Hypotensive Episodes Research Articles

Hemodynamics following Prophylactic Phenylephrine Infusion in patients undergoing Cesarean Section under Spinal Anesthesia

Introduction: Phenylephrine is considered the vasopressor of choice in hypotension associated with obstetric spinal anesthesia. But the dose and mode of administration that is effective yet safe in mother as well as fetus remains controversial. We studied the hemodynamics of parturients who received prophylactic infusion of phenylephrine 50µg/min following spinal anesthesia. Methods: Patients posted for elective cesarean section received a prophylactic phenylephrine infusion of 50µg/min immediately after spinal anesthesia for 30 minutes. Parturients were also co-loaded with lactated Ringer’s solution 1litre. Blood pressure and heart rate was monitored at an interval of 3min initially and after the delivery of baby interval was increased to 5min. Episodes of hypotension, reactive hypertension and bradycardia in mother were recorded. Neonatal APGAR score at 1 and 5min was also recorded. Results: One hundred and forty parturients were included in the study. Twenty patients (14.28%) developed hypotension. Out of 20 patients who developed hypotension, 3 patients (15%) had a single episode, 11 patients (55%) had 2 episodes and 6 patients (30%) had 3 episodes of hypotension. Three patients (2.14%) had reactive hypertension. None of the patients had bradycardia. There was no episode of hypotension induced nausea vomiting. Mean APGAR score at 1min and 5min was 8 and 9 respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypotension with prophylactic phenylephrine infusion was low. We found minimal episodes of reactive hypertension, no episodes of bradycardia and no adverse effect on fetus. It can be regarded a safe means to minimize hypotension in obstetric spinal anesthesia.

Hypotensive episodes at 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring predict adverse outcomes in Parkinson's disease.

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a frequent nonmotor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD), associated with adverse outcomes. Recently, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) showed good accuracy in diagnosing nOH. This study aims at evaluating the prognostic role of ABPM-hypotensive episodes in predicting PD disability milestones and mortality and comparing it to the well-defined prognostic role of bedside nOH. Patients with PD who underwent ABPM from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively enrolled and assessed for the development of falls, fractures, dementia, bed/wheelchair confinement, hospitalization, and mortality, during an up-to-10-year follow-up. Significant ABPM-hypotensive episodes were identified when greater than or equal to two episodes of systolic BP drop ≥ 15mmHg (compared with the average 24h) were recorded during the awakening-to-lunch period. A total of 99 patients (74% male, age 64.0 ± 10.1years, and PD duration 6.4 ± 4.0years) were enrolled. At baseline, 38.4% of patients had ABPM-hypotensive episodes and 46.5% had bedside nOH. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with ABPM-hypotensive episodes showed earlier onset of falls (p = 0.001), fractures (p = 0.004), hospitalizations (p = 0.009), bed/wheelchair confinement (p = 0.032), dementia (p = 0.001), and shorter survival (8.0 versus 9.5years; p = 0.009). At Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age, disease duration, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Hoehn and Yahr stage) a significant association was confirmed between ABPM-hypotensive episodes and falls [odds ratio (OR) 3.626; p = 0.001), hospitalizations (OR 2.016; p = 0.038), and dementia (OR 2.926; p = 0.008), while bedside nOH was only associated with falls (OR 2.022; p = 0.039) and dementia (OR 1.908; p = 0.048). The presence of at least two ABPM-hypotensive episodes independently predicted the development of falls, dementia, and hospitalization, showing a stronger prognostic value than the simple bedside assessment.

Comparison of sequential and mixture injections of opioids and hyperbaric bupivacaine for subarachnoid block for lower segment caesarean section: a randomised controlled study.

Opioids are commonly added to local anaesthetic for subarachnoid block for caesarean section due to their synergistic effects. The physiochemical characteristics of opioids suggest premixing with hyperbaric bupivacaine may limit their distribution within the CSF. We studied the effect of a separate injection with a combination of bupivacaine, morphine and fentanyl on block characteristics, haemodynamic changes, postoperative pain and patient satisfaction. Following ethical approval and informed consent, a prospective double-blinded randomised controlled trial was performed in a university hospital. A total of 126 patients undergoing caesarean section were randomised to two groups. In group M, the premixed group, patients received 12mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine, 20 mcg of fentanyl and 100 mcg of morphine injected as a single mixture. In group S, the separate injection group, patients received the same drugs in separate injections. Measurements included haemodynamics, block distribution, intra- and postoperative pain, as well as patient satisfaction. Patients in both groups had similar block height, time to maximum sensory block, time to block regression and motor block. However, haemodynamics were different between the groups. The proportion of systolic hypotension episodes was greater in group S [159/1320 (12.05%)] than group M [113/1452 (7.78%)], with P = 0.0002. Moreover, a greater amount of ephedrine was administered in group S than group M, with values 12.09 (8.1) and 9.09 (8.5) mg respectively (P = 0.001). Additionally, postoperative pain, as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), was greater in group M, with a VAS of 4.6 (1.7), vs. group S, which recorded a VAS of 3.8 (2.0) (P = 0.017). Sequential injection of intrathecal opioids and hyperbaric bupivacaine resulted in greater early haemodynamic instability and slightly better postoperative analgesia without any difference in block height or patient satisfaction. NCT04403724.

Efficacy and safety during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) under total intravenous anesthesia – propofol alone versus propofol supplemented with dexketa, a comparative study in medical college, Kolkata

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an invasive procedure and, hence, is distressing for awake patients, requiring an adequate level of anesthesia. Recent advancements have encouraged the use of monitored anesthesia care, that allows the patient to tolerate unpleasant experiences during procedures while maintaining cardio-respiratory function. Usually, propofol-based anesthesia is given in ERCP. The main aim of this study is to compare the effect of propofol alone and propofol with ketamine and dexmedetomidine on the hemodynamics during ERCP, recovery profile, and side effects (if any). Aims and Objectives: (1) To compare efficacy in terms of hemodynamic stability and desaturation events. (2) Recovery and quality of recovery. (3) Pain score. (4) Incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting. Materials and Methods: This is a comparative double-blinded study. Adult patients from the age group of 18–70 years belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA-I) and ASA-II who had undergone ERCP under total intravenous anesthesia were taken and randomly assigned to either of the two groups. Both groups received 0.01 mg/kg glycopyrrolate, 0.1 mg/kg ondansetron, 0.05 mg/kg midazolam, 50 mcg fentanyl, and 40 mg hyoscine. Group A patients received 30 mg propofol as a bolus dose and then repeated according to requirements. Group B patients received 0.5 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine as a loading dose and 0.3 mcg/kg/h as a maintenance infusion dose. 30 mg propofol was given before negotiating scope and then 1 mL (1:1) mixture of propofol and ketamine was repeated according to requirements. Total propofol consumption, hemodynamics, quality of recovery, and side effects (if any) were recorded at regular intervals. Results: The study showed significant cases in Group A had episodes of hypotension and apneic events, whereas there were very few hemodynamic instability and almost no apneic events in Group B patients. The requirement of propofol was much higher in Group A patients. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine when used along with propofol and ketamine in ERCP patients reduced the dose requirement of propofol and maintained hemodynamic stability without causing any apneic events.

Impact of Gabapentin on Postoperative Hypotension in Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocols for Microvascular Breast Reconstruction.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been associated with hypotensive episodes after autologous breast reconstruction. Gabapentin (Gaba), a nonopioid analgesic used in ERAS, has been shown to attenuate postoperative hemodynamic responses. This study assesses ERAS's impact, with and without Gaba, on postoperative hypotension after microvascular breast reconstruction. Three cohorts were studied: traditional pathway, ERAS + Gaba, and ERAS no-Gaba. We evaluated length of stay, inpatient narcotic use [morphine milligram equivalents (MME)], mean systolic blood pressure, hypotension incidence, and complications. The traditional cohort was retrospectively reviewed, whereas the ERAS groups were enrolled prospectively after the initiation of the protocol in April 2019 (inclusive of Gaba until October 2022). In total, 441 patients were analyzed. The three cohorts, in the order mentioned above, were similar in age and bilateral reconstruction rates (57% versus 61% versus 60%). The ERAS cohorts, both with and without Gaba, had shorter stays (P < 0.01). Inpatient MME was significantly less in the ERAS + Gaba cohort than the traditional or ERAS no-Gaba cohorts (medians: 112 versus 178 versus 158 MME, P < 0.01). ERAS + Gaba significantly increased postoperative hypotensive events on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 2, with notable reduction after Gaba removal (P < 0.05). Across PODs 0-2, mean systolic blood pressure was highest in the traditional cohort, followed by ERAS no-Gaba, then the ERAS + Gaba cohort (P < 0.05). Complication rates were similar across all cohorts. Postmicrovascular breast reconstruction, ERAS + Gaba reduced overall inpatient narcotic usage, but increased hypotension incidence. Gaba removal from the ERAS protocol reduced postoperative hypotension incidence while maintaining similar stay lengths and complication rates.

The Effect of Full-Dose Versus Half-Dose Ketamine for Induction During Rapid Sequence Intubation on Patient Outcomes.

Prehospital rapid sequence intubation (RSI), like inpatient RSI, is not without risk of adverse effects to the patient. The most notable of these adverse effects is postintubation hemodynamic instability. Air medical providers choose induction agents for critically ill patients who require emergent airway management, some of whom may already be hemodynamically unstable prior to RSI. Ketamine is often selected as the induction agent of choice for patients who are either unstable before RSI or have a high index of suspicion of becoming unstable in the postintubation period. Although widely considered to have a good safety profile for induction, ketamine administration has been correlated with episodes of postintubation hypotension. In this retrospective literature review, the effect of using half-dose ketamine for induction in patients who show pre-RSI instability (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg or body mass index >30) on postintubation hemodynamics is examined.

Reducing Time to Postintubation Sedation in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Inadequate postintubation sedation (PIS) can lead to unplanned extubations, conscious paralysis, and overall unsafe care of patients. From 2018 to 2020, we realized at our hospital that ∼25% of children received sedation in an adequate time frame in the pediatric emergency department, with 2 unplanned dislodgements of the endotracheal tube. Our objective was to reduce time to initiating PIS from a mean of 39 minutes to less than 15 minutes in our pediatric emergency department by September 2021. A multidisciplinary team was formed in March 2020 to develop a key driver diagram and a protocol to standardize PIS. Baseline data were obtained from December 2017 through March 2020. The primary measure was time from intubation to administration of first sedation medication. Plan-do-study-act cycles informed interventions for protocol development, awareness, education, order set development, and PIS checklist. The secondary measure was unplanned extubations and the balancing measure was PIS-related hypotension requiring pressors. An X-bar and S chart were used to analyze data. Protocol implementation was associated with decrease in mean time to PIS from 39 minutes to 21 minutes. Following educational interventions, order set implementation, and the addition of PIS plan to the intubation checklist, there was a decrease in mean time to PIS to 13 minutes, which was sustained for 9 months without any observed episodes of PIS-related hypotension or unplanned extubations. Quality improvement methodology led to a sustained reduction in time to initiation of PIS in a pediatric emergency department.

The Accumulative Effect of Intravenous Prostaglandin E1 over Nineteen Years to Treat the Ocular Ischemia in High Myopia Keywords: Ocular ischemia, high myopia, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), extreme choroidal thinning Prostaglandin E1 in High Myopia.

The purpose of this paper is to present the clinical history of the use of intrarvenous (IV) prostaglandin E1(PGE1), a potent vasodilator of the peripheral vascular system, to treat the ischemia in high myopia. This was originally reported in 2009. Three patients with high myopia and progressive visual loss were seen. They all had documented ocular ischemia and were placed under treatment with IV PGE1 for the ischemia. All 3 had central and peripheral visual improvement which initially lasted from 10-14 days after each treatment. PGE1 was well tollerated by all 3. One abbandoned treatment after 4 months because she did not want to be part of an experiment. A second patient had irregular treatments which became ineffective after 15 years. The third has had regular treatments for the last 19 and 1/2 years maintaining a good visual acuity allowing an independent life. He has been able to extend the intervals between treatments to 3- 4 months. He had occasional hypotensive episodes when the medicine was increased especially during the summer. High myopia can be associated with severe central and/or peripheral visual loss. This can be due to ischemia and can lead to NLP in severe cases if not treated. The author presents the use of IV PGE1 as a possible treatment which could be tried in these cases.

Evaluation of Efficacy of a Quality Improvement Haemodialysis Safety Checklist for Nursing Staff: A Comparative Analysis

Haemodialysis is a life-sustaining procedure performed on patients with end-stage renal disease. However, it is not without risks and patient safety during haemodialysis is of utmost importance. This research study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a quality improvement Haemodialysis Safety Checklist in enhancing patient safety and improving the performance of nursing staff. A comparative analysis approach was employed to assess the impact of implementing the Haemodialysis Safety Checklist. The study involved two groups: an intervention group where the checklist was implemented and a control group where the checklist was not introduced. Patients’ health records were assessed then to check the frequency of complications/ serious events and deaths. The results of the study showed that the implementation of a checklist had a positive impact on compliance and safety during the dialysis procedure. Before dialysis, only one participant (0.1%) did not comply with thermometer reading, while the majority, 749 (99.9%), followed the protocol. Similarly, 5 participants (0.7%) did not undergo weight checks before dialysis, which decreased to four participants (0.5%) after checklist implementation. In terms of vital signs, 35 participants (4.7%) did not have them checked before dialysis, while only two participants (0.3%) skipped them post-dialysis. Adverse events were minimal, with most participants not experiencing hypoglycaemic or hypotensive episodes, complications at the access site, requiring Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) or encountering Code Blue situations, blood loss, falls, or needle stick injuries. The introduction of the checklist reduced the percentage of participants not having their weight measured after dialysis from 6.7% to 0.4%, with a statistically significant chi-square value ( &lt;0.001*). Similarly, the occurrence of cramps decreased from 99.7% to 98.9% after dialysis. These findings demonstrate the checklist’s effectiveness in improving compliance and reducing adverse events during dialysis.

Impact of resuscitation adjuncts on postintubation hypotension in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury.

Postintubation hypotension (PIH) is a risk factor of endotracheal intubation (ETI) after injury. For those with traumatic brain injury (TBI), one episode of hypotension can potentiate that injury. This study aimed to identify the resuscitation adjuncts that may decrease the incidence of PIH in this patient population. This is a 4-year (2019-2022) prospective observational study at a level I trauma center. Adult (18 years or older) patients with isolated TBI requiring ETI in the trauma bay were included. Blood pressures were measured 15 minutes preintubation and postintubation. Primary outcome was PIH, defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure of ≥20% from baseline or to ≤80 mm Hg, or any decrease in mean arterial pressure to ≤60 mm Hg. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the associations of preintubation vasopressor, hypertonic saline (HTS), packed red blood cell, and crystalloids on PIH incidence. Of the 490 enrolled patients, 16% had mild (head AIS, ≤2), 35% had moderate (head AIS, 3-4), and 49% had severe TBI (head AIS, ≥5). The mean ± SD age was 42 ± 22 years, and 71% were male. The median ISS, head AIS, and Glasgow Coma Scale were 26 (19-38), 4 (3-5), and 6 (3-11), respectively. The mean ± SD systolic blood pressure 15 minutes preintubation and postintubation were 118 ± 46 and 106 ± 45, respectively. Before intubation, 31% received HTS; 10%, vasopressors; 20%, crystalloids; and 14%, at least 1 U of packed red blood cell (median, 2 [1-2] U). Overall, 304 patients (62%) developed PIH. On multivariable regression analysis, preintubation use of vasopressors and HTS was associated with significantly decreased odds of PIH independent of TBI severity, 0.310 (0.102-0.944, p = 0.039) and 0.393 (0.219-0.70, p = 0.002), respectively. Nearly two thirds of isolated TBI patients developed PIH. Preintubation vasopressors and HTS are associated with a decreased incidence of PIH. Such adjuncts should be considered prior to ETI in patients with suspected TBI. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

AcumenTM hypotension prediction index guidance for prevention and treatment of hypotension in noncardiac surgery: a prospective, single-arm, multicenter trial

BackgroundIntraoperative hypotension is common during noncardiac surgery and is associated with postoperative myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, stroke, and severe infection. The Hypotension Prediction Index software is an algorithm based on arterial waveform analysis that alerts clinicians of the patient’s likelihood of experiencing a future hypotensive event, defined as mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg for at least 1 min.MethodsTwo analyses included (1) a prospective, single-arm trial, with continuous blood pressure measurements from study monitors, compared to a historical comparison cohort. (2) A post hoc analysis of a subset of trial participants versus a propensity score-weighted contemporaneous comparison group, using external data from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG). The trial included 485 subjects in 11 sites; 406 were in the final effectiveness analysis. The post hoc analysis included 457 trial participants and 15,796 comparison patients. Patients were eligible if aged 18 years or older, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 3 or 4, and scheduled for moderate- to high-risk noncardiac surgery expected to last at least 3 h. Measurements: minutes of mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 65 mmHg and area under MAP < 65 mmHg.ResultsAnalysis 1: Trial subjects (n = 406) experienced a mean of 9 ± 13 min of MAP below 65 mmHg, compared with the MPOG historical control mean of 25 ± 41 min, a 65% reduction (p < 0.001). Subjects with at least one episode of hypotension (n = 293) had a mean of 12 ± 14 min of MAP below 65 mmHg compared with the MPOG historical control mean of 28 ± 43 min, a 58% reduction (p< 0.001). Analysis 2: In the post hoc inverse probability treatment weighting model, patients in the trial demonstrated a 35% reduction in minutes of hypotension compared to a contemporaneous comparison group [exponentiated coefficient: − 0.35 (95%CI − 0.43, − 0.27); p < 0.001].ConclusionsThe use of prediction software for blood pressure management was associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in the duration of intraoperative hypotension. Further studies must investigate whether predictive algorithms to prevent hypotension can reduce adverse outcomes.Trial registrationClinical trial number: NCT03805217. Registry URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03805217. Principal investigator: Xiaodong Bao, MD, PhD. Date of registration: January 15, 2019.

The association of cumulative vasoactive drugs and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm Infants

To assess the effect of cardiovascular medications on the neurodevelopment of preterm infants, as measured by calculated cumulative time of vasoactive-inotropic score (VISct). A retrospective study was conducted on preterm infants who developed significant hypotension defined as a mean BP more than 2SDs below the mean for GA and received treatment with duration > 6 hours for each hypotensive episode, we calculated the vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) and cumulative exposure to cardiovascular medications over time (VISct). The composite Bayley III was reported from the high-risk follow-up clinic for the surviving infants between 18 to 21 months corrected age. VISct was significantly higher in infants with abnormal neurodevelopment. Cognitive Bayley was the most affected component with median (IQR) VISct 882.5(249,2047) versus 309(143,471) (p-value 0.012), followed by language function with VISct 786(261,1563.5), versus 343(106.75,473.75) (p-value 0.016) when those with Bayley III <85 were compared with those with normal Bayley IIIs. High VISct scores may have negative effect on cognitive and language neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Retrospective Study on the Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting and Hypotension During Orthognathic Surgery Using Propofol or Remimazolam.

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of early (up to 2 h) and late (2-24 h) postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and hypotension in patients who underwent general anesthesia for orthognathic surgery using propofol or remimazolam along with remifentanil. This retrospective chart review included healthy adult patients under the age of 60 who underwent orthognathic surgery using propofol (P group) or remimazolam (R group) from January 2021 to March 2022. Records were reviewed to gather PONV and intraoperative hypotension data as well as patient characteristics and other variables. Early PONV was significantly lower in the P group vs the R group (9.5% vs 34.1%, respectively; P = .002), although the difference in late PONV was insignificant (36.9% vs 51.2%, respectively; P = .13). A higher incidence of intraoperative hypotension was noted in the P group (22.6%) vs the R group (2.4%; P = .004); however, there were no differences in average intraoperative systolic blood pressure or vasopressor administration. These results suggest that propofol is associated with a lower incidence of early PONV as compared to remimazolam; however, antiemetics are still recommended given the frequency of late PONV in both groups. Propofol also caused more episodes of intraoperative hypotension vs remimazolam, but the increase in transient hypotension is likely to be irrelevant during orthognathic surgery in healthy adults under the age of 60.

The severity of chronic heart failure and the parameters of daily blood pressure profile in patients with coronary heart disease

Aim: Although the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension which are the most common causes of the development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF) is high, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) in patients with CHF is not mandatory to be performed. The growing number of evidence suggests that excessive decrease in BP which clearly reflects increased BP variability (BPV) affects the survival of patients with heart failure (HF). The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between the parameters specific to CHF severity and features of daily BP profiles in patients with ischemic CHF and hypertension. Methods: Ninety patients with functional class II–IV of CHF and CHD (the main group) and 50 non-CHF patients with hypertension (the comparative group) were examined. The transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) [atrial end-systolic dimension (ESD), ventricular end-diastolic dimension (EDD), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)] and 24-hour ABPM (BPV parameters and proportions of hypotensive episodes) were performed. The relationships between the abovementioned parameters were evaluated using the univariate correlation analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression. Results: Higher functional class of CHF is found to be associated with a higher incidence of daytime systolic BP (SBP) decline and nighttime SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) variability while higher LVEF is related to the hypotensive episodes regardless of CHF. Conclusions: It appears that the larger trials involving CHF patients with reduced LVEF should be conducted to clarify the obtained results.

Cardiovascular complications in non-cardiac surgery: what remains out of sight?

Aim. To evaluate any cardiovascular abnormalities in the postoperative period, their prevalence and impact on the course of postoperative period in patients after non-cardiac surgery, which underwent postoperative examinations of cardiovascular system.Material and methods. The study included 2937 patients. The assessed end points were postoperative cardiovascular events (CVEs). Along with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), we analyzed any cardiovascular abnormalities in the postoperative period as follows: electrocardiographic ST-T abnormalities, acute or decompensated heart failure (HF), arrhythmias, episodes of hypotension or hypertension, bleeding, thromboembolic events (TEEs), cerebrovascular events, postoperative delirium. Any CVEs constituted the any cardiovascular events' (ACVEs) group. Statistical analysis was carried out using the StatTech v program. 3.1.6 (OOO Stattekh, Russia).Results. Any postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification were 54,7%, while grade 1 — 33,9%, grade 2 — 20,3%, grade 3 — 1 case, grade 4 — 0,4%, grade 5 — 0,1%. MACEs developed in 0,2% of cases. ACVEs amounted to 13,3%, including 2,3% — ST-T abnormalities, 6,3% — significant systolic blood pressure changes, 2,6% — arrhythmias, 0,7% — HF, 2,4% — bleeding, 1,1% — TEEs, 0,3% — delirium. In addition, 67 (17,5%) patients had ≥2 CVEs. Comparison of the length of hospital stay of patients with ACVEs, in particular with MACEs, ECG ST-T abnormalities, HF, arrhythmia, episodes of hypotension or hypertension, bleeding, TEEs, cerebrovascular events, delirium, with groups of patients without such complications revealed significant differences. ACVEs accounted for 1/4 of all postoperative complications and 2/3 of complications of grades 2-5.Conclusion. We expanded the concept of CVEs, united the totality of any cardiovascular abnormalities in the postoperative period, emphasized not only their clinical significance, but also the economic feasibility of taking into account ACVEs.

Cardiorespiratory consequences of attenuated fentanyl and augmented rocuronium dosing during protocolised prehospital emergency anaesthesia at a regional air ambulance service: a retrospective study

BackgroundPre-Hospital Emergency Anaesthesia (PHEA) has undergone significant developments since its inception. However, optimal drug dosing remains a challenge for both medical and trauma patients. Many prehospital teams have adopted a drug regimen of 3 mcg/kg fentanyl, 2 mg/kg ketamine and 1 mg/kg rocuronium (‘3:2:1’). At Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) a new standard dosing regimen was introduced in August 2021: 1 mcg/kg fentanyl, 2 mg/kg ketamine and 2 mg/kg rocuronium (up to a maximum dose of 150 mg) (‘1:2:2’). The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory consequences of a new attenuated fentanyl and augmented rocuronium dosing regimen.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted at EHAAT as a service evaluation. Anonymized records were reviewed from an electronic database to compare the original (‘3:2:1’) drug dosing regimen (December 2019-July 2021) and the new (‘1:2:2’) dosing regimen (September 2021-May 2023). The primary outcome was the incidence of absolute hypotension within ten minutes of induction. Secondary outcomes included immediate hypertension, immediate hypoxia and first pass success (FPS) rates.ResultsFollowing exclusions (n = 121), 720 PHEA cases were analysed (360 new vs. 360 original, no statistically significant difference in demographics). There was no difference in the rate of absolute hypotension (24.4% ‘1:2:2’ v 23.8% ‘3:2:1’, p = 0.93). In trauma patients, there was an increased first pass success (FPS) rate with the new regimen (95.1% v 86.5%, p = 0.01) and a reduced incidence of immediate hypoxia (7.9% v 14.8%, p = 0.05). There was no increase in immediate hypertensive episodes (22.7% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.73). No safety concerns were identified.ConclusionAn attenuated fentanyl and augmented rocuronium dosing regimen showed no difference in absolute hypotensive episodes in a mixed cohort of medical and trauma patients. In trauma patients, the new regimen was associated with an increased FPS rate and reduced episodes of immediate hypoxia. Further research is required to understand the impact of such drug dosing in the most critically ill and injured subpopulation.

AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO COMPARE SPINAL ANESTHESIA-INDUCED HEMODYNAMIC CHANGES IN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ON ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATIONS

Background: Spinal anesthesia is a popular and widely used anesthetic technique for lower abdominal, pelvic, and lower limb surgery. It has proven to be a convenient, economical, and easily motivated technique that provides excellent anesthesia and post-operative analgesia. Hypotension and bradycardia occur frequently following spinal anesthesia due to blockade of sympathetic outflow. Antihypertensive agents decrease this effect by controlling blood pressure. There are conflicting reports on the continuation of antihypertensive drugs on the day of surgery in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. Sudden hypotension could have detrimental effect on the organ systems. This study was undertaken to compare the spinal anesthesia-induced hemodynamic changes in normotensive and in hypertensive patients on antihypertensive therapy. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Anesthesiology, Gandhi Medical College, and associated Hamidia Hospital Bhopal during January 2019–July 2020. It was an observational study conducted on 100 patients of ASA Grade 2 and Grade 3 in the age group between 35 and 60 years. Undergoing lower limb surgery under spinal anesthesia, patients were allocated into two groups: Group N (n=50) normotensive and Group H (n=50) hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive medication. Results: Incidence of hypotension was significantly higher in Group II patients. Single episode of hypotension was seen in 12 (24.0%) patients in Group I and 33 (66.0%) in Group II patients respectively. Three episodes of hypotension were seen in 3 (6.0%) Group I and 4 (8.0%) Group II patients, respectively. The frequency of administration of mephentermine was 2 times more significant in Group II who required treatment with mephentermine more than twice as compared to Group I (p=0.001). There was statistically no significant difference found in mean Heart rate between Group I (normotensive) and Group II (hypertensive), respectively (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Antihypertensive medications decreased the incidence of hypotension by controlling blood pressure but their varying effects on the cardiovascular system might alter the hemodynamics during the initial phase of subarachnoid block. We found that patients on antihypertensive therapy (calcium channel blockers) had increased incidence of intraoperative hypotension after SAB and when compared to normotensive patients required vasopressors more often to maintain normal blood pressure.

Comparison Between 3 Different Norepinephrine Bolus Doses for Management of Postspinal Hypotension During the Caesarean Section for Patients with Preeclampsia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: There is no established dose for norepinephrine (NE) in the management of postspinal hypotension. The data on its use in women with preeclampsia (PE) are limited. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of using different NE bolus doses for the management of postspinal hypotension during lower segment cesarean section for patients with PE. Methods: This randomized, double-blind trial included mothers with PE scheduled for cesarean delivery who developed postspinal hypotension. Sixty participants were allocated to receive 3, 4, or 5 µg of NE bolus. The primary outcome was the neonatal bicarbonate level. The secondary outcomes were successful management of hypotension, incidence of reactive hypertension, nausea, vomiting, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate (HR) readings through the operation, umbilical blood gases, and Apgar scores. Results: The number of hypotensive episodes, bradycardia episodes, successfully treated hypotensive episodes, and total NE dose per patient were lower in the 4- and 5-µg groups compared with the 3-µg group. Systolic blood pressure was generally higher in the 4- and 5-µg groups than in the 3-µg group starting from 12 min postspinal till 28 min postspinal. The heart rate decreased compared to the baseline reading starting from 4, 6, and 2 min postspinal in the 3-, 4-, and 5-µg groups, respectively, till 28 min postspinal. Also, HR was higher in the 4- and 5-µg groups compared to the 3-µg group at 6-12 min postspinal. Following the first NE bolus, SBP remained lower than the baseline reading in the 3 groups, and HR decreased compared to the baseline reading in the 3- and 5-µg groups only. Conclusions: The 3-, 4-, and 5-µg doses had comparable efficacy in managing the first hypotensive episode and comparable neonatal outcomes. The 4- and 5-µg doses significantly decreased the total NE requirements and the number of hypotensive episodes. The incidence of maternal bradycardia was not significantly different between the groups.

Long Term Remission of Capillary Leak Syndrome Associated with Monoclonal Gammopathy with Progression to Multiple Myeloma After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: a Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Clarkson's disease is a very rare entity characterised by acute episodes of systemic oedema and severe hypotension associated with paraproteinaemia. Its classical treatment relies on methylxanthine combined with terbutaline. Although this prophylactic therapy reduces the mortality rate, relapses are frequent. Eighty percent of patients with Clarkson's disease present with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). The risk of progression to multiple myeloma is 1% per year. Here, we present a 49-year-old woman who suffered multiple such episodes requiring treatment in the intensive care unit. Treatment with terbutaline and theophylline was ineffective. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) 8 years after the first of these acute episodes. Antimyeloma treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone was started, followed by autologous haemopoietic transplantation, with no further acute episodes since then. Our case is, to our knowledge, unique because eradication of MM was followed by complete disappearance of acute episodes of capillary leakage. Our case report is also the first to support the use of bortezomib and dexamethasone in this setting. Furthermore, autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation consolidated the MM stringent complete remission achieving a very long progression-free survival (> 11 years) of both MM and Clarkson's disease.

Crystalloid Fluid Management of Non-Traumatic Hypotension by New South Wales Ambulance

Introduction Shock is circulatory insufficiency, inadequate oxygen delivery, and cellular hypoxia. Intravenous fluids are essential for shock management. Despite treatment, patients can face persistent shock with ongoing hypotension, contributing to higher mortality. This analysis aims to quantify hypotensive non-traumatic cases in an Australian ambulance service, determine persistent hypotension prevalence, and assess paramedic-administered intravascular fluids’ impact on blood pressure changes. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of prehospital fluid resuscitation by New South Wales Ambulance paramedics during 2022. Hypotension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of ≤ 90 mmHg, and persistent hypotension is a systolic blood pressure consistently below 90 mmHg across all observations, with a final blood pressure below 90 mmHg. This study aimed to determine the volume of fluid resuscitation at which a plateau in population-level systolic blood pressure response is observed, by calculating the derivative of the fitted logistic regression model. Moreover, this analysis identified the relative contribution of factors influencing the probability of an attempt at intravenous or intraosseous access using machine learning. Results Among 796,865 attendances, 23,049 (2.9%) involved non-traumatic patients with hypotension. In total 7,388 (32.1%) of the hypotensive cases resulted in persistent hypotension, of which 3,235 (43.8%) received Hartmann’s solution and 1,745 (53.9%) received at least 500 ml of fluids but still had hypotension. The model showed that systolic blood pressure tends to stop increasing after 500–600 milliliters of fluid are given. This suggests that, on average, giving more fluid than this may not raise blood pressure further in a prehospital setting, though individual patient needs can differ. The top four factors from the machine learning shows that as initial respiratory rate goes up, the probability of intravascular access rises. Transport times less than 20 min are associated with a smaller chance of access and younger patients are less likely to receive an attempt. Finally, extremes of systolic blood pressure are more likely to receive access attempts. Conclusion This study found that three percent of non-traumatic attendances have at least one episode of hypotension, and that more than half of these have persistent hypotension. Only 44% of persistently hypotensive received fluids, and half of persistently hypotensive patients stayed hypotensive despite a reasonable volume of prehospital crystalloids.