Comparison of Patient-Controlled versus Continuous Epidural Analgesia in Adult Surgical Patients: A Systematic Review.

Background: The advantages of PCEA over CEA have been demonstrated in obstetric patients. Whether a similar benefit applies to surgical patients is unclear.

Methods: Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched, enabling a systematic review of studies comparing PCEA and CEA in adult surgical patients (PROSPERO: CRD42018106644).

Efficacy of perineural versus intravenous dexamethasone in prolonging the duration of analgesia when administered with peripheral nerve blocks: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Perineural dexamethasone has been regarded as a promising adjunct for prolonging the duration of nerve blocks. However, it is uncertain whether its effects are due to local effects on the nerves or from systemic absorption. This systematic review aimed to compare the duration of postoperative analgesia associated with perineural versus intravenous dexamethasone as an adjunct to peripheral nerve blocks.

Managing COVID-19 in a Novel, Rapidly Deployable Community Isolation Quarantine Facility.

Singapore is one of the most densely populated small island-states in the world. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Singapore implemented large-scale institutional isolation units called Community Care Facilities (CCFs) to combat the outbreak in the community by housing low-risk COVID-19 patients from April to August 2020. The CCFs were created rapidly by converting existing public spaces and used a protocolized system, augmented by telemedicine to enable a low health care worker-patient ratio (98 health care workers for 3200 beds), to operate these unique facilities.

Assessment of hyperbaric patients at risk of malnutrition using the Malnutrition Screening Tool - a pilot study.

Background: Nutritional assessment and support is essential for wound management. The hyperbaric oxygen clinic is a unique outpatient service where chronically unwell patients present daily for hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) over several weeks, allowing time for effective nutritional intervention. This is the first study to examine the prevalence of those at risk of malnutrition in a cohort of hyperbaric medical patients.

Direct and indirect low skill fibre-optic intubation: A randomised crossover manikin study of six supraglottic airway devices.

Background And Aims: Fibre-optic intubation (FOI) through supraglottic airway devices (SADs) is useful in the management of the difficult airway. We compared two methods of FOI through seven SADs in a randomised crossover manikin study to assess each device's performance and discuss implications on SAD selection.

Methods: Thirty anaesthetsiologists, 15 seniors and 15 juniors, each performed low skill FOI (LSFOI) with seven SADs using both 'direct' and 'indirect' methods.

Effects of anesthetic technique on blood loss and complications after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Aims: Anesthetic technique affects perioperative outcomes, but less was known in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA). A single center, retrospective analysis was carried out to prove the hypothesis that utilization of regional anesthesia would result in favorable perioperative outcomes.

Methods: Medical records of patients admitted for simultaneous BTKA between 2004 and 2013 were analyzed.