Routine prophylactic esketamine for the prevention of maternal pain during cesarean delivery

No abstract available

The relationship between anaesthetic technique, clinicopathological characteristics and the magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response in patients undergoing elective surgery for colon cancer

Background/aim: The magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response (SIR) is now recognised to be associated with both short and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer. During such surgery, it is unclear whether the anaesthetic regimens influence the magnitude of the postoperative SIR, independent of other factors. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between anaesthetic agents, clinicopathological characteristics and the magnitude of the postoperative SIR in patients undergoing elective surgery for colon cancer. Methods: Patients with colon cancer who underwent elective open or laparoscopic surgery between 2008 and 2016 (n = 409) were studied at a single center. The relationship between type of anaesthesia, surgical technique; open (n = 241) versus laparoscopic (n = 168) and clinicopathological characteristics was examined by using chi-square testing. The chi-square test was used to determine which anaesthetic group influences the POD 2 CRP for only patients undergoing elective open colon surgery. Results: The majority of patients were <75 years old, male, normal weight or obese, underwent open surgery and had regional anaesthesia, in particular an epidural approach. There was a significant association between type of anaesthesia and post-operative CRP on day 2 (p <0.001) in patients undergoing open surgery but not laparoscopic surgery. Other factors associated with type of anaesthesia included; year of operation (p <0.01), surgical technique (p <0.001), and preoperative dexamethasone (p <0.01). Conclusion: In patients undergoing surgery for elective colon cancer, the type of anaesthesia varied over time. The type of anaesthesia appears to influence the magnitude of the postoperative SIR on post-operative day 2 in open surgery but not laparoscopic surgery. Future work using prospective study design is required to better define this relationship

Attitudes towards the use of perioperative steroids in resectional colorectal cancer surgery in the UK: a qualitative study

Introduction: Resectional surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer. A heightened postoperative systemic inflammatory response has been shown to correlate negatively with short/long-term outcomes. Perioperative steroid administration may help to alleviate this systemic inflammatory response. This survey has been carried out to assess current attitudes towards perioperative steroid use and to gauge interest in a randomised control trial in this area. Method: An internet-based survey consisting of 9 questions was circulated via email. Those responses from outside the United Kingdom were excluded. Result: 74 doctors from the United Kingdom, predominantly Consultant Anaesthetists (54%) responded to this survey. 77% gave some or all of their patients steroids, in 75% of cases at the discretion of the anaesthetist. The main perceived benefit was to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting. Diabetics and those deemed at high risk of wound infection were the group in whom most respondents would be reluctant to give steroids. 32% of respondents had no concerns. 87% of respondents felt that that a randomised trial in this field would be of clinical interest with most respondents (58%) preferring a three-armed trial – no steroids vs low dose steroids vs high dose steroids. Conclusion: – This survey indicated that perioperative steroid use is currently widespread. Sufficient equipoise exists for a trial in this area with regard to examining the impact of dexamethasone on postoperative complications and the postoperative systemic inflammatory response. Respondents favoured a 3-armed trial – no steroids vs low-dose steroids vs high-dose steroids

Nutrient enrichment induces dormancy and decreases diversity of active bacteria in salt marsh sediments

© The Author(s), 2016. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Nature Communications 7 (2016): 12881, doi:10.1038/ncomms12881.Microorganisms control key biogeochemical pathways, thus changes in microbial diversity, community structure and activity can affect ecosystem response to environmental drivers. Understanding factors that control the proportion of active microbes in the environment and how they vary when perturbed is critical to anticipating ecosystem response to global change. Increasing supplies of anthropogenic nitrogen to ecosystems globally makes it imperative that we understand how nutrient supply alters active microbial communities. Here we show that nitrogen additions to salt marshes cause a shift in the active microbial community despite no change in the total community. The active community shift causes the proportion of dormant microbial taxa to double, from 45 to 90%, and induces diversity loss in the active portion of the community. Our results suggest that perturbations to salt marshes can drastically alter active microbial communities, however these communities may remain resilient by protecting total diversity through increased dormancy

Pilot study exploring if an augmented reality NeedleTrainer device improves novice performance of a simulated central venous catheter insertion on a phantom

Introduction: Needle insertion and visualisation skills needed for ultrasound (US)-guided procedures can be challenging to acquire. The novel NeedleTrainer device superimposes a digital holographic needle on a real-time US image display without puncturing a surface. The aim of this randomised control study was to compare the success of trainees performing a simulated central venous catheter insertion on a phantom either with or without prior NeedleTrainer device practice. Methods: West of Scotland junior trainees who had not performed insertion of a central venous catheter were randomised into two groups (n=20). Participants undertook standardized online training through a pre-recorded video and training on how to handle a US probe. Group 1 had 10 minutes of supervised training with the NeedleTrainer device. Group 2 were a control group. Participants were assessed on needle insertion to a pre-defined target vein in a phantom. The outcome measures were the time taken for needle placement (secs), number of needle passes (n), operator confidence (0-10), assessor confidence (0-10), and NASA task load index score. Results: The mean mental demand score in the control group was 7.65 (SD 3.5) compared to 12.8 (SD 2.2, p=0.005) in the NeedleTrainer group. There was no statistical difference between the groups in any of the other outcome measures. Discussion: This was a small pilot study, and small participant numbers may have impacted the statistical significance. There is natural variation of skill within participants that could not have been controlled for. The difference in pressure needed using the NeedleTrainer compared to a real needle may impact the outcome measures

Association of epidural analgesia in women in labor with neonatal and childhood outcomes in a population cohort

Importance: Although use of epidural analgesia during labor is safe, detailed information about its association with neonatal and child outcomes is limited. Objective: To investigate the association of labor epidural analgesia with neonatal outcomes and childhood development during the first 1000 days of life. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study used Scottish National Health Service hospital administrative data of all 435 281 singleton live births in Scotland between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2016, with follow-up over the first 1000 days of life. All 435 281 mother-infant pairs delivering between 24 weeks 0 days and 43 weeks 6 days’ gestation who were in active labor with cephalic presentation and who delivered vaginally or via unplanned cesarean delivery were included. Stillbirths and infants with known congenital anomalies were excluded. Data were analyzed between August 1, 2020, and July 23, 2021. Exposures: Epidural analgesia in labor. Main Outcomes and Measures: Neonatal outcomes included resuscitation, Apgar score less than 7 at 5 minutes, and neonatal unit admission. Childhood development measures (gross and fine motor function, communication, and social functioning) were obtained from standardized national childhood surveillance assessments performed at 2 years. Results: This study included a total of 435 281 live births with cephalic presentation in labor (median gestational age at delivery, 40 weeks [IQR, 39-41 weeks]; 221 153 male infants [50.8%]), of which 94 323 (21.7%) had labor epidural. Epidural analgesia was associated with a reduction in spontaneous vaginal deliveries (confounder-adjusted [Cadj] relative risk [RR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.42-0.50), an increased risk of neonatal resuscitation (Cadj RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.11), and an increased risk of neonatal unit admission (Cadj RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.11-1.17). With additional analysis for mediation by mode of delivery (CMadj), these associations were reversed (CMadj RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.79-0.86 for neonatal resuscitation and CMadj RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.97 for neonatal unit admission). Epidural analgesia was associated with a reduced risk of an Apgar score less than 7 at 5 minutes in both confounder and confounder/mediation analyses. Epidural analgesia was associated with a reduced risk of having developmental concern in any domain at 2 years in confounder and confounder/mediation analyses (CMadj RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98), with specifically fewer concerns regarding communication (CMadj RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99) and fine motor skills (CMadj RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97). Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this cohort study suggest that labor epidural analgesia is not independently associated with adverse neonatal or childhood development outcomes. Associations with neonatal resuscitation and admission were likely mediated by mode of delivery

The effect of anesthesia on the magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response in patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer in the context of an enhanced recovery pathway: A prospective cohort study

There are reports that the use of regional anesthesia (RA) may be associated with better perioperative surgical stress response in cancer patients compared with general anesthetics (GA). However, the role of anesthesia on the magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response (SIR) in colorectal cancer patients, within an enhanced recovery pathway (ERP), is not clear. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of anesthesia, within an enhanced recovery pathway, on the magnitude of the postoperative SIR in patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer. Database of 507 patients who underwent elective open or laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery between 2015 and 2019 at a single center was studied. The anesthetic technique used was categorized into either GA or GA + RA using a prospective proforma. The relationship between each anesthetic technique and perioperative clinicopathological characteristics was examined using binary logistic regression analysis. The majority of patients were male (54%), younger than 65 years (41%), either normal or overweight (64%), and were nonsmokers (47%). Also, the majority of patients underwent open surgery (60%) and received mainly general + regional anesthetic technique (80%). On univariate analysis, GA + RA was associated with a lower day 4 CRP (≤150/>150 mg/L) concentration. On day 4, postoperative CRP was associated with anesthetic technique [odds ratio (OR) 0.58; confidence interval (CI) 0.31–1.07; P = .086], age (OR 0.70; CI 0.50–0.98; P = .043), sex (OR 1.15; CI 0.95–2.52; P = .074), smoking (OR 1.57; CI 1.13–2.19; P = .006), preoperative mGPS (OR 1.55; CI 1.15–2.10; P = .004), and preoperative dexamethasone (OR 0.70; CI 0.47–1.03; P = .072). On multivariate analysis, day 4 postoperative CRP was independently associated with anesthetic technique (OR 0.56; CI 0.32–0.97; P = .039), age (OR 0.74; CI 0.55–0.99; P = .045), smoking (OR 1.58; CI 1.18–2.12; P = .002), preoperative mGPS (OR 1.41; CI 1.08–1.84; P = .012), and preoperative dexamethasone (OR 0.68; CI 0.50–0.92; P = .014). There was a modest but an independent association between RA and a lower magnitude of the postoperative SIR. Future work is warranted with multicenter RCT to precisely clarify the relationship between anesthesia and the magnitude of the postoperative SIR

Anaesthesia Choice for Creation of Arteriovenous Fistula (ACCess) study protocol : a randomised controlled trial comparing primary unassisted patency at 1 year of primary arteriovenous fistulae created under regional compared to local anaesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are the 'gold standard' vascular access for haemodialysis. Universal usage is limited, however, by a high early failure rate. Several small, single-centre studies have demonstrated better early patency rates for AVF created under regional anaesthesia (RA) compared with local anaesthesia (LA). The mechanistic hypothesis is that the sympathetic blockade associated with RA causes vasodilatation and increased blood flow through the new AVF. Despite this, considerable variation in practice exists in the UK. A high-quality, adequately powered, multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) is required to definitively inform practice. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Anaesthesia Choice for Creation of Arteriovenous Fistula (ACCess) study is a multicentre, observer-blinded RCT comparing primary radiocephalic/brachiocephalic AVF created under regional versus LA. The primary outcome is primary unassisted AVF patency at 1 year. Access-specific (eg, stenosis/thrombosis), patient-specific (including health-related quality of life) and safety secondary outcomes will be evaluated. Health economic analysis will also be undertaken. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ACCess study has been approved by the West of Scotland Research and ethics committee number 3 (20/WS/0178). Results will be published in open-access peer-reviewed journals within 12 months of completion of the trial. We will also present our findings at key national and international renal and anaesthetic meetings, and support dissemination of trial outcomes via renal patient groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN14153938. SPONSOR: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde GN19RE456, Protocol V.1.3 (8 May 2021), REC/IRAS ID: 290482

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure