Hospital costs associated with inpatient versus outpatient awake craniotomy for resection of brain tumors.

Background: With increasing fiscal restraints on health care systems, procedural cost-effectiveness has become an important metric for evaluating surgical procedures. While outpatient craniotomy has been shown to be safe and effective, the economic implications of this procedure has yet to be examined. Here, we present the first cost analysis comparing inpatient versus outpatient awake craniotomy for tumor resection/biopsy.

Internal jugular vein blood flow in the upright position during external compression and increased central venous pressure: an ultrasound study in healthy volunteers.

Background: External compression of the jugular veins is an effective method to increase intracranial blood volume and brain stiffness in rats and healthy volunteers. It has been reported that, on assuming an upright posture, cerebral venous drainage is distributed away from the internal jugular veins (IJVs) to the cervical venous plexus, causing complete collapse of the IJV. If so, it is not clear why external IJV compression would increase intracranial blood volume, but the latter is frequently observed in neurosurgery in the sitting position.

Anesthesia considerations for patients with an implanted deep brain stimulator undergoing surgery: a review and update.

Purpose: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be an effective treatment option for patients with essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. This review provides an overview on the functioning of neurostimulators and recent advances in this technology and presents an updated guide on the anesthetic management of patients with an implanted neurostimulator undergoing surgery or medical intervention.

Source: A search was conducted on MEDLINE®, EMBASE™, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases to identify studies published in English from 1974 to December 2015.

Hospitalization for partial nephrectomy was not associated with intrathecal opioid analgesia: Retrospective analysis.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study is to test the hypothesis that the use of spinal analgesia shortens the length of hospital stay after partial nephrectomy.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed all patients undergoing partial nephrectomy for malignancy through flank incision between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2011. We excluded patients who underwent tumor thrombectomy, used sustained-release opioids, or had general anesthesia supplemented by epidural analgesia.

An evaluation of the I-gel supraglottic airway in 70 pediatric patients.

The I-gel is a supraglottic airway device which is commonly used in adult patients undergoing general anesthesia. In this study, we evaluated the speed of insertion, adequacy of ventilation, leak pressure, gastric tube insertion, and problems when using the I-gel in children. We included 70 patients aged between 1 and 16 years old with ASA physical status classification I or II, undergoing elective surgery requiring general anesthesia, for which use of a supraglottic airway would be appropriate.

Outcomes after radical prostatectomy for cancer: a comparison between general anesthesia and epidural anesthesia with fentanyl analgesia: a matched cohort study.

Background: The use of regional anesthesia for cancer surgery has been associated with improved oncologic outcomes. One of the proposed mechanisms is a reduction in the use of systemic opioids that may cause immunosuppression. We used a retrospective matched cohort design to compare long-term oncologic outcomes after prostatectomy for cancer performed under general anesthesia with systemic opioids or with epidural anesthesia with epidural fentanyl analgesia.

Anesthesia and cor triatriatum.

Aims And Objectives: Cor triatriatum sinistrum (CTS) and cor triatriatum dextrum (CTD) are rare congenital anomalies characterized by the presence of a perforated septum which divides the respective atrium into a proximal and distal chamber. This report reviews the perioperative course of patients with uncorrected cor triatriatum (CT) undergoing procedures requiring anesthesia. In addition, we performed a literature search that examines the experience of others regarding the peri-operative course of patients with CT.

Perioperative allogeneic nonleukoreduced blood transfusion and prostate cancer outcomes after radical prostatectomy.

Background: Allogeneic blood transfusion induces immunosuppression, and concern has been raised that it may increase propensity for cancer recurrence; however, these effects have not been confirmed. We examined the association of perioperative transfusion of allogeneic blood long-term oncologic outcomes in patients with prostate cancer who underwent prostatectomy.

Study Design And Methods: We reviewed medical records of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1991 and 2005 and received allogeneic nonleukoreduced blood.

Anesthesia and LEOPARD syndrome: a review of forty-nine anesthetic exposures.

Objectives: LEOPARD syndrome is a rare congenital disease that can manifest with cardiac anomalies, multiple lentigines, ocular hypertelorism, growth retardation, and deafness. The purpose of this case series was to review the most prominent comorbidities associated with LEOPARD syndrome, and describe perioperative outcomes in a series of patients undergoing anesthesia.

Design: Retrospective case series review

Setting: Tertiary care institution

Participants: Patients diagnosed with LEOPARD syndrome who underwent surgical procedures requiring anesthesia at this institution.

Perioperative management of patients with DiGeorge syndrome undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objective: DiGeorge syndrome is a genetic disorder with multisystem involvement resulting in craniofacial and cardiac anomalies and parathyroid and immune system dysfunction. This study describes perioperative management of a large cohort of patients with DiGeorge syndrome undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Association between chronic kidney disease and blood transfusions for knee and hip arthroplasty surgery.

The study aim is to assess associations between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and blood transfusions during hospitalization for joint arthroplasty. Patients with Stage IV-V CKD who underwent elective total knee or hip arthroplasty from 2007 to 2010 were matched 2:1 with age, gender, and surgery type controls without kidney disease. Multivariable analyses for transfusion risk with preoperative hemoglobin, body mass index, cardiovascular disease, and surgical complexity as explanatory variables were performed.