Pectoralis I and Serratus Anterior Plane Block Analgesia for Bilateral Mastectomy: A Case Series.

Background: Poorly controlled acute breast surgery postoperative pain is associated with delayed recovery, increased morbidity, impaired quality of life, and prolonged opioid use during and after hospitalization. Recently, ultrasound-guided pectoralis nerve (PECS) I block and serratus anterior plane (SAP) block, together or individually, have emerged as a potential method to relieve pain, decrease opioid requirements, and improve patient outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess if the addition of a PECS I/SAP block in patients undergoing bilateral mastectomies provides more effective perioperative analgesia compared to standard analgesia.

Neurological Complications After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Review.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the dominant procedural modality for aortic valve replacement in the United States. The reported rates of neurological complications in patients undergoing TAVR have changed over time and are dependent on diagnostic definitions and modalities. Most strokes after TAVR are likely embolic in origin, and the incidence of stroke has decreased over time.

Is the Compassion of Anesthesiologists Associated With Postoperative Pain and Patient Experience? A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Patient perception of physician compassion may be associated with improved health outcomes, yet it is unclear whether it is associated with postoperative pain reduction or improved patient experience metrics in same-day surgery patients. We hypothesized that higher anesthesiologist compassion during the preanesthesia interview, rated by patients, is associated with lower postoperative pain via the anxiety pathway in same-day surgery patients. We also performed exploratory correlation analysis to assess whether compassion was associated with less opioid consumption and improved patient experience in same-day surgery patients.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone Intercostal Nerve Blocks for Robotic Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction For peripheral nerve blocks, using either the liposomal formulation of bupivacaine or plain bupivacaine with epinephrine and dexamethasone as an adjuvant has been shown to improve postoperative pain scores. In a single-blinded, randomized controlled study of patients undergoing robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, we determined if bupivacaine with epinephrine and dexamethasone was noninferior to liposomal bupivacaine mixed with plain bupivacaine when administered intraoperatively as an intercostal nerve block (INB). Methods A total of 34 patients undergoing robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were randomized to receive one of two injectate mixtures during their intraoperative INB.

Evaluation of vascular aging on measures of cardiac function and mechanical efficiency: insights from modeling.

Introduction: This study evaluated the hypothesis that vascular aging (VA) reduces ventricular contractile function and mechanical efficiency (ME) using the left ventricular pressure-volume (PV) construct.

Methods: A previously published computational model (CM) was modified to evaluate the hypothesis in two phases. In phase I, the CM included five settings of aortic compliance () from normal to stiff, studied at a heart rate of 80 bpm, and phase II included the normal to stiff settings evaluated at 60, 100, and 140 bpm.

Evaluation of ventricular-vascular coupling with critical care metrics: An in silico approach.

Mean arterial pressure and cardiac output provide insufficient guidance for the management of intraoperative hypotension (IOH). In silico models offer additional insights into acute changes in hemodynamic parameters that may be encountered during IOH. A computational model (CM) generated parameters quantifying ventricular-vascular coupling, and pressure-volume construct across levels of aortic compliance (C ).

Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Patients Receiving Propofol Sedation for Gastrointestinal Endoscopies: An Observational Study Utilizing Processed Electroencephalography.

Background: Propofol sedation is commonly administered during gastrointestinal (GI) procedures. The Patient State Index (PSI) is a processed electroencephalography (EEG) parameter obtained with the SedLine Sedation Monitoring system (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA). When used to objectively assess the patient's level of consciousness, PSI may provide a more effective, safer titration of sedation during GI procedures.

Healthcare Costs and Healthcare Utilization Outcomes of Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 5000 IU Daily during a 10.9 Month Observation Period within a Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

Vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to multiple conditions including bone disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Observational studies indicate lower healthcare costs and healthcare utilization with sufficient vitamin D levels. The secondary aims of our previously published pragmatic clinical trial of vitamin D3 supplementation were comparisons of healthcare costs and healthcare utilization.

Remote and semi-automated methods to conduct a decentralized randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Designing and conducting clinical trials is challenging for some institutions and researchers due to associated time and personnel requirements. We conducted recruitment, screening, informed consent, study product distribution, and data collection remotely. Our objective is to describe how to conduct a randomized clinical trial using remote and automated methods.

Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 5000 IU Daily for the Prevention of Influenza-like Illness in Healthcare Workers: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of acute respiratory infections in populations at risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of preventing viral infections in healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to assess the hypothesis that vitamin D3 supplementation at 5000 IU daily reduces influenza-like illness (ILI), including COVID-19, in healthcare workers.

Is Calcium Score in the Abdominal Aorta or Renal Arteries Predictive of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiopulmonary Bypass: An Exploratory Study.

Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a serious complication after surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A relationship similar to the one between coronary artery calcification and increased incidence of cardiac complications is hypothesized to exist for aortic calcification and the development of AKI. Elevated pulse pressure (PP) hypertension has been shown to be a predictor of AKI-CPB (AKI after CPB surgery), and calcium deposition and stiffening of the body's conduit arteries may be part of this process.

Association of Preoperative Pulse Pressure and Oxygen Delivery Index During Cardiopulmonary Bypass With Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury.

Objective: To investigate if oxygen delivery index during cardiopulmonary bypass (DOI) was more strongly associated with acute kidney injury (AKI), the higher the patient's preoperative pulse pressure (PP).

Design: Retrospective cohort of 1064 patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Setting: Single academic healthcare center.

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in the Elderly: A Role for Modafinil.

Introductionː Postoperative cognitive dysfunction has long-term consequences of increased mortality, loss of autonomy, and prolonged hospitalization. We sought to determine whether exposing patients to modafinil may attenuate or prevent this devastating syndrome from affecting the elderly postoperatively. Methodsː Adults aged 65 and older and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-III physical status scheduled for elective noncardiac/non-neurosurgical surgery were included.

Pain, Analgesic Use, and Patient Satisfaction With Spinal Versus General Anesthesia for Hip Fracture Surgery : A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The REGAIN (Regional versus General Anesthesia for Promoting Independence after Hip Fracture) trial found similar ambulation and survival at 60 days with spinal versus general anesthesia for hip fracture surgery. Trial outcomes evaluating pain, prescription analgesic use, and patient satisfaction have not yet been reported.

Objective: To compare pain, analgesic use, and satisfaction after hip fracture surgery with spinal versus general anesthesia.

The Incidence, Degree, and Timing of Hypocalcemia From Massive Transfusion: A Retrospective Review.

Background: Electrolyte administration during massive transfusion without readily available calcium laboratory values is likely ubiquitous but not well standardized. We aimed to quantify the incidence, degree, and timing of hypocalcemia during the first 24 hours after initiation of a massive transfusion with the institutional massive transfusion protocol (MTP). We hypothesized that hypocalcemia is prevalent during acute resuscitation (first six hours) despite efforts of the treatment team to replete calcium during active resuscitation.

Blunt Trauma to the Heart: A Review of Pathophysiology and Current Management.

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI), defined as an injury to the heart from blunt force trauma, ranges from minor to life-threatening. The majority of BCIs are due to motor vehicle accidents; however, injuries caused by falls, blasts, and sports-related injuries also can be sources of BCI. A significant proportion of patients with BCI do not survive long enough to receive medical care, succumbing to their injuries at the scene of the accident.

Correlation of Country Characteristics and Government Response Measures With COVID-19 Mortality During the First Phase of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic: A Worldwide Ecological Study.

Introduction It is valuable to know if country demographic, educational, healthcare and other socioeconomic factors were correlated with the COVID-19 mortality rate during the initial phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic (January 1 - August 31, 2020). Similarly, it is worthwhile understanding whether a country's geographic location or the measures instituted by governments, such as lockdowns and mask-wearing, were associated with an increased or decreased mortality rate. Materials and methods To assess these correlations, we conducted an ecologic study of 178 countries using time-matched data from the Social Progress Index (www.

Time to Post-Anesthesia Neurological Evaluation and Hemodynamic Stability in Carotid Endarterectomy Comparing Three General Anesthetic Techniques Targeted to a Preset Bispectral Index Value: A Pilot Study.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has a 1-5% risk of periprocedural stroke. The ability to emerge patients from anesthesia quickly to detect neurological abnormalities immediately after surgery is vital in this patient population. The objective of this pilot study was to assess if any of three general anesthetic techniques for CEA are associated with a shorter time to a reliable postoperative neurological exam.

Hereditary pseudocholinesterase deficiency discovery after electroconvulsive therapy.

Inherited pseudocholinesterase deficiency refers to an uncommon defect in the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme which can result in prolonged muscle paralysis due to delayed breakdown of choline ester paralytic anaesthetic agents. We describe a 25-year-old woman receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment of depression in whom motor function did not recover adequately after administration of succinylcholine. Investigated post-ECT, she was found to have severe pseudocholinesterase deficiency.

A Pilot Study Comparing Aortic Valve Area Estimates Derived from Fick Cardiac Output with Estimates Based on Cheetah-NICOM Cardiac Output.

Cardiac output during cardiac catheterization is often estimated using the modified Fick method (CO). In this proof-of-concept, prospective non-randomized study carried out in a single academic healthcare centre, we examined whether replacing CO in the Gorlin formula with Cheetah-NICOM monitor cardiac output (CO) could produce an accurate and precise estimate of aortic valve area in patients with severe aortic stenosis. In twenty-six subjects, CO and CO were obtained concurrently.

Elevated Pulse Pressure in Anesthetized Subjects Before Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated Strongly With Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury Stage.

Objective: To investigate whether pulse pressure (PP) in anesthetized patients undergoing cardiac surgery before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with higher postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) stage.

Design: Retrospective cohort of 597 patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Setting: Single academic health care center.