmotic agents fails to establish clear guidelines in neurosurgical patients. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that hypertonic saline will emerge as an alternative to mannitol, especially for a long-term use or multiple doses are needed and lead to a great opportunity for collaborative research.

Control of bleeding in endoscopic skull base surgery: current concepts to improve hemostasis.

Hemostasis is critical for adequate anatomical visualization during endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. Reduction of intraoperative bleeding should be considered during the treatment planning and continued throughout the perioperative period. Preoperative preparations include the optimization of comorbidities and cessation of drugs that may inhibit coagulation. Intraoperative considerations comprise anesthetic and surgical aspects. Controlled hypotension is the main anesthetic technique to reduce bleeding; however, there is controversy regarding its effectiveness; what the appropriate mean arterial pressure is and how to maintain it. In extradural cases, we advocate a mean arterial pressure of 65–70 mm Hg to reduce bleeding while preventing ischemic complications. For dealing intradural lesion, controlled hypotension should be cautious. We do not advocate a marked blood pressure reduction, as this often affects the perfusion of neural structures. Further reduction could lead to stroke or loss of cranial nerve function. From the surgical perspective, there are novel technologies and techniques that reduce bleeding, thus, improving the visualization of the surgical field.

Continuous versus bolus tube feeds: Does the modality affect glycemic variability, tube feeding volume, caloric intake, or insulin utilization?

Introduction: Enteral nutrition (EN) is very important to optimizing outcomes in critical illness. Debate exists regarding the best strategy for enteral tube feeding (TF), with concerns that bolus TF (BTF) may increase glycemic variability (GV) but result in fewer nutritional interruptions than continuous TF (CTF). This study examines if there is a difference in GV, insulin usage, TF volume, and caloric delivery among intensive care patients receiving BTF versus CTF. We hypothesize that there are no significant differences between CTF and BTF when comparing the above parameters. Materials and Methods: Prospective, randomized pilot study of critically ill adult patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement for EN was performed between March 1, 2012 and May 15, 2014. Patients were randomized to BTF or CTF. Glucose values, insulin use, TF volume, and calories administered were recorded. Data were organized into 12-h epochs for statistical analyses and GV determination. In addition, time to ≥80% nutritional delivery goal, demographics, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, and TF interruptions were examined. When performing BTF versus CTF assessments, continuous parameters were compared using Mann–Whitney U-test or repeated measures t-test, as appropriate. Categorical data were analyzed using Fishers exact test. Results: No significant demographic or physiologic differences between the CTF (n = 24) and BTF (n = 26) groups were seen. The immediate post-PEG 12-h epoch showed significantly lower GV and median TF volume for patients in the CTF group. All subsequent epochs (up to 18 days post-PEG) showed no differences in GV, insulin use, TF volume, or caloric intake. Insulin use for both groups increased when comparing the first 24 h post-PEG values to measurements from day 8. There were no differences in TF interruptions, time to ≥80% nutritional delivery goal, or hypoglycemic episodes. Conclusions: This study demonstrated no clinically relevant differences in GV, insulin use, TF volume or caloric intake between BTF and CTF groups. Despite some shortcomings, our data suggest that providers should not feel limited to BTF or CTF because of concerns for GV, time to goal nutrition, insulin use, or caloric intake, and should consider other factors such as resource utilization, ease of administration, and/or institutional/patient characteristics.

Desflurane Allows for a Faster Emergence When Compared to Sevoflurane without Affecting the Baseline Cognitive Recovery Time

Aims We compared the effect of desflurane and sevoflurane on anesthesia recovery time in patients undergoing urological cystoscopic surgery. The Short Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (SOMCT) measured and compared cognitive impairment between groups and coughing was assessed throughout the anesthetic. Methods and materials This investigation included 75 ambulatory patients. Patients were randomized to receive either desflurane or sevoflurane. Inhalational anesthetics were discontinued after removal of the cystoscope and once repositioning of the patient was final. Coughing assessment and awakening time from anesthesia were assessed by a blinded observer. Statistical analysis used Statistical analysis was performed by using t-test for parametric variables and Mann–Whitney U test for non-parametric variables. Results The primary endpoint, mean time to eye-opening, was 5.0 ± 2.5 min for desflurane and 7.9 ± 4.1 min for sevoflurane (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in time to SOMCT recovery (p = 0.109), overall time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) (p = 0.924) or time to discharge (p = 0.363). Median time until readiness for discharge was 9 min in the desflurane group, while the sevoflurane group had a median time of 20 min (p = 0.020). The overall incidence of coughing during the perioperative period was significantly higher in the desflurane (p = 0.030). Conclusion We re-confirmed that patients receiving desflurane had a faster emergence and met the criteria to be discharged from the PACU earlier. No difference was found in time to return to baseline cognition between desflurane and sevoflurane.

Validation of Simple Methods to Select a Suitable Nostril for Nasotracheal Intubation

Background Nasotracheal intubation is a blind procedure that may lead to complications; therefore, several tests were introduced to assess a suitable nostril for nasotracheal intubation. However, the value of simple tests in clinical practice was insufficient to evaluate. Method A diagnostic prospective study was conducted in 42 patients, ASA classes I–III, undergoing surgery requiring nasotracheal intubation for general anesthesia. Two simple methods for assessing the patency of nostrils were investigated. Firstly, the occlusion test was evaluated by asking for the patients own assessment of nasal airflow during occlusion of each contralateral nostril while in a sitting posture. Secondly, patients breathed onto a spatula held 1 cm below the nostrils while in a sitting posture. All patients were assessed using these two simple tests. Nasal endoscopic examination of each patient was used as a gold standard. Results The diagnostic value of the occlusion test (sensitivity of 91.7%, specificity of 61.1%, PPV of 75.9%, NPV of 84.6%, LR+ of 2.36, and LR− of 0.14) seemed better than that of the spatula test (sensitivity of 95.8%, specificity of 25.0%, PPV of 63.0%, NPV of 81.8%, LR+ of 1.28, and LR− of 0.17). When both tests were combined in series, the diagnostic value increased (sensitivity of 87.9%, specificity of 70.8%, PPV of 80.1%, NPV of 81.4%, LR+ of 3.01, and LR− of 0.17). Conclusion and Recommendations The simple occlusion test is more useful than the spatula test. However, combining the results from both tests in series helped to improve the diagnostic value for selecting a suitable nostril for nasotracheal intubation.

Comparison of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl to prevent haemodynamic response to skull pin application in neurosurgery: double blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Skull pin application during craniotomy is a highly noxious stimulus. Therefore, the attenuated effect between dexmedetomidine and fentanyl was investigated. METHOD A randomized, double-blind controlled trial included sixty patients, randomly allocated into groups A and B. After patients entered the operative room, blood pressure and heart rate were measured (T1). At 5 minutes after propofol induction (T2), group A received dexmedetomidine 1 µg kg⁻¹ whereas group B received normal saline. At 3 minutes before skull pin insertion (T3), group B received a single bolus of fentanyl 1 µg kg⁻¹ whereas group A received normal saline. The hemodynamic responses were recorded at 1 minute before skull pin insertion (T4), during skull pin insertion (T5), then repeated every minute for 5 minutes (T6-T10). RESULTS Controlling blood pressure in the dexmedetomidine group (Group A) was better than in the fentanyl group (Group B) at T4 and T10 (P < 0.05) and T5-T8 (P < 0.01) for systolic blood pressure whereas diastolic blood pressure was significantly different at T4 and T8 (P < 0.05) and T5-T7 (P < 0.01). Mean arterial pressure, also was better controlled in group A at T4 and T10 (P < 0.05) and T5-T8 (P < 0.01). The heart rate in group A was lower than group B at T9 (P < 0.05) and T3-T6 (P < 0.01). Regarding adverse events, 11 hypertensive and 2 hypotensive responses occurred in group B whereas group A just only had 7 incidences of hypotension. CONCLUSION The attenuated effect of dexmedetomidine infusion is significantly greater than fentanyl infusion.