Can the Rhomboid Major Muscle Be Used to Identify the Thoracic Spinal Segment on Ultrasonography? A Prospective Observational Study.

Objective: We investigated the thoracic segment corresponding to the inferior margin of the rhomboid major muscle (RMM) using ultrasound (US) to evaluate its potential as a reliable anatomic landmark for segment identification.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: An operating room.

Intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain control following robot-assisted prostatectomy: a prospective randomized trial.

Purpose: Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is minimally invasive surgery, but also causes moderate to severe pain during the immediate postoperative period. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intrathecal morphine (ITM) for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing RALP.

Methods: Thirty patients scheduled for RALP were randomly assigned into one of two groups.

Efficacy of intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain management following open nephrectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal morphine (ITM) for postoperative pain control in patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing open nephrectomy.

Methods: Forty-five patients scheduled for open nephrectomy were randomised to receive 300 µg ITM and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) (n = 22) or IV-PCA alone (n = 23) for postoperative analgesia. The numeric pain score (NPS), postoperative IV-PCA requirements and opioid-related complications including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and pruritus were compared between groups.

Pulmonary Protective Effects of Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery Involving Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Substudy of the Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning Outcome trial.

Background: The RISPO (Remote Ischemic Preconditioning with Postconditioning Outcome) trial evaluated whether remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) combined with remote ischaemic postconditioning (RIPostC) improves the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This substudy of the RISPO trial aimed to evaluate the effect of RIPC with RIPostC on pulmonary function in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Sixty-five patients were enrolled (32: control and 33: RIPC-RIPostC).

Misplacement of left-sided double-lumen tubes into the right mainstem bronchus: incidence, risk factors and blind repositioning techniques.

Background: Double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs) are commonly advanced into the mainstem bronchus either blindly or by fiberoptic bronchoscopic guidance. However, blind advancement may result in misplacement of left-sided DLTs into the right bronchus. Therefore, incidence, risk factors, and blind repositioning techniques for right bronchial misplacement of left-sided DLTs were investigated.

Association between red blood cell storage duration and clinical outcome in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a retrospective study.

Background: Prolonged storage of red blood cells (RBCs) leads to fundamental changes in both the RBCs and the storage media. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between the RBC age and in-hospital and long-term postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass.

Methods: The electronic medical records of 1,072 OPCAB patients were reviewed and information on the transfused RBCs and clinical data were collected.