Design of skin islands for a myocutaneous serratus anterior free flap-An anatomical study and clinical implication for pharyngeal reconstruction after laryngopharyngectomy.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate flap size and flap design of skin islands in myocutaneous serratus anterior free flaps (SAFFs) in fresh cadavers and to further investigate whether myocutaneous SAFFs are suitable flaps for pharyngeal reconstruction after laryngopharyngectomy.

Methods: Dissection and injection of methylene blue were performed in 20 hemithoraces of 13 fresh cadavers to evaluate flap size and location of skin islands. Based on these pre-clinical data, we performed pharyngeal reconstruction with myocutaneous SAFF in five patients after laryngopharyngectomy.

Preserving the thyroidal isthmus during low tracheostomy with creation of a Björk flap.

Objectives/hypothesis: Surgical tracheostomy (ST) with creation of an inferiorly based U-shaped tracheal flap, known as the Björk flap, is the most commonly performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether outcome was different in patients who underwent low ST with retraction and preservation of the thyroid isthmus compared to those who underwent high ST with ligation of the thyroid isthmus.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Impact of anatomic origin of primary squamous cell carcinomas of the nasal cavity and ethmoidal sinus on clinical outcome.

Purpose: Since squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the nasoethmoidal complex are rare and aggressive malignancies, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether anatomic subsites of SCCs of the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses affect clinical outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 47 patients with primary SCCs of the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses who were treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, between 1993 and 2018. The impact of anatomic subsites of nasoethmoidal SCCs was evaluated with respect to tumor and nodal classification, disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Emergency care of patients receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which inhibit thrombin (dabigatran) and factor Xa (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) have been introduced in several clinical indications. Although NOACs have a favourable benefit-risk profile and can be used without routine laboratory monitoring, they are associated-as any anticoagulant-with a risk of bleeding. In addition, treatment may need to be interrupted in patients who need surgery or other procedures.

European guidelines on perioperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: Patients with preexisting coagulation disorders and after severe perioperative bleeding.

: In patients with inherited bleeding disorders undergoing surgery, we recommend assessment of individual risk for venous thromboembolism, taking into account the nature of the surgery and anaesthetic, type and severity of bleeding disorder, age, BMI, history of thrombosis, the presence of malignancy and other high-risk comorbidities. Venous thromboembolism risk should be balanced against the increased bleeding risk associated with anticoagulant use in patients with known bleeding disorders (Grade 1C). In these patients undergoing major surgery, we recommend against routine postoperative use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, especially for patients with haemophilia A and B (Grade 1B).

European guidelines on perioperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: Surgery in the elderly.

: The risk for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased in patients aged more than 70 years and in elderly patients presenting with co-morbidities, for example cardiovascular disorders, malignancy or renal insufficiency. Therefore, risk stratification, correction of modifiable risks and sustained perioperative thromboprophylaxis are essential in this patient population. Timing and dosing of pharmacoprophylaxis may be adopted from the non-aged population.

Management of severe perioperative bleeding: guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology: First update 2016.

: The management of perioperative bleeding involves multiple assessments and strategies to ensure appropriate patient care. Initially, it is important to identify those patients with an increased risk of perioperative bleeding. Next, strategies should be employed to correct preoperative anaemia and to stabilise macrocirculation and microcirculation to optimise the patient's tolerance to bleeding.

Point-of-Care Testing in Burn Patients.

Severe burn injury has an impact on the coagulation system, but a unique definition regarding these changes is still missing. The results of conventional coagulation assays (CCAs) measured in daily clinical practice are often interpreted as coagulopathic, which implies a bleeding tendency. However, viscoelastic coagulation assays (VCA) like Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and Thromboelastography (TEG) depict a hypercoagulable state.

Therapeutic Plasma Transfusion in Bleeding Patients: A Systematic Review.

Plasma products, including fresh frozen plasma, are administered extensively in a variety of settings from massive transfusion to vitamin K antagonist reversal. Despite the widespread use of plasma as a hemostatic agent in bleeding patients, its effect in comparison with other available choices of hemostatic therapies is unclear. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and databases of ongoing trials for randomized controlled trials that assessed the efficacy and/or safety of therapeutic plasma as an intervention to treat bleeding patients compared with other interventions or placebo.

Evaluation of clinical practice in perioperative patient blood management.

Background: Several guidelines have been published to facilitate implementation of patient blood management (PBM). This study was performed to evaluate clinical practices in PBM.

Methods: An online survey based on the guidelines for the management of severe perioperative bleeding from the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) was conducted among ESA members.

The European Board of Anaesthesiology recommendations for safe medication practice: First update.

These European Board of Anaesthesiology (EBA) recommendations for safe medication practice replace the first edition of the EBA recommendations published in 2011. They were updated because evidence from critical incident reporting systems continues to show that medication errors remain a major safety issue in anaesthesia, intensive care, emergency medicine and pain medicine, and there is an ongoing need for relevant up-to-date clinical guidance for practising anaesthesiologists. The recommendations are based on evidence wherever possible, with a focus on patient safety, and are primarily aimed at anaesthesiologists practising in Europe, although many will be applicable elsewhere.

Fluids and coagulation.

Purpose Of Review: Infusion therapy is essential in intravascular hypovolaemia and extravascular fluid deficits. Crystalloidal fluids and colloidal volume replacement affect blood coagulation when infused intravenously. The question remains if this side-effect of infusion therapy is clinically relevant in patients with and without bleeding manifestations, and if fluid-induced coagulopathy is a risk factor for anaemia, blood transfusion, and mortality, and a driver for resource use and costs.

Measuring the activity of apixaban and rivaroxaban with rotational thrombelastometry.

Background: Routine drug monitoring is not required for the two novel direct factor Xa inhibitors apixaban and rivaroxaban. Rapidly available test results might be beneficial in case of bleeding or prior to urgent surgery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the two rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM®) -modifications Low-tissue factor activated ROTEM® (LowTF-ROTEM®) and Prothrombinase induced clotting time - activated ROTEM® (PiCT®-ROTEM®) for determination of apixaban and rivaroxaban in vitro and ex vivo.

Coagulation and transfusion in the postoperative bleeding patient.

Purpose Of Review: Bleeding can be minimal, severe, life-threatening, or organ-threatening. Depending on the compensatory capacity of the patient, most bleeding events going beyond 20% blood volume may represent an emergency as well as a risk factor for anemia, transfusion, coagulopathy, and tissue hypoperfusion. All these factors are independent predictors for survival in postoperative critical care and are drivers for resource use and costs.

Fibrinogen but not factor XIII deficiency is associated with bleeding after craniotomy.

Background: Postoperative haemorrhage in neurosurgery is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is controversy whether or not factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency leads to bleeding complications after craniotomy. Decreased fibrinogen levels have been associated with an increased incidence of bleeding complications in cardiac and orthopaedic surgery.

Perioperative management issues of direct oral anticoagulants.

The treatment repertoire of oral anticoagulation has changed dramatically over the past few years from one class of vitamin K1 antagonists to an increasing number of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Clinicians are confronted with the problem of managing patients on novel agents in the critical setting before, during, and after surgery, where the risk of bleeding and thrombosis are increased simultaneously. Randomized clinical data are insufficient to date, but clinical exposure enlarges the body of experience.

Intravenous nonopioid analgesic drugs in chronic low back pain patients on chronic opioid treatment: a crossover, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Addition of nonopioid analgesic drugs reduces pain and opioid requirements in acute low back pain. In noncancer chronic low back pain (CLBP), the efficacy of a combined regimen to reduce breakthrough pain has not been proven so far.

Objective: Evaluation of the effects of intravenous (i.