Safety and efficiency of ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical plexus block for carotid surgery.

Objective: Since stroke and myocardial ischaemia are major causes of perioperative morbidity and mortality associated with carotid endarterectomy, monitoring the brain and ensuring the best haemodynamic stability are important goals of the management. As regional anaesthesia was reported to improve haemodynamic stability during carotid endarterectomy (CEA), we conducted a prospective observational study on the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical plexus blocks (CPB), with early (immediate postoperative) and mid-term (day 30) outcomes in awake patients undergoing CEA.

Methods: After the ethics committee approval, 50 patients undergoing a carotid endarterectomy with CPB from April 2011 to May 2013 were included.

Diagnostic Performance of a New Rapid Lateral Flow Immunoassay in Patients Suspected of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Its Clinical Consequences.

We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a new rapid assay (STic Expert HIT) alone or in combination with a clinical score in 90 HIT-suspected patients. The 4Ts score was calculated, and ELISA and serotonin-release assay (SRA) were performed; the average time taken for test results were 2 and 5 days for ELISA and SRA, respectively. The STic test was performed in our laboratory as an evaluation exercise and the result was available in 1 hour, but results were not communicated to the clinicians so as to not influence management.

[Atrial fibrillation: from cardiology to perioperative management].

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arythmia. During the perioperative period and in intensive care units, management of patients with AF is frequent and difficult. As in cardiology, two main issues are present: the risk of acute hemodynamically instability and the risk of thromboembolic complication.

[Dosimetry with radiosensitive gels in radiotherapy. Methods].

The goal of conformal radiotherapy is to concentrate the dose in a well-defined volume by avoiding the neighbouring healthy structures. This technique requires powerful treatment planning software and a rigorous control of estimated dosimetry. The usual dosimetric tools are not adapted to visualize and validate complex 3D treatment.