Fatigue among anaesthesiologists in Europe: Findings from a joint EBA/NASC survey.

Background: Anaesthesiologists deliver an increasing amount of patient care and often work long hours in operating theatres and intensive care units, with frequent on-calls and insufficient rest in between. In the long term, this will negatively influence mental and physical health and well being. As fatigue becomes more prevalent, this has predictable implications for patient safety and clinical effectiveness.

SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING OF REGIONAL ANESTHESIA MEDICAL SIMULATION CENTER, UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA.

Simulation-based training is a technique, which uses technological devices to reproduce different clinical situations like in the real world. Procedures and simulation scenarios performed on simulators can be planned and repeated with no harm for the patient. Simulation-based training introduced new educational applications in medicine to improve patient safety.

Gastrointestinal Complications After Pancreatoduodenectomy With Epidural vs Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Morbidity is still high in pancreatic surgery, driven mainly by gastrointestinal complications such as pancreatic fistula. Perioperative thoracic epidural analgesia (EDA) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) are frequently used for pain control after pancreatic surgery. Evidence from a post hoc analysis suggests that PCIA is associated with fewer gastrointestinal complications.

REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA IN THORACIC AND ABDOMINAL SURGERY.

Surgical procedure causes tissue damage which activates systemic inflammatory response and leads to changes in endocrine and metabolic system. Anaesthesia and pain can further disrupt immune performance. Regional anaesthesia causes afferent nerve blockade and in this way mediates immune protection.

Influence of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine on perioperative opioid consumption in laparoscopic intestine resection: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: The consumption of opioid analgesics could be reduced by the use of analgesics with different mechanisms of action. We investigated whether additional treatment with dexmedetomidine or lidocaine could reduce opioid consumption.

Methods: We randomized 59 study participants into three groups and examined: (i) fentanyl consumption, (ii) consumption of piritramide, and (iii) cognitive function and neuropathic pain.

Predictive values of pulse pressure variation and stroke volume variation for fluid responsiveness in patients with pneumoperitoneum.

Animal studies suggest that dynamic predictors remain useful in patients with pneumoperitoneum, but human data is conflicting. Our aim was to determine predictive values of pulse pressure variation (PPV) and stroke volume variation (SVV) in patients with pneumoperitoneum using LiDCORapid™ haemodynamic monitor. Standardised fluid challenges of colloid were administered to patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures, one fluid challenge per patient.

European Society of Anaesthesiology and European Board of Anaesthesiology guidelines for procedural sedation and analgesia in adults.

: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) has become a widespread practice given the increasing demand to relieve anxiety, discomfort and pain during invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The role of, and credentialing required by, anaesthesiologists and practitioners performing PSA has been debated for years in different guidelines. For this reason, the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) and the European Board of Anaesthesiology have created a taskforce of experts that has been assigned to create an evidence-based guideline and, whenever the evidence was weak, a consensus amongst experts on: the evaluation of adult patients undergoing PSA, the role and competences required for the clinicians to safely perform PSA, the commonly used drugs for PSA, the adverse events that PSA can lead to, the minimum monitoring requirements and post-procedure discharge criteria.

Effect of propofol and sevoflurane on the inflammatory response of patients undergoing craniotomy.

Background: The purpose of this randomised, single-centre study was to prospectively investigate the impact of anaesthetic techniques for craniotomy on the release of cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and to determine whether intravenous anaesthesia compared to inhalational anaesthesia attenuates the inflammatory response.

Methods: The study enroled 40 patients undergoing craniotomy, allocated into two equal groups to receive either sevoflurane (n = 20) or propofol (n = 20) in conjunction with remifentanil and rocuronium. The lungs were ventilated mechanically to maintain normocapnia.

USE OF RECOMBINANT ACTIVATED FACTOR VIIa IN A-SIX-MONTH-OLD CHILD DUE TO MASSIVE HEMORRHAGE DURING ELECTIVE SURGERY FOR CHOROID PLEXUS CARCINOMA: CASE REPORT.

We present the use of recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in a 6-month-old infant that suffered massive bleeding and subsequent coagulation disturbances during elective surgery for choroid plexus carcinoma in the lateral ventricle. The administration of rFVIIa resulted in good hemostasis. No intra- or postoperative thromboembolic complications were observed.

Variation in haemodynamic monitoring for major surgery in European nations: secondary analysis of the EuSOS dataset.

Background: The use of cardiac output monitoring may improve patient outcomes after major surgery. However, little is known about the use of this technology across nations.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a previously published observational study.

Antiinflammatory effect of sevoflurane in open lung surgery with one-lung ventilation.

Aim: To prospectively assess the antiinflammatory effect of volatile anesthetic sevoflurane in patients undergoing open lung surgery with one lung ventilation (OLV).

Methods: This prospective, randomized study included 40 patients undergoing thoracic surgery with OLV (NCT02188407). The patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups that received either propofol or sevoflurane.

The influence of postoperative epidural analgesia on postoperative pain and stress response after major spine surgery--a randomized controlled double blind study.

Major spinal surgery is associated with severe postoperative pain and stress response, bowel dysfunction, and a potential for chronic pain development. Epidural analgesia has been shown to be advantageous compared to intravenous analgesia alone. The aim of the study was to investigate whether postoperative addition of epidural levobupivacaine to intravenous opioid analgesia offers advantage over intravenous opioid analgesia alone.

Management of the difficult airway.

Management of difficult airway is one of the most challenging tasks for anesthesiologists, and failure of securing it could have fatal consequences. We must be prepared to deal with problems in management of difficult airway at any time. Difficult intubation can either be anticipated or unanticipated.

Difficult airway and one lung ventilation.

The number of indications for lung collapse during different procedures is rising. Difficult upper airway is more often encountered with the need for single lung ventilation. In patients with difficult airway, the safest approach is by placing a single-lumen endotracheal tube with the aid of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope.

A prospective, randomized, double-blinded comparison between multimodal thoracic paravertebral bupivacaine and levobupivacaine analgesia in patients undergoing lung surgery.

Objectives: To compare the effects of paravertebral analgesia with levobupivacaine or bupivacaine on intra- and postoperative pain for thoracic surgery.

Design: A prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study.

Setting: A university hospital.

Update on thoracic paravertebral blocks.

Thoracic paravertebral block was widely practised at the beginning of the 20th century. It has enjoyed a renaissance in the past decade. This form of afferent blockade is the technique of injecting local anaesthetic into the thoracic paravertebral space.

Comparison of continuous thoracic epidural with paravertebral block on perioperative analgesia and hemodynamic stability in patients having open lung surgery.

Background: Epidural analgesia can result in perioperative hypotension in patients having thoracotomy. This randomized prospective study assessed the effects of epidural and paravertebral analgesia on hemodynamics during thoracotomy.

Methods: Thirty-two patients were randomized to receive either epidural analgesia (n = 16, 0.

Early extubation and fast-track anesthetic technique for endoscopic cardiac surgery.

Objective: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the "fast-track" recovery protocol for endoscopic Port Access (PA) (Edwards Lifesciences) heart procedures. We also determined which factors and variables are important for the success of immediate extubation at the end of the operation while the patient is still in the operating room (OR).

Methods: In the study, we included 104 patients scheduled for PA heart surgery under cardioplegic arrest.

The analgesic efficacy of local anesthetics for the incisional administration following port access heart surgery: bupivacaine versus ropivacaine.

Background: To avoid large dose opioids, the authors investigated an alternative method for postoperative pain relief after Port Access cardiac surgery.

Methods: Out of 104 patients who underwent Port Access heart surgery, 78 patients who were extubated in the operating room were enrolled in the retrospective study. The standardized fast track cardiac anesthesia was used for all patients, and the catheter was placed in the surgical wound at the end of the operation.

Pharmacokinetics of levobupivacaine 0.5% after superficial or combined (deep and superficial) cervical plexus block in patients undergoing minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.

Study Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of 0.35 mL/kg of 0.5% levobupivacaine during superficial and combined (deep and superficial) cervical plexus block (CPB) in patients undergoing minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.

A prospective, randomized comparison between combined (deep and superficial) and superficial cervical plexus block with levobupivacaine for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.

Background: Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) can be performed under cervical plexus block (CPB). Superficial CPB has been reported to be easier to perform with similar efficacy and less anesthesia-related complications than combined deep and superficial CPB. In this study, we compared the efficacy of superficial and combined (deep and superficial) CPB in patients undergoing MIP.

Four different airway-management strategies in patient with Launois-Bensaude syndrome or Madelung's disease undergoing surgical excision of neck lipomatosis with a complicated postoperative course.

Launois-Bensaude syndrome, otherwise known as Madelung's disease, is a rare disorder characterized by fatty accumulations of the upper trunk, neck and head, causing serious cosmetic deformity and neck immobility. We report a case of a patient with Launois-Bensaude syndrome who required 4 different airway management strategies during his hospitalization for postoperative complications after an elective surgical excision of a severe neck lipomatosis. Anesthesiologists who treat patients with Madelung's disease should be aware of 2 major problems: difficult airway and increased frequency of postoperative bleeding.