The efficacy of loco-regional ropivacaine analgesia via intercostal catheters after lung resection: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority study.

Objectives: Postoperative pain remains a burden for patients after minimally invasive anatomic lung resection. Current guidelines recommend the intraoperative placement of intercostal catheters to promote faster recovery. This trial aimed to determine the analgesic efficacy of continuous loco-regional ropivacaine application via intercostal catheter and establish this method as a possible standard of care.

Estimation of Systolic and Diastolic Left Ventricular Blood Flow From Derivatives of Transesophageal Echocardiographic 3D Volume Curves in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Objectives: To examine whether estimates of peak global systolic (S') and diastolic (E') left ventricular (LV) flow rates based on 3D echocardiographic volumes are feasible and match physiology.

Methods: In this retrospective feasibility study, we included patients undergoing major cardiac surgery. S' and E' were derived from 190 patients by taking the first derivative of the volume-time relationship of 3D ecg-gated transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) images.