Put the Kibosh On Bias No abstract available

General Anesthetics Are Neuroprotective No abstract available

General Anesthetic Agents Are Not Neuroprotective and May Be Neurotoxic No abstract available

In Remembrance of Hiroshi Takeshita, MD, Pioneering Neuroanesthesiologist No abstract available

Perspectives on Dexmedetomidine Use for Neurosurgical Patients The α2-adrenergic receptor agonist dexmedetomidine has sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, and sympatholytic effects. The potential advantages of neuroprotection, minimal impact on neuronal function, stable hemodynamics, opioid and anesthesia sparing effects, and minimal respiratory depression during awake procedures render it an effective anesthetic adjuvant in various neurosurgical settings. However, both the benefits and drawbacks of the use dexmedetomidine in neuroanesthesia should be considered. This narrative review will summarize the applications of dexmedetomidine in various neurosurgical settings, highlighting evidence regarding both its common and controversial uses.

Can Cerebral Near-infrared Spectroscopy Predict Cerebral Ischemic Events in Neurosurgical Patients? A Narrative Review of the Literature Cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is considered a valuable noninvasive modality for cerebral oxygenation monitoring during cardiovascular surgery and cardiac arrest. We assessed the capability of cerebral NIRS to predict cerebral desaturation and the related neurological outcomes in neurosurgical patients. A literature search in different electronic medical databases was performed from inception to January 2018. A total of 286 citations were found and finally 48 studies were retrieved, only 7 of these were eligible and included for review. A meta-analysis was not feasible because of high heterogeneity of patients’ groups, different NIRS techniques used in the studies and different outcome criteria selected. The qualitative assessment showed controversial data on the threshold value of cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy used for detecting cerebral ischemia in neurosurgical patients. The evidence on the selected studies is not strong enough, at the moment, to recommend cerebral NIRS as a mandatory monitor to detect cerebral deoxygenation able to predict the future neurological outcome in neurosurgical patients. Further studies are needed to validate a threshold value for cerebral ischemia and the relationship between NIRS-detected cerebral desaturation and clinical outcome in the neurosurgical population.

Retrospective Analysis of Perioperative Variables Associated With Postoperative Delirium and Other Adverse Outcomes in Older Patients After Spine Surgery Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to identify perioperative variables predictive of the development of delirium in older surgical patients after spine surgery. Materials and Methods: We collected preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data on patients 65 years of age and above having spine surgery between July 1, 2015 and March 15, 2017. The primary outcome was the development of postoperative delirium. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariable analysis. Results: Among the 716 patients included in this study 127 (18%) developed postoperative delirium. On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of postoperative delirium included older age (odds ratio [OR]=1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.09; P=0.048), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status >2 (OR=1.89 [95% CI, 1.04-3.59]; P=0.042), metabolic equivalents of task <4 (OR=1.84 [95% CI, 1.10-3.07]; P=0.019), depression (OR=2.01 [95% CI, 1.21-3.32]; P=0.006), nonelective surgery (OR=4.81 [95% CI, 1.75-12.79]; P=0.002), invasive surgical procedures (OR=1.97 [95% CI, 1.10-3.69]; P=0.028) and higher mean pain scores on postoperative day 1 (OR=1.28 [95% CI, 1.11-1.48]; P<0.001). Conclusions: Postoperative delirium is a common complication in older patients after spine surgery, and there are several perioperative risk factors associated with its development.

Preoperative Gabapentin Administration Improves Acute Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial Background: Gabapentin is an adjuvant antiepileptic agent and helps to reduce acute postoperative pain in several surgery settings. However, the effect of gabapentin on postoperative pain from suboccipital or subtemporal craniotomy is not clear. Methods: The study was a single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blinded trial. A total of 122 patients undergoing elective craniotomy by a suboccipital or subtemporal approach were randomly allocated to a placebo group and gabapentin group. The patients received gabapentin (600 mg, orally) the night before surgery and 2 hours before anesthesia induction in the gabapentin group, and patients received vitamin B in the placebo group. The primary outcome was the postoperative pain score on movement at 24 hours. The secondary outcomes included the pain score at other time points, incidence of nausea and vomiting, sedation, and analgesic consumption. Results: Gabapentin significantly decreased the postoperative acute pain scores at rest (P=0.001) and on movement (P=0.000) within 24 hours; however, it did not have an effect at 48 hours. Gabapentin decreased postoperative vomiting (P=0.047) and rescue antiemetic use (P=0.033), whereas it increased the postoperative sedation score at 2 hours (P<0.05). Moreover, gabapentin decreased the mean consumption of intraoperative propofol (0.7 mg/kg/h; P=0.021) and remifentanil (1.3 µg/kg/h; P=0.025); however, it did not influence postoperative opioid consumption. Conclusions: Preoperative gabapentin significantly alleviated acute postoperative pain and decreased the incidence of vomiting in patients undergoing suboccipital or subtemporal craniotomy. However, more attention should be paid to early postoperative sedation when multimodal analgesia with gabapentin is administered.

A Survey on Fever Monitoring and Management in Patients With Acute Brain Injury: The SUMMA Study Background: Fever is common in patients with acute brain injury and worsens secondary brain injury and clinical outcomes. Currently, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of fever and its management. The aims of the survey were to explore: (a) fever definitions, (b) thresholds to trigger temperature management, and (c) therapeutic strategies to control fever. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire (26 items) was made available to members of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine via its website between July 2016 and December 2016. Results: Among 231 respondents, 193 provided complete responses to the questionnaire (84%); mostly intensivists (n=124, [54%]). Body temperature was most frequently measured using a bladder probe (n=93, [43%]). A large proportion of respondents considered fever as a body temperature >38.3°C (n=71, [33%]). The main thresholds for antipyretic therapy were 37.5°C (n=74, [34%]) and 38.0°C (n=86, [40%]); however, lower thresholds (37.0 to 37.5°C) were targeted in cases of intracranial hypertension and cerebral ischemia. Among first-line methods to treat fever, ice packs were the most frequently utilized physical method (n=90, [47%]), external nonautomated system was the most frequent utilized device (n=49, [25%]), and paracetamol was the most frequently utilized drug (n=135, [70%]). Among second-line methods, intravenous infusion of cold fluids was the most frequently utilized physical method (n=68, [35%]), external computerized automated system was the most frequently utilized device (n=75, [39%]), and diclofenac was the most frequently utilized drug (n=62, [32%]). Protocols for fever control and shivering management were available to 83 (43%) and 54 (28%) of respondents, respectively. Conclusions: In this survey we identified substantial variability in fever definition and application of temperature management in acute brain injury patients. These findings may be helpful in promoting educational interventions and in designing future studies on this topic.

Impact of CPAP on Forehead Near-infrared Spectroscopy Measurements in Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure: Truth or Illusion Background: Critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to an intensive care unit are at high risk for cerebral hypoxia. We investigated the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on regional cerebral tissue oxygenation (rSO2). Materials and Methods: In total, 40 extubated surgical intensive care unit patients requiring classic oxygen therapy (COT) for acute respiratory failure were examined. Near-infrared spectroscopy (INVOS 5100C, Covidien) was used for 30 minutes to detect bilateral rSO2 during COT via facemask (6 L/min) and CPAP therapy (40% fraction of inspired oxygen, 8 cm H2O CPAP) using a randomized crossover study design. Patients served as their own control. Continuous hemodynamic routine monitoring and blood gas analysis were performed. The effect of CPAP therapy on rSO2 and influence of assessed covariables were investigated using a mixed linear model. Results: Median rSO2 increased from 57.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.2-61.5) during COT to 62.8% (95% CI, 59.2-66.5) during CPAP therapy (P<0.0001). The estimated difference from the mixed model between COT and CPAP is −5.0 (95% CI, −6.3 to −3.7). Median arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide decreased from 47.8±5.1 mm Hg during COT to 43.1±5 mm Hg during CPAP (P<0.001), whereas arterial partial pressure of oxygen remained unchanged (P=0.329). In total, 23% of patients had SO2 levels <50%, with a higher prevalence under COT. Conclusions: Our results reveal that CPAP therapy compared with COT may influence rSO2 in patients with acute respiratory failure. However, the cause of the rSO2 increase following CPAP application remains to be elucidated, and the accuracy of cerebral oximetry during CPAP therapy in patients with acute respiratory failure remains questionable.