Outcomes of Patients Who Undergo Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma: A Prospective, Observational, Multicentre Cohort Study in Hiroshima, Japan.

Purpose: Given the chronic shortage of blood for transfusion in Japan, promotion of appropriate use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) urgently needs to be addressed by the national blood project in Japan. Whether FFP transfusions are administered appropriately in Japan is currently unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the outcomes of patients who undergo FFP transfusion and the appropriateness of use of FFP.

Infective Endocarditis Is a Risk Factor for Heparin Resistance in Adult Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Heparin resistance (HR), defined as a decrease in heparin responsiveness, can result in adverse events with prolonged duration of surgery. Although some clinical risk factors have been suggested, the relationship with the surgical diagnosis is unclear. The aim of present study was to elucidate the clinical predictors of HR including the surgical diagnosis.

Preoperative continuation of aspirin administration in patients undergoing major abdominal malignancy surgery.

Purpose: In contrast to that in a nonoperative setting, it has been shown that perioperative administration of aspirin did not decrease the rate of death or myocardial infarction but increased major bleeding risk. Since these conflicting results might be due to concurrent use of anticoagulants and a lower thrombotic risk of patients, this cohort study was carried out for patients at a high thrombotic risk without concurrent use of anticoagulants.

Methods: Medical records for patients who underwent major abdominal malignancy surgery and who were on a preoperative antiplatelet regimen were reviewed.

Current Ventilator and Oxygen Management during General Anesthesia: A Multicenter, Cross-sectional Observational Study.

Background: Intraoperative oxygen management is poorly understood. It was hypothesized that potentially preventable hyperoxemia and substantial oxygen exposure would be common during general anesthesia.

Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted to describe current ventilator management, particularly oxygen management, during general anesthesia in Japan.

Effect of lung-protective ventilation-induced respiratory acidosis on the duration of neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether lung-protective ventilation-induced respiratory acidosis increased the duration of neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium.

Methods: A total of 72 patients were enrolled. After the induction of general anesthesia, rocuronium 0.

Effects of heparin bridging anticoagulation on perioperative bleeding and thromboembolic risks in patients undergoing abdominal malignancy surgery.

Recent publications provided controversial results indicating that perioperative heparin bridging anticoagulation (HBA) increased the bleeding risk without decreasing the thromboembolic risk in patients undergoing minor surgery. To investigate if this is also the case in high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal malignancy surgery, we retrospectively collected data of 3268 patients over a 10-year period. After the interruption of preoperative antithrombotic agents, HBA was initiated with a prophylactic-dose of unfractionated heparin in 133 patients (HBA group), and 62 patients did not receive HBA (non-HBA group).

[Thrombotic and Bleeding Risks of Patients on Antiplatelet Therapy Undergoing Major Abdominal Malignancy Surgery].

Background: Controversies still exist whether to continue or withdraw aspirin (ASA) perioperatively. This study was performed to determine whether patients on preoperative antiplatelet therapy (APT) benefit from continuing ASA in terms of thrombotic and bleeding risk prevention.

Methods: Among 307 consecutive patients who were on APT preoperatively for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and who underwent elective major abdominal malignancy surgery, 148 patients had all the preoperative APT withdrawn and the remaining 159 patients continued only ASA.

Effect of aspirin continuation on blood loss and postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy or colorectal cancer resection.

No consensus exists whether to continue or withdraw aspirin therapy perioperatively in patients undergoing major laparoscopic abdominal surgery. To investigate whether preoperative continuation of aspirin therapy increases blood loss and associated morbidity during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer resection, we compared duration of surgical procedures, amount of intraoperative blood loss, rate of blood transfusion, length of postoperative stay, rate of conversion to open surgery, and reoperation within 48 hours between patients with and without aspirin therapy preoperatively. Twenty-nine of 270 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 23 of 218 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection, respectively, were on aspirin therapy.

[Combined use of paravertebral block and general anesthesia for breast cancer surgery].

Background: Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is reportedly a useful alternative of general anesthesia (GA) for patients undergoing major breast surgery. To provide surgical anesthesia by TPVB alone, however, demands considerable patient's discomfort during neural block and during surgery. This study was undertaken to investigate if TPVB adds to patient satisfaction when combined with GA for breast cancer surgery.