Effects of Perioperative Epidural Analgesia on Cancer Recurrence and Survival

Surgical resection is the main curative avenue for various cancers. Unfortunately, cancer recurrence following surgery is commonly seen, and typically results in refractory disease and death. Currently, there is no consensus whether perioperative epidural analgesia (EA), including intraoperative and postoperative epidural analgesia, is beneficial or harmful on cancer recurrence and survival. Although controversial, mounting evidence from both clinical and animal studies have reported perioperative EA can improve cancer recurrence and survival via many aspects, including modulating the immune/inflammation response and reducing the use of anesthetic agents like inhalation anesthetics and opioids, which are independent risk factors for cancer recurrence. However, these results depend on the cancer types, cancer staging, patients age, opioids use, and the duration of follow-up. This review will summarize the effects of perioperative EA on the oncological outcomes of patients after cancer surgery.

The impact of desflurane and sevoflurane on the intraoperative and early postoperative period in liver transplantation

Background. A pressing issue is the choice of an anesthetic agent for liver transplantation. The mechanism of the organprotective properties of desflurane and sevoflurane is not fully understood. It is important to understand the effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on the severity of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver graftAim. To study the effect of desflurane and sevoflurane on the intraoperative and early postoperative period in liver transplantation.Material and methods. The study included 47 patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies who underwent cadaveric liver transplantation between February and December 2020. The groups compared in the study included 24 patients who received desflurane and 23 patients who received sevoflurane.Results. There were no statistically significant differences in the effect of desflurane and sevoflurane on hemodynamic parameters, on the need for vasopressor drugs. Episodes of bradycardia and cardiac arrhythmias were significantly more frequent when using sevoflurane. Patients were extubated significantly faster after surgery in the desflurane group. In the early postoperative period, desflurane and sevoflurane did not adversely affect significantly the liver graft function and the degree of its ischemia-reperfusion injury. The groups appeared comparable in rates of using the renal replacement therapy, the incidence of the graft dysfunction development in the postoperative period, and the surgery outcomes.Conclusions. The use of modern inhalation anesthetics desflurane and sevoflurane to maintain anesthesia during liver transplantation does not adversely affect the course of the intraoperative and early postoperative period.

Global climate change and the role of anesthesiologist

Background: Environmental issues and health problems related to global climate change are becoming increasingly serious. An effective eco-friendly strategy is required to reduce medical waste and greenhouse gas emissions caused by anesthesia in hospitals.Current Concepts: Inhalation anesthetics are very strong greenhouse gases in the order of desflurane, isoflurane, nitrous oxide, and sevoflurane. Anesthetics with high global warming potential and long atmospheric lifetimes should be used with caution. Only the minimum required dose of an anesthetic drug with a low persistence bioaccumulation toxicity index is recommended for use. Disposable anesthesia products are known to have a low purchase price and low risk of cross-contamination; however, this may not be the case. By using eco-friendly anesthetic supplies, recycling and reuse, we can avoid wasting money and resources.Discussion and Conclusion: Greenhouse gas emissions from the use of anesthetics are excluded from United Nations regulations due to their necessity. However, while guaranteeing patient safety, anesthesiologists must fulfill their professional ethical obligations by striving to reduce medical waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Effect of General Anesthesia on Intra-ocular Pressure during Ophthalmic Procedures in Our Population

Aim: To determine changes in intraocular pressures (IOP) associated with drugs used for general anesthesia (GA) induction in eye surgery. Study design: Observational prospective study Place and duration of study: Department of Ophthalmology, CMH Rawalpindi from 1st March 2015 to 31st May 2016. Methodology: Eighty subjects that were advised to undergone various ophthalmic surgical procedures under GA were included in the study. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), extra ocular motility, anterior and dilated posterior segment examination were carried out to determine the ophthalmic status. Mixed anesthetics were used in all patients. IOP was recorded at T1 (10 min before induction of anesthesia), T2 (10 min after intubation), and T3 (at the conclusion of surgery before extudation) using Perkins tonometers. Changes in IOP before induction of GA, after intubation, and just before extubation were recorded. Results: Mean pre-anesthesia IOP for patients of age was 42.3 years with a range of 9-70 years and mean IOP was 16.4 with a range of 10-23 mmHg. There was a significant decrease in the mean IOP at T2 (Perkins: 4-6 mmHg) and T3 (Perkins: 5-8mmHg) as compared to the IOP at T1 (10-18mmHg. The decreases in IOPs at T2 and T3 were similar in both anesthetic groups (T2: P=4-6mmHg; T3: P = 5-8 mmHg). Conclusion: Significant decrease in IOP after GA was observed with mixed anesthetic agents. For management decisions this aspect of general anaesthesia drugs on IOP as noted with currently used anesthetic agents has to be accounted for and decisions are taken accordingly. Keywords: General anesthesia, inhalation anesthetics, intraocular pressure, Perkins tonometers

Treatment of Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Review

Purpose: Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) presents management challenges due to the absence of randomized controlled trials and a plethora of potential medical therapies. The literature on treatment options for SRSE reports variable success and quality of evidence. This review is a sequel to the 2020 American Epilepsy Society (AES) comprehensive review of the treatment of convulsive refractory status epilepticus (RSE). Methods: We sought to determine the effectiveness of treatment options for SRSE. We performed a structured literature search (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL) for studies on reported treatments of SRSE. We excluded antiseizure medications (ASMs) covered in the 2016 AES guideline on the treatment of established SE and the convulsive RSE comprehensive review of the 2020 AES. Literature was reviewed on the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet (KD), lidocaine, inhalation anesthetics, brain surgery, therapeutic hypothermia, perampanel, pregabalin (PGB), and topiramate in the treatment of SRSE. Two authors reviewed each therapeutic intervention. We graded the level of the evidence according to the 2017 classification scheme of the American Academy of Neurology. Results: For SRSE (level U; 39 class IV studies total), insufficient evidence exists to support that perampanel, PGB, lidocaine, or acute vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is effective. For children and adults with SRSE, insufficient evidence exists to support that the KD is effective (level U; 5 class IV studies). For adults with SRSE, insufficient evidence exists that brain surgery is effective (level U, 7 class IV studies). For adults with SRSE insufficient, evidence exists that therapeutic hypothermia is effective (level C, 1 class II and 4 class IV studies). For neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, insufficient evidence exists that therapeutic hypothermia reduces seizure burden (level U; 1 class IV study). For adults with SRSE, insufficient evidence exists that inhalation anesthetics are effective (level U, 1 class IV study) and that there is a potential risk of neurotoxicity. Conclusion: For patients with SRSE insufficient, evidence exists that any of the ASMs reviewed, inhalational anesthetics, ketogenic diet, acute VNS, brain surgery, and therapeutic hypothermia are effective treatments. Data supporting the use of these treatments for SRSE are scarce and limited mainly to small case series and case reports and are confounded by differences in patients’ population, and comedications, among other factors.

Volatile Anesthetics Regulate Anti-Cancer Relevant Signaling

Volatile anesthetics are widely used inhalation anesthetics in clinical anesthesia. In recent years, the regulation of anti-cancer relevant signaling of volatile anesthetics has drawn the attention of investigators. However, their underlying mechanism remains unclear. This review summarizes the research progress on the regulation of anti-cancer relevant signaling of volatile anesthetics, including sevoflurane, desflurane, xenon, isoflurane, and halothane in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. The present review article aims to provide a general overview of regulation of anti-cancer relevant signaling and explore potential underlying molecular mechanisms of volatile anesthetics. It may promote promising insights of guiding clinical anesthesia procedure and instructing enhance recovery after surgery (ERAS) with latent benefits.

Postoperative emergence delirium in children: a narrative review of recent publications

Background: Emergence delirium is a challenge in pediatric anesthesiology, with important unanswered questions concerning incidence, causation, diagnosis, treatment, and sequelae. In this review, we will present the recent research with a particular focus placed on treatment and prevention options. Methods: A wide literature search was conducted across MEDLINE and other databases using PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library (latest access: 23 November 2020). The collected publications were assessed for relevance. Only randomized controlled trials and observational studies on postoperative emergence delirium in children were included. Exclusion criteria were articles published before 2018, and studies comprising children older than 12 years of age, mental retardation, or chronic diseases. Results: The final number of studies included in this review was 44. Risk factors identified for emergence delirium were volatile inhalation anesthetics, young age, child temperament, preoperative anxiety, male gender, and specific surgical procedures. Preventive and/or intervention measures were pharmacological (e.g. TIVA, α2-adrenergic agonists (particularly dexmedetomidine), ketamine, propofol, midazolam, opioids (fentanyl)) and non-pharmacological measures (e.g. video or tablet distraction, familiarization with the operating environment, use of mother’s voice, visual preconditioning in eye surgery). Conclusion: ED should be considered a “vital sign” and recorded and documented in all children in the PACU. There is an urgent need for future research to fill in missing gaps of knowledge regarding ED. Implementation of a standardized and validated screening tool for ED are high priorities as is the impact of perioperative monitoring of children at risk to prevent ED.