Difficult tracheal intubation in neonates and infants. NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE): a prospective European multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND: Neonates and infants are susceptible to hypoxaemia in the perioperative period. The aim of this study was to analyse interventions related to anaesthesia tracheal intubations in this European cohort and identify their clinical consequences. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of tracheal intubations of the European multicentre observational trial (NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe [NECTARINE]) in neonates and small infants with difficult tracheal intubation. The primary endpoint was the incidence of difficult intubation and the related complications. The secondary endpoints were the risk factors for severe hypoxaemia attributed to difficult airway management, and 30 and 90 day outcomes. RESULTS: Tracheal intubation was planned in 4683 procedures. Difficult tracheal intubation, defined as two failed attempts of direct laryngoscopy, occurred in 266 children (271 procedures) with an incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 5.8% (95% CI, 5.1–6.5). Bradycardia occurred in 8% of the cases with difficult intubation, whereas a significant decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO2<90% for 60 s) was reported in 40%. No associated risk factors could be identified among co-morbidities, surgical, or anaesthesia management. Using propensity scoring to adjust for confounders, difficult anaesthesia tracheal intubation did not lead to an increase in 30 and 90 day morbidity or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study demonstrate a high incidence of difficult tracheal intubation in children less than 60 weeks post-conceptual age commonly resulting in severe hypoxaemia. Reassuringly, the morbidity and mortality at 30 and 90 days was not increased by the occurrence of a difficult intubation event

Morbidity and mortality after anaesthesia in early life: results of the European prospective multicentre observational study, neonate and children audit of anaesthesia practice in Europe (NECTARINE)

BACKGROUND: Neonates and infants requiring anaesthesia are at risk of physiological instability and complications, but triggers for peri-anaesthetic interventions and associations with subsequent outcome are unknown. METHODS: This prospective, observational study recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. The primary aim was to identify thresholds of pre-determined physiological variables that triggered a medical intervention. The secondary aims were to evaluate morbidities, mortality at 30 and 90 days, or both, and associations with critical events. RESULTS: Infants (n=5609) born at mean (standard deviation [sd]) 36.2 (4.4) weeks postmenstrual age (35.7% preterm) underwent 6542 procedures within 63 (48) days of birth. Critical event(s) requiring intervention occurred in 35.2% of cases, mainly hypotension (>30% decrease in blood pressure) or reduced oxygenation (SpO2 <85%). Postmenstrual age influenced the incidence and thresholds for intervention. Risk of critical events was increased by prior neonatal medical conditions, congenital anomalies, or both (relative risk [RR]=1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.28) and in those requiring preoperative intensive support (RR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.15–1.41). Additional complications occurred in 16.3% of patients by 30 days, and overall 90-day mortality was 3.2% (95% CI, 2.7–3.7%). Co-occurrence of intraoperative hypotension, hypoxaemia, and anaemia was associated with increased risk of morbidity (RR=3.56; 95% CI, 1.64–7.71) and mortality (RR=19.80; 95% CI, 5.87–66.7). CONCLUSIONS: Variability in physiological thresholds that triggered an intervention, and the impact of poor tissue oxygenation on patient's outcome, highlight the need for more standardised perioperative management guidelines for neonates and infants

Exacerbations and health care resource use among patients with COPD in relation to blood eosinophil counts

Hana M&uuml;llerov&aacute;,1 Beth Hahn,2 Edgar P Simard,3 George Mu,3 Umur Hatipoğlu4 1Real-World Evidence, GSK, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK; 2US Medical Affairs, GSK, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 3Real-World Data and Analytics, GSK, Upper Providence, PA, USA; 4Center for Comprehensive Care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA Purpose: Current understanding of the relationship between COPD phenotype and health care resource utilization (HCRU) is limited. This real-world study evaluated disease burden and HCRU for COPD subgroups prone to exacerbation as defined by blood eosinophil (EOS) count and multiple inhaler triple therapy (MITT) use.Methods: This was a large-scale, retrospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study using data from the US IBM Watson Explorys real-world database (GSK Study HO-17-18395). The population of interest comprised patients with COPD &ge;40&nbsp;years of age with &ge;2 moderate or &ge;1 severe exacerbations (prior year) while on inhaled maintenance therapy, with &ge;1 blood EOS count. Data were analyzed during the year prior to index date (last COPD encounter between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2016). Four subgroups were analyzed based on a combination of EOS counts (&lt;150 and &ge;150 cells/&mu;L) and MITT use (receiving or not receiving). Among&nbsp;these groups, clinical characteristics, exacerbations, and HCRU were described. A sensitivity&nbsp;analysis that further stratified EOS into four categories (&lt;150, &ge;150&ndash;&lt;300, &ge;300&ndash;&lt;500,&nbsp;and &ge;500 cells/&mu;L) was also performed.Results: The COPD population of interest comprised 34,268 patients. Subgroups with EOS &ge;150 cells/&micro;L vs ,150 cells/&micro;L had more comorbidities and experienced significantly&nbsp;higher mean numbers of moderate exacerbations (not receiving MITT, &ge;150 cells/&micro;L&nbsp;vs &lt;150 cells/&micro;L: 1.93 vs 1.82, P&lt;0.0001; receiving MITT 2.26 vs 2.16, P=0.0062) and COPDrelated&nbsp;emergency visits (not receiving MITT, &ge;150 cells/&micro;L vs &lt;150 cells/&micro;L: 3.0 vs 2.5,&nbsp;P&lt;0.001; receiving MITT 3.4 vs 3.1, P=0.0011). Increasing EOS category was associated&nbsp;with higher HCRU.Conclusion: Blood EOS &ge;150/&micro;L cells were associated with increased HCRU and higher exacerbation rates compared with EOS &lt;150 cells/&mu;L, irrespective of MITT use. COPD&nbsp;phenotyping using blood EOS could help identify candidates for additional therapies that targeteosinophilic inflammatory pathways. Keywords: COPD, eosinophil, exacerbation, health care resource, phenotyp

Comparison of the cardioprotective effects of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil in cardiac surgery

PubMedID: 29151310Background/aim: Myocardial protection is an important factor of open heart surgery and biological biomarkers (lactate, CKMB, cardiac troponin I, and pyruvate) are used to assess myocardial damage. This study compares the effects of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil on myocardial protection during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Materials and methods: Patients scheduled for elective CABG surgery (n = 60) were included in this study. Anesthesia induction was introduced with propofol, fentanyl, and vecuronium bromide. Anesthesia was maintained with remifentanil infusion and sevoflurane in the remifentanil group (Group R) and with dexmedetomidine infusion and sevoflurane in the dexmedetomidine group (Group D). Blood samples for biochemical markers were taken from the coronary sinus catheter before cardiopulmonary bypass (T1), 20 min after aortic cross-clamping (T2), 20 min after removal of the aortic cross-clamping (T3), and 10 min after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (T4). Results: Demographic data were similar between the groups. Lactate level at the T2 period and CKMB levels during the study period were lower in Group D than in Group R. In both groups, all values except pyruvate significantly increased over time. Conclusion: The dexmedetomidine-sevoflurane combination may improve the cardioprotective effect in comparison with remifentanilsevoflurane in CABG surgery. © TÜBİTAK.The authors thank İlker Ünal (Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University) for his assistance with this manuscript’s statistical analysis. Funding for this study was provided by the Scientific Research Office of Çukurova University (IUBAP, Project No. TF2013BAP42)

Inappropriate Antimicrobial Use In Turkish Pediatric Hospitals: A Multicenter Point Prevalence Survey

Objectives: Although well-defined principles of rational antimicrobial use are available, inappropriate prescribing patterns are reported worldwide. Accurate information on the usage of antimicrobials, including factors associated with and influencing their use, is valuable for improving the quality of prescription practices. Methods: In this cross-sectional point prevalence survey, data on patients hospitalized in 12 different children's hospitals were collected on a single day. Appropriateness of prescription was compared between the types of antimicrobials prescribed, indications, wards, and presence of/consultation with an infectious disease physician (IDP). Results: A total 711 of 1302 (54.6%) patients evaluated were receiving one or more antimicrobial drugs. The antimicrobial prescription rate was highest in pediatric intensive care (75.7%) and lowest in the surgery wards (37.0%). Of the 711 patients receiving antimicrobials, 332 patients (46.7%) were found to be receiving at least one inappropriately prescribed drug. Inappropriate use was most frequent in surgery wards (80.2%), while it was less common in oncology wards (31.8%; p < 0.001). Respiratory tract infection was the most common indication for antimicrobial use (29.4%). Inappropriate use was more common in deep-seated infections (54.7%) and respiratory infections (56.5%). Fluoroquinolones were used inappropriately more than any other drugs (81.8%, p = 0.021). Consultation with an IDP appears to increase appropriate antimicrobial use (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Inappropriate antimicrobial use remains a common problem in Turkish pediatric hospitals. Consultation with an IDP and prescribing antimicrobial drugs according to microbiological test results could decrease the inappropriate use of antimicrobials. (C) 2009 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.WoSScopu