A Systematic Review of Multimodal Analgesic Effectiveness on Acute Postoperative Pain After Adult Cardiac Surgery.

Aim: To synthesise the best available empirical evidence about the effectiveness of multimodal analgesics on pain after adult cardiac surgery.

Design: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Methods: Indexed full-text papers or abstracts, in any language, of randomised controlled trials of adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery investigating multimodal postoperative analgesic regimen effect on mean level of patient-reported pain intensity at rest.

Identifying potential predictors of surgical site infection risk following cardiac surgery: a scoping review.

Objectives: This scoping review was undertaken to identify risk predictions models and preoperative predictors of surgical site infection (SSI) in adult cardiac surgery. A particular focus was on the identification of novel predictors that could underpin the future development of a risk prediction model to identify individuals at high-risk of SSI, and therefore guide a national SSI prevention strategy.

Methods: A scoping review to systematically identify and map out existing research evidence on preoperative predictors of SSI was conducted in two stages.

Managing post-operative stroke following cardiac surgery.

Stroke is a complication that can occur in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery and can lead to life-threatening consequences. The causes of post-operative stroke following cardiac surgery are varied, and it is essential to identify patients who are at risk to support early recognition and effective management. Nurses caring for patients following cardiac surgery should understand the causes of stroke, risk factors, preventive measures, early recognition and treatment.

Managing common neurological complications following cardiac surgery.

Despite recent technological advances in the field of surgery, neurological complications remain a significant post-operative issue. Two of the most common post-operative complications are delirium and post-operative cognitive decline, which occur frequently after cardiac surgery. This article provides an overview of delirium and post-operative cognitive decline, including risk factors, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis.