Pharmacologic methods to minimise coughing during extubation in the era of COVID-19.

Background/aim: Given the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic, coughing at the time of extubation is at risk of creating aerosolisation. This may place health care workers at risk of nosocomial infection during the perioperative period. This study aims to summarise the current pharmacologic methods to minimise cough at the time of extubation, and to determine whether some strategies could be more beneficial than others.

Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism in Adults Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Systematic Review.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an increasingly used tool for cardiorespiratory support. Thrombosis is a well-recognized complication of ECMO, yet the burden of disease remains unclear. We undertook a systematic review to investigate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during ECMO or soon after decannulation, in patients screened for VTE.

Association of intraoperative dexmedetomidine use with postoperative hypotension in unilateral hip and knee arthroplasties: a historical cohort study.

Purpose: Dexmedetomidine is frequently used as a sedative agent for orthopedic surgery patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty. Although the benefits of dexmedetomidine are well described in the literature, there is also potential for harm, especially regarding the hemodynamic effects of dexmedetomidine in the postoperative setting.

Methods: This historical cohort study included all primary unilateral total hip or knee arthroplasties conducted from April 2017 to February 2020 in a single, university-affiliated, tertiary care centre (Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada).

'A pain in the buttock': A case report of gluteal compartment syndrome after robotic partial nephrectomy.

Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency that, if unrecognised, leads to tissue and muscle ischaemia, necrosis, multi-organ failure and even death. Gluteal compartment syndrome is a rare type of compartment syndrome that typically occurs as a sequela of trauma, and its presentation may be difficult to recognise. We describe a case of a patient who developed gluteal compartment syndrome following a prolonged renal surgery in lateral decubitus position.

Single-dose premedication enhances multimodal analgesia after knee arthroplasty.

Background: With the current trend to reduce postoperative opioid use to enhance recovery and address perioperative opioid addiction concerns, the challenge of managing pain after total knee arthroplasty has increased. This study examined the effect of adding a preoperative medication regime to a multimodal postoperative analgesia protocol that included regional anaesthesia.

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients undergoing elective first-time unilateral knee arthroplasty received celecoxib 100mg, gabapentin 600mg and dexamethasone 10mg po one hour before skin incision.

High-flow nasal oxygen as first-line therapy for COVID-19-associated hypoxemic respiratory failure: a single-centre historical cohort study.

Purpose: The optimal noninvasive modality for oxygenation support in COVID-19-associated hypoxemic respiratory failure and its association with healthcare worker infection remain uncertain. We report here our experience using high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) as the primary support mode for patients with COVID-19 in our institution.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre historical cohort study of all COVID-19 patients treated with HFNO for at least two hours in our university-affiliated and intensivist-staffed intensive care unit (Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada) between 27 August 2020 and 30 April 2021.

Iron supplementation for patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Iron supplementation has been evaluated in several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for its potential to increase baseline hemoglobin and decrease red blood cell transfusion during cardiac surgery. This study's main objective was to evaluate the current evidence for iron administration in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science databases, and Google Scholar from inception to 19 November 2020 for RCTs evaluating perioperative iron administration in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Comparison of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who did and did not live in residential care facilities in Montréal: a retrospective case series.

Background: As in other jurisdictions, the demographics of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 changed in Quebec over the course of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave, and affected those living in residential care facilities (RCFs) disproportionately. We evaluated the association between clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, comparing those did or did not live in RCFs.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series of all consecutive adults (≥ 18 yr) admitted to the Jewish General Hospital in Montréal with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from Mar.

Outcomes and clinical practice in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit in Montréal, Canada: a descriptive analysis.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is responsible for millions of infections worldwide, and a substantial number of these patients will be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective was to describe the characteristics, outcomes and management of critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia at a single designated pandemic centre in Montréal, Canada.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed on consecutive critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the ICU at the Jewish General Hospital, a designated pandemic centre in Montréal, between Mar.

Examination of psychological risk factors for chronic pain following cardiac surgery: protocol for a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Approximately 400 000 Americans and 36 000 Canadians undergo cardiac surgery annually, and up to 56% will develop chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). The primary aim of this study is to explore the association of pain-related beliefs and gender-based pain expectations on the development of CPSP. Secondary goals are to: (A) explore risk factors for poor functional status and patient-level cost of illness from a societal perspective up to 12 months following cardiac surgery; and (B) determine the impact of CPSP on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) borne by cardiac surgery, in addition to the incremental cost for one additional QALY gained, among those who develop CPSP compared with those who do not.

Intraoperative Pneumothorax Presenting as Abdominal Distention.

A 74-year-old man with a history of lung cancer presented for right upper lobectomy. After induction of anesthesia, it was noted that the abdomen became progressively more distended. Soon afterward, there was a significant decrease in tidal volume.

Open fractures of the femur in children: analysis of various treatment methods.

Purpose: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of children who presented with open femur fractures.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all children treated for open femur fractures at the McGill University Health Center between 1980 and 2009 was conducted. Thirty-seven patients (28 males and 9 females) were identified.

Ambulation gains after knee surgery in children with arthrogryposis.

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is a rare congenital disorder associated with multiple musculoskeletal contractures that causes substantial morbidity. Knee involvement is commonly seen among children with arthrogryposis, with flexion contracture of the knee being the most frequent knee deformity. Knee flexion contractures in the pediatric population are particularly debilitating as they affect ambulation.

Long and short-term outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with and without chronic kidney disease.

Background: Improved understanding of the incidence and risk factors for operative complications and long-term mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is needed to better define the optimal role for CABG in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We analysed 2438 patients who underwent CABG at a single centre between 2005 and 2008. Multivariable regression was used to analyse associations and to generate a CKD-specific predictive tool.