Usefulness of postreperfusion lactate clearance for predicting early graft recovery in liver transplant patients: a single center study.

Background: The role of postreperfusion lactate clearance in assessing graft function has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine whether lactate clearance, assessed in the postreperfusion phase, can predict poor graft function in liver transplant patients.

Methods: Seventy patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) were enrolled.

Robotic Surgery in Elderly and Very Elderly Gynecologic Cancer Patients.

Study Objective: To investigate the feasibility, safety, and short-term outcomes of robotic surgery (RS) for gynecologic oncologic indications (cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer) in elderly patients, especially women age 65 to 74 years (elderly group [EG]) compared with women age ≥75 years (very elderly group [VEG]).

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction after liver transplantation.

Objective: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in liver transplant (LT) recipients is defined as a "more than expected" postoperative deterioration in cognitive domains, including short-term and long-term memory, mood, consciousness and circadian rhythm. It is diagnosed, after exclusion of other neurological complications, by using specific neuropsychological tests that need preoperative baseline. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of POCD after LT and to analyze patients' symptoms, type and timing of assessment used.

Prediction of poor graft function by means of gastric tonometry in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION. Splanchnic hypoperfusion appears to play a key role in the failure of functional recovery of the graft after orthotopic liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to determine if alterations of tonometric parameters, which are related to splanchnic perfusion, could predict poor graft function in patients undergoing LT.

Airway management in obese patients.

The well-known difficulties in airway management in obese patients are caused by obesity-related airways and respiratory changes. Anesthesiologists confront a number of troubles, including rapid oxygen desaturation, difficulty with laryngoscopy/intubation and mask ventilation, and increased susceptibility to the respiratory depressant effects of anesthetic drugs. Preoperative assessment of the airways in the obese should include examination of specific predictors of difficult mask ventilation other than those for difficult intubation.

Carbon dioxide elimination pattern in morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Hypercapnia can result from carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum and adversely affect the postoperative period, particularly in morbidly obese patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine carbon dioxide homeostasis using a metabolic monitor in morbidly obese and normal weight patients during laparoscopic surgical procedures. The setting was a university hospital in Italy.

Preinductive use of clonidine and ketamine improves recovery and reduces postoperative pain after bariatric surgery.

Background: In obese patients, concomitant use of clonidine and ketamine might be suitable to reduce the doses and minimize the undesired side effects of anesthetic and analgesic drugs. In this study, we evaluated the perioperative effects of administration of clonidine and ketamine in morbidly obese patients undergoing weight loss surgery at a university hospital in Rome, Italy.

Methods: A total of 50 morbidly obese patients undergoing open biliopancreatic diversion for weight loss surgery were enrolled.