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Age and Ageing Jun 2024Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the lower limb manifestation of systemic atherosclerotic disease. PAD may initially present with symptoms of intermittent... (Review)
Review
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the lower limb manifestation of systemic atherosclerotic disease. PAD may initially present with symptoms of intermittent claudication, whilst chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI), the end stage of PAD, presents with rest pain and/or tissue loss. PAD is an age-related condition present in over 10% of those aged ≥65 in high-income countries. Guidelines regarding definition, diagnosis and staging of PAD and CLTI have been updated to reflect the changing patterns and presentations of disease given the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Recent research has changed guidelines on optimal medical therapy, with low-dose anticoagulant plus aspirin recommended in some patients. Recently published randomised trials highlight where bypass-first or endovascular-first approaches may be optimal in infra-inguinal disease. New techniques in endovascular surgery have increased minimally invasive options for ever more complex disease. Increasing recognition has been given to the complexity of patients with CLTI where a high prevalence of both frailty and cognitive impairment are present and a significant burden of multi-morbidity and polypharmacy. Despite advances in minimally invasive revascularisation techniques and reduction in amputation incidence, survival remains poor for many with CLTI. Shared decision-making is essential, and conservative management is often appropriate for older patients. There is emerging evidence of the benefit of specialist geriatric team input in the perioperative management of older patients undergoing surgery for CLTI. Recent UK guidelines now recommend screening for frailty, cognitive impairment and delirium in older vascular surgery patients as well as recommending all vascular surgery services have support and input from specialist geriatrics teams.
Topics: Humans; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Aged; Endovascular Procedures; Risk Factors; Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia; Vascular Surgical Procedures; Age Factors; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 38877714
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae114 -
Perioperative Medicine (London, England) Jun 2024Remimazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine newly approved for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Remimazolam emerges as an ideal drug for the...
BACKGROUND
Remimazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine newly approved for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Remimazolam emerges as an ideal drug for the neurosurgical population due to its rapid emergence, enabling early neurological assessment, and its ability to maintain perfusion pressure, which is crucial for preventing cerebral ischemia. However, the use of benzodiazepine has been associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium (POD). There is currently limited evidence about the relationship between remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and POD.
METHODS
In this double-blind, randomized, non-inferiority trial, we plan to include 696 adult patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I to III, undergoing elective neurovascular surgery under general anesthesia. After informed consent, the patients will be randomized to receive either remimazolam or propofol-based TIVA with a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the incidence of POD within 5 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include subtypes, number of positive assessments and severity of POD, emergence agitation, intraoperative awareness and undesirable patient movement, intraoperative hypotension, and postoperative cognitive function. The data will be analyzed in modified intention to treat.
DISCUSSION
This trial will evaluate the effect of remimazolam on the development of POD compared to propofol anesthesia. The results of this trial will provide evidence regarding the choice of optimal anesthetics to minimize the risk of POD in neurosurgical patients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The study protocol was prospectively registered at the Clinical trials ( https://clinicaltrials.gov , NCT06115031, principal investigator: Jiseon Jeong; date of first registration: November 2, 2023, before the recruitment of the first participant.
PubMed: 38877533
DOI: 10.1186/s13741-024-00415-6 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Jun 2024Women undergoing cardiac surgery have been historically recognized to carry higher periprocedural mortality risk. We aimed to investigate the influence of sex on...
BACKGROUND
Women undergoing cardiac surgery have been historically recognized to carry higher periprocedural mortality risk. We aimed to investigate the influence of sex on clinical presentation, perioperative, and long-term outcomes in patients who undergo surgery for ascending aortic aneurysm.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of 1148 consecutive patients (380 [33.1%] female) who underwent thoracic aortic surgery under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest for ascending aortic aneurysms between 2001 and 2021. Baseline and operative characteristics, in-hospital mortality, and survival were compared between male and female patients before and after propensity-score-matched (PSM) analysis.
RESULTS
Women were significantly older (median age: 69 [IQR: 63-75] vs. 67 [IQR: 58-73]; P < 0.001), while men had a higher prevalence of aortic valve stenosis, bicuspid valve and coronary artery disease at the time of surgery (P < 0.05). After PSM, EuroSCORE II (4.36 [2.68; 6.87] vs. 3.22 [1.85; 5.31]; p < 0.001), and indexed aortic diameter were significantly higher in female patients (2.94 [2.68; 3.30] vs. 2.58 [2.38; 2.81] cm/m2, p < 0.001). In the matched cohort, men were more likely to experience postoperative delirium (18.1% vs. 11.5%; P = 0.002), and postoperative neurological deficits (6.7% vs. 3.0%, P = 0.044),. Female patients were more likely to receive postoperative packed red blood cells (p = 0.036) and fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.049). In-hospital and 30-day mortality was similar between both groups. Long-term survival was comparable between both groups with 88% vs. 88% at 5 years, 76% vs. 71% at 10 years, and 59% vs. 47% at 15 years.
CONCLUSION
Female patients required more transfusions, while males had a higher incidence of postoperative delirium and neurological deficits. Differences in preoperative age and timing of surgery between the sexes could be attributed to variations in comorbidity profiles and the greater prevalence of concomitant surgery indications in males.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Propensity Score; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Hospital Mortality; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Risk Factors; Aneurysm, Ascending Aorta
PubMed: 38877532
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02646-6 -
Intensive & Critical Care Nursing Jun 2024We tested the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial for comparing primary nursing with standard care.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial for comparing primary nursing with standard care.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Elective cardiac surgical patients were eligible for inclusion. Patients with an intensive care unit stay of ≥ 3 days were followed up until intensive care unit discharge. Recruitment period was one year.
SETTING
Two intensive care units at a university hospital specialized in cardiovascular and diabetic diseases.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Primary outcomes were recruitment and delivery rate. Primary clinical outcome was duration of delirium, as assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of delirium, anxiety (10-point Numeric Rating Scale), and the satisfaction of patient relatives (validated questionnaire).
RESULTS
Of 369 patients screened, 269 could be allocated to primary nursing (n = 134) or standard care (n = 135), of whom 46 patients and 48 patients, respectively, underwent an intensive care unit stay ≥ 3 days. Thus, recruitment and delivery rates were 73 and 26 %, respectively. During primary nursing and standard care, 18 and 24 patients developed a delirium, with a median duration of 32 (IQR: 14-96) and 24 (IQR: 8-44) hours (P = 0.10). The risk difference of delirium for primary nursing versus standard care was 11 % and the relative risk was 0.65 (95 % CI: 0.28-1.46; P = 0.29). The extent of anxiety was similar between groups (P = 0.13). Satisfaction could be assessed in 73.5 % of relatives, without substantial differences between groups.
CONCLUSION
Data demonstrate that a trial for comparing primary nursing with standard care is generally feasible. However, the incidence of delirium may be a better primary outcome parameter than delirium duration, both in terms of long-term patient outcome and robustness of data quality.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
A randomized clinical trial regarding nursing organization during intensive care unit stay requires detailed planning of patient recruitment, data evaluation, and power calculation.
PubMed: 38875775
DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2024.103748 -
Cureus May 2024Evidence shows tablet-based interactive distraction (TBID) is effective as a preoperative anxiolytic in pediatric patients. TBID involves age-appropriate video games... (Review)
Review
Evidence shows tablet-based interactive distraction (TBID) is effective as a preoperative anxiolytic in pediatric patients. TBID involves age-appropriate video games that have been preloaded onto a tablet (TAB) and subsequently given to a pediatric patient before the administration of anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of previous studies that have investigated the use of TBID to minimize preoperative anxiety. The literature criteria for this systematic review included randomized controlled trials and prospective studies that used TBID as a method to reduce preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients aged 1-12 years. Data extraction concentrated on the patient population to which the TABs were introduced, the method of TAB administration, how anxiety was evaluated, who completed the evaluations, and the results of each publication. This chosen data set is to systematically understand if TBID is effective and to identify the most practical ways to implement TBID. Collected data from the selected publications were entered into a table. For this systematic review, 27 publications from 2006 to 2023 were screened for eligibility. These studies were selected using a combination of MeSH terms and a Title-Abstract filter in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. These data represented 475 total patients (T) and 249 patients who implemented TAB use. The other 226 patients were used as various control groups. The outcome of each study is summarized and placed into a table. This study is expected to provide an overall assessment of the effectiveness of TBID and proposed guidelines for clinicians to incorporate TAB use into preoperative protocols. The time to give the TAB to the children impacts its efficiency. This review accentuates the effectiveness of utilizing TBID to mitigate preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients based on a comprehensive analysis of multiple prior studies conducted in diverse healthcare settings, including pediatric hospitals and surgical centers. TAB use demonstrated an effective reduction in perioperative anxiety, emergence of delirium, and time to discharge, increasing parental satisfaction compared to midazolam. These results are likely replicable across a broader range of clinical settings, provided the intervention parameters, such as the timing of TAB introduction and the personalization of content to patient interests, are carefully adapted to each situation. The anxiety evaluations of patients using TBID varied based on the evaluator. Therefore, future research should analyze if perceived anxiety in patients using TABs is consistent or not among the evaluators. The impact of this TBID review has the potential to set a new benchmark for managing pediatric preoperative anxiety, with significant implications for healthcare quality and patient satisfaction.
PubMed: 38872640
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60274 -
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction... Jun 2024Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) is a potentially life-threatening complication of alcohol use disorder (AUD) that can be challenging to recognize in hospitalized...
INTRODUCTION
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) is a potentially life-threatening complication of alcohol use disorder (AUD) that can be challenging to recognize in hospitalized patients. Our institution implemented universal AUD screening for all patients admitted to a non-critical care venue using the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale (PAWSS). At risk patients were then further assessed, utilizing the Glasgow Modified Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (GMAWS), and medicated according to a predetermined protocol. This study sought to determine whether this protocol decreased hospital length of stay, lowered the total benzodiazepine dose administered, and decreased adverse events attributable to AWS.
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study was conducted over a 6-year period from 2014 to 2020. The study included patients with an ICD-10 code diagnosis of AWS and subsequently divided them into two groups: pre- and post-protocol introduction. Outcome measures were compared pre- versus post-protocol introduction.
RESULTS
There were 181 patient encounters pre- and 265 patient encounters post-protocol. There was no statistically significant difference in median length of stay between the two groups (2.956 days pre and 3.250 days post-protocol, p = 0.058). Post-protocol, there was a statistically significant reduction in median total benzodiazepine dose (13.5 mg and 9 mg lorazepam equivalents pre- and post-protocol, p < 0.001) and in occurrence of delirium tremens (7.7 % pre and 2.3 % post-protocol, p = 0.006).
CONCLUSION
Protocol implementation did not reduce length of stay in patients with AUD but was associated with a significant reduction in total benzodiazepine dose and, when adjusted, a non-statistically significant decrease in progression to delirium tremens in hospitalized patients, after applying Bonferroni adjustment.
PubMed: 38871256
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209443 -
Minerva Anestesiologica Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Melatonin; Postoperative Complications; Delirium
PubMed: 38869260
DOI: 10.23736/S0375-9393.24.18170-9 -
Spine Surgery and Related Research May 2024The incidence of hyponatremia after orthopedic surgery is high. Hyponatremia may prolong hospitalization and increase mortality, but few reports have identified risk...
INTRODUCTION
The incidence of hyponatremia after orthopedic surgery is high. Hyponatremia may prolong hospitalization and increase mortality, but few reports have identified risk factors for hyponatremia after spinal surgery. This study aims to determine the incidence and risk factors for hyponatremia after spinal surgery.
METHODS
A total of 200 patients aged 20 years or older who underwent spinal surgery at our hospital from 2020-2021 were recruited. Data on age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, operation duration, blood loss, albumin level, the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), potassium level, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), sodium level, length of hospital stay, history of hypertension, dialysis status, the occurrence of delirium during hospital stay, and oral medication use were collected. Comparisons between the postoperative hyponatremia group and the postoperative normonatremia group were conducted to evaluate the impact of hyponatremia on clinical outcomes.
RESULTS
Postoperative hyponatremia was observed in 56 (28%) of the 200 patients after spinal surgery. Comparison between the postoperative hyponatremia group with the postoperative normonatremia group revealed that the patients in the postoperative hyponatremia group were significantly older (72 versus 68.5 years, p<0.01). Postoperative hyponatremia was significantly associated with low GNRI values (100.8 versus 109.3, p<0.01), low eGFR values (59.2 versus 70.8 mL/min/1.73 m, p<0.01), preoperative hyponatremia (138.5 vs. 141 mEq/L, p<0.01), and a high incidence of delirium (12.5% versus 2.7%, p=0.01). Older age (odds ratio=1.04, p=0.01) and preoperative hyponatremia (odds ratio=0.66, p value<0.01) were risk factors for postoperative hyponatremia.
CONCLUSIONS
In addition to older age and preoperative hyponatremia, the study identified new risk factors for postoperative hyponatremia, which are preoperative undernutrition and impaired renal function. The incidence of delirium was significantly higher in the postoperative hyponatremia group, suggesting that correcting preoperative hyponatremia and ensuring good nutrition may prevent delirium and thereby shorten hospital stays.
PubMed: 38868792
DOI: 10.22603/ssrr.2023-0158 -
PCN Reports : Psychiatry and Clinical... Dec 2023Trousseau syndrome is a hypercoagulability syndrome associated with cancer. It is known that delirium occasionally occurs after the onset of Trousseau syndrome. However,...
BACKGROUND
Trousseau syndrome is a hypercoagulability syndrome associated with cancer. It is known that delirium occasionally occurs after the onset of Trousseau syndrome. However, there have been no detailed reports about treatment for psychiatric symptoms of delirium associated with Trousseau syndrome.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 61-year-old man with lung cancer was hospitalized due to Trousseau syndrome. Delirium occurred after hospitalization and psychiatric symptoms worsened. Although haloperidol, risperidone, and chlorpromazine were used, severe insomnia persisted. After memantine (5 mg/day) was used with perospirone, the patient's psychiatric symptoms gradually decreased; he could sleep for 4-5 h at night. Due to psychiatric improvement, he was able to return home and resume immunotherapy for lung cancer as scheduled.
CONCLUSION
We report the first case of Trousseau syndrome delirium treated by memantine used with perospirone. Although further studies are needed, memantine and perospirone might be candidates for the management of psychiatric symptoms associated with Trousseau syndrome.
PubMed: 38868734
DOI: 10.1002/pcn5.159 -
PCN Reports : Psychiatry and Clinical... Jun 2024Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is increasingly recognized as a clinicoradiological syndrome. Its etiology is diverse,...
BACKGROUND
Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is increasingly recognized as a clinicoradiological syndrome. Its etiology is diverse, encompassing a variety of triggers, including infections and metabolic abnormalities. Uniquely, MERS may present with psychiatric symptoms, such as delirium, visual hallucinations, and catatonia, posing diagnostic challenges. The variability of these neuropsychiatric symptoms necessitates early diagnosis through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to avoid prolonged antipsychotic treatment.
CASE PRESENTATION
This report details a case of MERS in a 39-year-old male. The patient initially presented with headache, sore throat, and abnormal laboratory results: leukocytosis, neutrophilia with a left shift, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and hyponatremia. On the fourth day of admission, he developed severe anxiety and restlessness, exhibited thoughts of death, and reported experiencing vivid hallucinations upon closing his eyes. MRI revealed a hyperintense lesion in the corpus callosum. A lumbar puncture showed no increase in cell count or protein. The patient showed a positive response to treatment with antibiotics and olanzapine, demonstrating rapid symptomatic improvement. A follow-up MRI on the 11th day showed complete resolution of the brain lesions. Six months later, no neurological or psychiatric sequelae were noted. The patient's clinical progression and imaging findings led to a definitive diagnosis of MERS.
CONCLUSION
The early presentation of symptoms such as restlessness, hallucinations, and death ideation played a critical role in diagnosing MERS, with early MRI examination being instrumental in both diagnosis and preventing prolonged antipsychotic medication use.
PubMed: 38868082
DOI: 10.1002/pcn5.191