Perioperative transfusion study (PETS): Does a liberal transfusion protocol improve outcome in high-risk cardiovascular patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery? A randomised controlled pilot study.

Background: Small studies have shown that patients with advanced coronary artery disease might benefit from a more liberal blood transfusion strategy. The goal of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of a blood transfusion intervention in a group of vascular surgery patients who have elevated cardiac troponins in rest.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre, randomised controlled pilot study.

Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum with deep neuromuscular blockade in metabolic surgery to reduce postoperative pain: a randomized pilot trial.

Background: For metabolic laparoscopic surgery, higher pressures up to 20 mmHg are often used to create a surgical field of sufficient quality. This randomized pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility, safety and tolerability of low intraabdominal pressure (IAP) and deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) to reduce postoperative pain.

Methods: In a teaching hospital in the Netherlands, 62 patients eligible for a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) were randomized into one of four groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design: deep/moderate NMB and standard (20 mmHg)/low IAP (12 mmHg).

Trial protocol: preoperative administration of tranexamic acid in sleeve gastrectomy (PATAS) to reduce haemorrhage rates. A randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Fast-track protocols often include short-term thromboprophylaxis and short length of hospital stay. These treatment strategies may negatively affect the occurrence and diagnosis of postoperative haemorrhage. Over the years, the rates of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) have decreased, while there seems to be an increase in the occurrence of postoperative haemorrhage.

Soft Palate Ulceration After Brief Use of an i-Gel Supraglottic Airway.

We describe a case of extensive soft palate ulceration after the use of an i-gel supraglottic airway device (Intersurgical Ltd, Wokingham, United Kingdom) during a knee arthroscopy in a 61-year-old man. He presented with pain and soft palate ulceration, which eventually required hospital admission because of dehydration. The pharynx healed completely within 3 months, with a change in taste as the remaining symptom.

['Postoperative pain treatment' practice guideline revised].

On the initiative of the Dutch Association of Anaesthesiologists, a multidisciplinary workgroup has revised the 2003 practice guideline on 'Postoperative pain treatment' for adults and children. The main reason for revision was the availability of new drugs and new methods of administration. The most important deviations from the previous edition are the following.

Lung protective ventilatory strategies in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome: from experimental findings to clinical application.

This review addresses the physiological background and the current status of evidence regarding ventilator-induced lung injury and lung protective strategies. Lung protective ventilatory strategies have been shown to reduce mortality from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We review the latest knowledge on the progression of lung injury by mechanical ventilation and correlate the findings of experimental work with results from clinical studies.

A randomized prospective study comparing the Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway and Laryngeal Mask Airway-Classic during controlled ventilation for gynecological laparoscopy.

Background: An increasing number of noninvasive, supraglottic airway devices are currently available. In this randomized single-blind study, we compared the Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway (CobraPLA) to the [Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA)-Classic] during gynecological laparoscopy.

Methods: Forty patients received either an LMA-Classic or a CobraPLA.

Pain in neurosurgically treated patients: a prospective observational study.

Object: This is the first observational study to compare perioperative pain character and intensity in patients undergoing different types of elective neurosurgical procedures.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to inquire about pain intensity, character, and management during the perioperative course, and the anticipated visual analogue scale (VAS) score in 649 patients during a 1-year period. The anticipated maximal postoperative VAS score was lower than the actual postoperative maximal VAS score and was independent of operation type and preoperative VAS score.

Thermographic temperature measurement compared with pinprick and cold sensation in predicting the effectiveness of regional blocks.

We designed this study to evaluate the usefulness of thermographic temperature measurement with an infrared camera, compared with patient response to cold and pinprick, as a means of assessing the success or failure of axillary blockades. Axillary blocks were performed on 25 patients undergoing surgery on the hand or forearm using a nerve stimulator technique with mepivacaine 1.5%.

Remifentanil as a single drug for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: a comparison of infusion doses in terms of analgesic potency and side effects.

Unlabelled: This randomized, double-blind study was designed to evaluate analgesic effectiveness and side effects of two remifentanil infusion rates in patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for renal stones. We included 200 patients who were administered remifentanil either 0.05 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (n = 100) or 0.