Postoperative Critical Care Admission Was Not Associated with Improved Postoperative Outcomes in Elective Colorectal Surgery: Secondary Analysis Of POWER Trial.

Background: The efficacy of routine admission of high-risk patients to a critical care unit after surgery is not clear. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between critical care admission after scheduled colorectal surgery and postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, and length of stay in hospital.

Methods: A pre-defined secondary substudy of POWER study was performed.

Autologous serum eye drops improve tear production, both lachrymal flow and stability tests and conjunctival impression cytology with transfer in dry eye disease.

Background: Autologous serum eye drops, produced by separation of liquid and cellular components of the patient's blood, contain biological nutrients present in natural tears. The aim of this study was to analyse changes in conjunctival impression cytology with transfer and both lachrymal stability and flow tests in patients with dry eye disease after treatment with autologous serum eye drops.

Materials And Methods: Conjunctival impression cytology and lachrymal flow and stability tests, namely Schirmer's and tear break-up time, were prospectively studied in patients with dry eye disease before and 1 month after treatment with autologous serum eye drops.

[Acute renal failure secondary to hemolytic uremic syndrome in a pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia].

Acute renal failure is a serious complication of pregnancy associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality; the incidence is currently 1 per 10,000 pregnancies. The most common causes are gestational hypertension, bleeding, sepsis, and intrinsic renal disease. Other less common pregnancy-related syndromes, such as HELLP syndrome or thrombotic microangiopathy, may also lead to kidney failure.

[General anesthesia in mentally disabled patients undergoing dental surgery].

Objective: To describe the anesthetic technique used, the evaluation of airway patency, and the perioperative complications in patients with lower than average intelligence (mentally disabled) who are administered general anesthesia for dental surgery.

Material And Methods: We carried out a prospective, descriptive, comparative study of mentally disabled ASA 2-3 patients. The patients were distributed in 2 groups: mild to moderate mental disability and severe to very severe mental disability.

Preoperative assessment.

Although anaesthetic and surgical procedures should be individualised for every patient, in practice many preoperative protocols and routines are used generally. In this article, we aim to emphasise: why preoperative assessment is important; how it should be done, and by whom; what can be expected; and the importance of test selection based on patients' needs and on scientific evidence of effectiveness. We outline the roles of preoperative medical assessment in otherwise healthy patients.

[Indications for thoracic radiography in the preoperative evaluation for elective surgery].

Objectives: To establish a protocol for ordering chest x-ray films for screening before elective surgery. To study the prevalence of anomalies detected in routinely-ordered chest x-rays, their influence on management of anesthesia and surgery and on the prevention of perioperative complications.

Material And Methods: A prospective study of 413 patients undergoing elective surgery over a period of two years.

[Indications for electrocardiogram in the preoperative assessment for programmed surgery].

Objectives: To establish indications for ordering a screening electrocardiogram (ECG) before scheduled surgery. To study the prevalence of abnormalities found in routine ECGs and the impact of routine ECGs on anesthetic and surgical management and on preventing perioperative complications.

Material And Methods: A prospective study of 413 patients undergoing scheduled non-cardiac surgery over a two-year period.