INTRODUCTION: Post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) delirium is a potentially preventable condition that results in a significant long-term effect. In a multicentre prospective cohort study, we investigate the incidence and risk factors of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: Patients were consented and recruited from 4 major hospitals in Singapore. Research ethics approval was obtained. Patients older than 65 years undergoing non-cardiac surgery >2 hours were recruited. Baseline perioperative data were collected. Preoperative baseline cognition was obtained. Patients were assessed in the post-anaesthesia care unit for delirium 30-60 minutes after arrival using the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC). RESULTS Ninety-eight patients completed the study. Eleven patients (11.2%) had postoperative delirium. Patients who had PACU delirium were older (74.6±3.2 versus 70.6±4.4 years, P=0.005). Univariate analysis showed those who had PACU delirium are more likely to be ASA 3 (63.6% vs 31.0%, P=0.019), had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of >60mL/min/1.73m2 (36.4% vs 10.6%, P=0.013), higher HbA1C value (7.8±1.2 vs 6.6±0.9, P=0.011), raised random blood glucose (10.0±5.0mmol/L vs 6.5±2.4mmol/L, P=0.0066), and moderate-severe depression (18.2% vs 1.1%, P=0.033). They are more likely to stay longer in hospital (median 8 days [range 4-18] vs 4 days [range 2-8], P=0.049). Raised random blood glucose is independently associated with increased PACU delirium on multivariate analysis.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Delirium/etiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) regulate the bioavailability and bioactivity of insulin-like growth factor. We aimed to evaluate whether the IGFBP-3 level undergo major changes during perioperative periods according to the different kind of anesthetic agents. METHODS: Eighteen adults scheduled for elective total abdominal hysterectomy were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to have either propofol or isoflurane for maintenance of general anesthesia. A venous sample was taken for analysis of IGFBP-3 at the following time points: before induction, at the time of peritoneal closure, 1 hour after extubation at recovery room, and 2 and 5 postoperative days. The samples were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosolvent assay. RESULTS: Demographic data were similar between groups. In the both groups, the IGFBP-3 concentration decreased after anesthesia induction, reaching a nadir at the time of peritoneal closure without a significant difference between groups. In analysis between groups, the IGFBP-3 concentration in the isoflurane group on the postoperative 5th day was recovered to preoperative value and significantly higher than that in the propofol group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that the anesthetics used for general anesthesia affect the IGFBP-3 level during perioperative periods. The decrease of IGFBP-3 level following anesthesia induction in the isoflurane group was recovered to preoperative value, whereas that observed in the propofol group was not recovered on the postoperative 5th day. Further study is needed to establish the definitive effect of general anesthetics on IGFBP-3 and provide a comprehensive interpretation.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, General ; Biological Availability ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Isoflurane ; Perioperative Period ; Propofol ; Recovery Room

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) increases the risk of post-surgery complications. This study uses Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) to identify Chinese adult surgical patients who are at a high risk of OSAS and to determine if the BQ could be used to detect potential high risk of adverse respiratory events in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Results indicated that only 11.4% of the patients were considered at a high risk of OSAS. Age and body mass index are the key factors for the risk of OSAS prevalence in China and also gender specific. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse respiratory events in the PACU was higher in patients with high risk of OSAS than others (6.8% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.001). They also stayed longer than others in the PACU (95 ± 28 min vs. 62 ± 19 min, P < 0.001). Age, high risk for OSAS, and smoking were independent risk factors for the occurrence of adverse respiratory events in the PACU. The BQ may be adopted as a screening tool for anesthesiologists in China to identify patients who are at high risk of OSAS and determine the potential risk of developing postoperative respiratory complications in the PACU.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Berlin ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Distribution ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; epidemiology ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

The most frequent perioperative cardiovascular event is cardiac dysrhythmia, defined as an abnormality of cardiac rate, rhythm or conduction. Although the occurrence of arrhythmia during the perioperative period is not uncommon, a case of newly developed perioperative atrial flutter which spontaneously converts to atrial fibrillation is rare. We report a case of atrial flutter that developed immediately after induction of general anesthesia, in a 70-year-old male patient who previously had a normal sinus rhythm. Atrial flutter changed spontaneously to atrial fibrillation after discharge to the recovery room. Dysrhythmia was unresponsive to drug therapy, and the atrial fibrillation disappeared after electric cardioversion.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Atrial Flutter* ; Drug Therapy ; Electric Countershock ; Humans ; Male ; Perioperative Period ; Recovery Room

PURPOSE: During emergence from anesthesia for a craniotomy, maintenance of hemodynamic stability and prompt evaluation of neurological status is mandatory. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare the effects of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil on airway reflex and hemodynamic change in patients undergoing craniotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four patients undergoing clipping of unruptured cerebral aneurysm were recruited. In the dexmedetomidine group, patients were administered dexmedetomidine (0.5 µg/kg) for 5 minutes, while the patients of the remifentanil group were administered remifentanil with an effect site concentration of 1.5 ng/mL until endotracheal extubation. The incidence and severity of cough and hemodynamic variables were measured during the recovery period. Hemodynamic variables, respiration rate, and sedation scale were measured after extubation and in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). RESULTS: The incidence of grade 2 and 3 cough at the point of extubation was 62.5% in the dexmedetomidine group and 53.1% in the remifentanil group (p=0.39). Mean arterial pressure (p=0.01) at admission to the PACU and heart rate (p=0.04 and 0.01, respectively) at admission and at 10 minutes in the PACU were significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group. Respiration rate was significantly lower in the remifentanil group at 2 minutes (p<0.01) and 5 minutes (p<0.01) after extubation. CONCLUSION: We concluded that a single bolus of dexmedetomidine (0.5 µg/kg) and remifentanil infusion have equal effectiveness in attenuating coughing and hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm clipping; however, dexmedetomidine leads to better preservation of respiration.
Adult ; Aged ; Airway Extubation ; *Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Cough/drug therapy ; *Craniotomy/adverse effects ; Dexmedetomidine/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Hemodynamics/*drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Reflex/*drug effects ; Respiratory System/blood supply/*drug effects/physiopathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) is one of the most common complications after general anesthesia. The goal of this retrospective study was to determine the risk factors of EA in adult patients who underwent general anesthesia. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 5,358 adult patients who stayed in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) of our hospital after general anesthesia during the 1-year period from January 2014 to December 2014. Psychological and behavioral status in the PACU was determined by the Aono four-point scale. Grade of 3 or 4 were considered as manifestations of EA. Multiple variables assessed EA risk factors. RESULTS: Two-hundred-forty-five patients (4.6%) developed EA. In multivariate analysis, male gender (OR = 1.626, P = 0.001), older age (OR = 1.010, P = 0.035), abdominal surgery (OR = 1.633, P = 0.002), spine surgery (OR = 1.777, P = 0.015), longer duration of anesthesia (OR = 1.002, P < 0.001), postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR = 20.164, P < 0.001) and postoperative pain (OR = 3.614, P < 0.001) were risk factors of EA. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender and older patients were risk factors of EA after general anesthesia in adult patients. Careful attention is needed for patients who receive abdominal or spine surgery, and who receive prolonged anesthesia. Adequate postoperative analgesia and antiemetic therapy should be provided to reduce the incidence of EA.
Adult* ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthesia, General* ; Delirium ; Dihydroergotamine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Spine

OBJECTIVETo explore the anesthetic effects of repeated administration of propofol combined with vitamin C in mice.

METHODSForty mice were subjected to daily intraperitoneal injections of 80 mg/kg propofol (P80 group), 70 mg/kg propofol and 50 mg/kg vitamin C (P70+Vc50 group), 55 mg/kg propofol and 100 mg/kg vitamin C (P55+Vc100 group), or 50 mg/kg propofol and 200 mg/kg vitamin C (P50+Vc200 group) for 6 consecutive days, and the anesthesia induction time and anesthesia duration were recorded.

RESULTSCompared with the P80 group, the mice in P55 + Vc100 group and P50 + Vc200 group showed significantly shorter anesthesia duration on the first 3 days (P<0.05). In all the groups, anesthesia duration was significantly shortened in the following days compared with that on day 1 (P<0.01); anesthesia duration was shorter on day 3 than on day 2 in P50 + Vc200 group (P<0.01), and was shorter on days 4, 5, and 6 than on day 2 in all the groups (P<0.01). In all the groups, the rate of loss of righting reflex (LORR) decreased gradually with time in a similar pattern.

CONCLUSIONVitamin C can reduce the dose of propofol without obviously affecting the anesthetic effect to reduce the incidence of drug tolerance and potential dose-related side effects of propofol.

Anesthesia ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drug Tolerance ; Mice ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of fast-track surgery combined with Chinese medicine treatment in devascularization operation for cirrhotic esophageal varices.

METHODSSeventy-two patients with cirrhotic esophageal varices were selected from January 2009 to June 2013, and randomly assigned to a conventional group and a fast-track group (fast-track surgery combined with Chinese medicine treatment) using a randomized digital table, 36 cases in each group. Operation and anesthesia recovery time, postoperative hospitalization and quality of life were recorded and compared between groups during the perioperative period.

RESULTSCompared with the conventional group, the fast-track group had longer operation time (253.6±46.4 min vs. 220.6±51.0 min) and anesthesia recovery time (50.5±15.9 min vs. 23.5±9.6 min; P<0.01); less bleeding (311.3±46.8 mL vs. 356.2±57.5 mL; P<0.01) and less transfusion (1932.3±106.9 mL vs. 2045.6±115.4 mL; P<0.01); as well as faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, shorter postoperative hospitalization and higher quality of life. There were no serious postoperative complications and no further bleeding occurred.

CONCLUSIONFast-track surgery combined with Chinese medicine treatment is a safe and feasible approach to accelerate the recovery of patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension in perioperative period of devascularization operation.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Blood Transfusion ; Chronic Disease ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Quality of Life ; Splenectomy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of sex on the cough-preventing effect of target-controlled infusion(TCI)of remifentanil during anesthetic emergence.

METHODSA total of 25 female(group F)and 25 male(group M)patients undergoing thyroidectomy were recruited in the current study. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil TCI.At the end of the surgery,inhalational anesthetics were discontinued,and remifentanil TCI at an effect-site concentration(Ce)of 2.0 ng/ml was maintained during emergence until extubation. The cough score,blood pressure,and heart rate(HR)during peri-extubation period as well as the respiratory rate,calm score,and sore throat score after extubation were evaluated.

RESULTSDuring extubation,the proportion of patients with no cough or just a single cough was significantly higher in group F than in group M(88% vs. 64%,P=0.047). Mean arterial pressure(P=0.025,P=0.037)and HR(P=0.035)were significantly increased during extubation compared with preoperative levels in group M.

CONCLUSIONSSex may influence the cough-preventing effect of remifentanil TCI during anesthetic emergence. At a Ce of 2.0 ng/ml,remifentanil has better cough-preventing effect and more stable hemodynamic status in females than in males.

Airway Extubation ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Blood Pressure ; Cough ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl Ethers ; Piperidines ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVES: To identify the incidence and the risk factors of emergence agitation in adults undergoing general anesthesia for nasal surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 792 patients aged > or =18 years who underwent general anesthesia for elective nasal surgery between July 2012 and August 2013. Patients in the postanesthesia care unit with a Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale> or =+1 at any time were considered to have emergence agitation. RESULTS: The overall incidence of emergence agitation is 22.2%. From multivariate regression analysis, the following six variables were found to be significantly associated with emergence agitation (P<0.05): younger age, recent smoking, sevoflurane anesthesia, postoperative pain on the numerical rating scale (NRS)> or =5, presence of a tracheal tube, and presence of a urinary catheter. Presence of a tracheal tube was the greatest risk factor, increasing the risk of developing emergence agitation by approximately fivefold (odds ratio, 5.448; 95% confidence interval, 2.973 to 9.982). Younger age was also a strong risk factor (odds ratio, 0.975 for each 1-year increase; 95% confidence interval, 0.964 to 0.987). Current smoking, sevoflurane anesthesia, postoperative pain of NRS> or =5, and the presence of a urinary catheter nearly doubled the risk of emergence agitation. CONCLUSION: Emergence agitation following general anesthesia is a common complication in adult nasal surgery patients. To reduce the occurrence and consequences of agitation episodes, elimination of the associated risk factors is necessary, especially in at-risk patients.
Adult* ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthesia, General* ; Dihydroergotamine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nasal Surgical Procedures* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Urinary Catheters