Addition of nitrous oxide and oxygen to carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery for pain reduction: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To examine if peritoneal conditioning with an altered insufflation gas mixture is associated with reduced postoperative pain intensity compared to the standard insufflation gas (i.e., 100% CO).

Efficacy of Alkaline Phosphatase in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: A Multicentre Investigator-Initiated Double-Blind Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Efforts to identify therapies to treat hospitalised patients with COVID-19 are being continued. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) dephosphorylates pro-inflammatory adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into anti-inflammatory adenosine.

Methods: In a randomised controlled trial, we investigated the safety and efficacy of AP in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the ICU.

Comprehensive antibody and cytokine profiling in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in relation to clinical outcomes in a large Belgian cohort.

The immune response in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly variable and is linked to disease severity and mortality. However, antibody and cytokine responses in the early disease stage and their association with disease course and outcome are still not completely understood. In this large, multi-centre cohort study, blood samples of 434 Belgian COVID-19 hospitalized patients with different disease severities (ranging from asymptomatic/mild to critically ill) from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were obtained.

Serratus plane block versus standard of care for pain control after totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement: a double-blind, randomized controlled, superiority trial.

Introduction: Serratus anterior plane block has been proposed to reduce opioid requirements after minimally invasive cardiac surgery, but high-quality evidence is lacking.

Methods: This prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial recruited patients undergoing totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement. Patients in the intervention arm received a single-injection serratus anterior plane block on arrival to the intensive care unit added to standard of care.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Support COVID-19 Patients: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study.

Background: In patients with severe respiratory failure from COVID-19, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment can facilitate lung-protective ventilation and may improve outcome and survival if conventional therapy fails to assure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. We aimed to perform a confirmatory propensity-matched cohort study comparing the impact of ECMO and maximum invasive mechanical ventilation alone (MVA) on mortality and complications in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Materials And Methods: All 295 consecutive adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from March 13, 2020, to July 31, 2021 were included.

Worsening COVID-19 Disease Course After Surgical Trauma: A Case Series.

Introduction: Current guidelines from the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommend postponing elective surgery on COVID-19-positive patients for a minimum of four to twelve weeks. However, literature focusing on the outcomes of COVID-19-positive patients undergoing surgery is scarce. In this case series, the outcome of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients undergoing acute or semi-urgent surgery was evaluated.

Additive or synergistic analgesic effect of metamizole on standard pain treatment at home after arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A randomised controlled superiority trial.

Background: There is growing evidence that the analgesic effect of metamizole is mediated at least partly by central mechanisms, including the endocannabinoid/endovanilloid system. Consequently, metamizole may have additive or even synergistic analgesic effects with paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Objective: This study aimed to assess if triple therapy with metamizole, ibuprofen and paracetamol (MIP) is superior to double therapy with ibuprofen and paracetamol (i.

Predictors of poor outcome in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction: We aimed to identify risk factors associated with ICU mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We also aimed to assess protocol violations of the local eligibility criteria of ECMO initiation.

Methods: All 31 consecutive adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to ICU and treated with ECMO from March 13th 2020 to 8 December 2021 were enrolled.

Predictive value of serial evaluation of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score for intensive care unit mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score has been developed to score the severity of organ dysfunction in critically ill sepsis patients and has been proven to have a high predictive value for intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in severely ill patients. Our goal was to evaluate the prognostic value of the SOFA score as well as trends in SOFA score for ICU mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: All consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the ICU between March 13th, 2020, and October 17th, 2020 were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Secondary infection in COVID-19 critically ill patients: a retrospective single-center evaluation.

Background: Patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can develop severe illness necessitating intensive care admission. Critically ill patients are susceptible for the development of secondary bacterial infections. Due to a combination of virus- and drug-induced immunosuppression, critically ill patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may even have a higher risk of developing a secondary infection.

Validation of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and IV Score in COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Severity scoring systems are inherent to ICU practice for multiple purposes. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scoring systems are designed for ICU mortality prediction. This study aims to validate APACHE IV in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU.

The analgesic efficacy of forearm versus upper arm intravenous regional anesthesia (Bier's block): A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Study Objective: This study aimed to assess if a forearm (FA) intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) with a lower, less toxic, local anesthetic dosage is non-inferior to an upper arm (UA) IVRA in providing a surgical block in patients undergoing hand and wrist surgery.

Design: Observer-blinded, randomized non-inferiority study.

Setting: Operating room.

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided forearm nerve block versus forearm intravenous regional anaesthesia in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objectives: Distal upper extremity surgery is commonly performed under regional anaesthesia, including intravenous regional anaesthesia (IVRA) and ultrasound-guided forearm nerve block. This study aimed to investigate if ultrasound-guided forearm nerve block is superior to forearm IVRA in producing a surgical block in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release.

Methods: In this observer-blinded, randomized controlled superiority trial, 100 patients undergoing carpal tunnel release were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided forearm nerve block (n = 50) or forearm IVRA (n = 50).

Evaluation of a comprehensive pre-procedural screening protocol for COVID-19 in times of a high SARS CoV-2 prevalence: a prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: To minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, an ambulant screening protocol for COVID-19 in patients before admission to the hospital was implemented, combining the SARS CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on a nasopharyngeal swab, a chest computed tomography (CT) and assessment of clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluatethe diagnostic yield and the proportionality of this pre-procedural screeningprotocol.

Methods: In this mono-centre, prospective, cross-sectional study, all patients admitted to the hospital between 22nd April 2020 until 14th May 2020 for semi-urgent surgery, haematological or oncological treatment, or electrophysiological investigationunderwent a COVID-19 screening 2 days before their procedure.

Four-Week Pain Profile and Patient Non-Adherence to Pharmacological Pain Therapy After Day Surgery.

Background: Nowadays, complicated and painful surgical procedures are encouraged to be carried out in an ambulatory setting.

Objectives: The current study aimed to assess 4-week postoperative pain profiles of 4 painful ambulatory surgical procedures. We analyzed the prevalence of and reasons for non-adherence and partial adherence of patients to a predefined treatment schedule after the ambulant surgery.

Impact of implementation of an individualised thromboprophylaxis protocol in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19: A longitudinal controlled before-after study.

Introduction: An individualised thromboprophylaxis was implemented in critically ill patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia to reduce mortality and improve clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of this intervention on clinical outcome.

Methods: In this mono-centric, controlled, before-after study, all consecutive adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to ICU from March 13th to April 20th 2020 were included.

Real-life assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis patients using mobile technology: The mySinusitisCoach project by EUFOREA.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with a substantial personal and socioeconomic burden. Monitoring of patient-reported outcomes by mobile technology offers the possibility to better understand real-life burden of CRS.

Methods: This study reports on the cross-sectional evaluation of data of 626 users of mySinusitisCoach (mSC), a mobile application for CRS patients.

Comparison of Intracranial Pressure and Pressure Reactivity Index Obtained Through Pressure Measurements in the Ventricle and in the Parenchyma During and Outside Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage Episodes in a Manipulation-Free Patient Setting.

Objective: We investigated the effect of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage on the intracranial pressure (ICP) signal measured in the parenchyma and the ventricle as well as the effect on the pressure reactivity index (PRx) calculated from both signals.

Methods: Ten patients were included in this prospective study. All patients received a parenchymal ICP sensor and an external ventricular drain (EVD) for CSF drainage.