The Effect of Prophylactic Dexmedetomidine on Hemodynamic Disturbances to Double-Lumen Endotracheal Intubation: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic responses to DLT intubation compared to placebo and to assess the adverse effects related to dexmedetomidine. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to receive 0.7 μg/kg dexmedetomidine (n=30) or normal saline (n=30) 10 minutes before general anesthesia. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (RPP) between groups were recorded. During intubation and 10 minutes afterward (T1-T10), the mean SBP, DBP, MAP, HR, and RPP in the control group were significantly higher than those in the dexmedetomidine group throughout the study period except at T1. The mean differences of SBP, DBP, MAP, HR, and RPP were significantly higher in the control group, with the value of 15.2 mmHg, 10.5 mmHg, 14 mmHg, 10.5 beats per minute, and 2,462.8 mmHg min−1. Four patients in the dexmedetomidine group and 1 patient in the control group developed hypotension, while 2 patients in the dexmedetomidine group had bradycardia. Prophylactic dexmedetomidine can attenuate the hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and DLT intubation with minimal adverse effects. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01289769

Predictive Factors of Adrenal Insufficiency in Outpatients with Indeterminate Serum Cortisol Levels: A Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives: To diagnose adrenal insufficiency (AI), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests may need to be performed, but those tests may not be available in some institutions. In addition, they may not be necessary for some patients. The objective of this study was to identify clinical and biochemical factors that could facilitate AI diagnosis in outpatient departments and decrease the number of unnecessary dynamic tests. Materials and Methods: This seven-year retrospective study was performed in a tertiary care medical center. A total of 517 patients who had undergone ACTH stimulation tests in the outpatient department were identified. AI was described as a peak serum cortisol level of <18 µg/dL at 30 or 60 min after stimulation. The associations between clinical factors, biochemical factors, and AI were analyzed using the Poisson regression model and reported by the risk ratio (RR). Results: AI was identified in 128 patients (24.7%). Significant predictive factors for the diagnosis of AI were chronic kidney disease (RR = 2.52, p < 0.001), Cushingoid appearance (RR = 3.44, p < 0.001), nausea and/or vomiting (RR = 1.84, p = 0.003), fatigue (RR = 1.23, p < 0.001), serum basal cortisol <9 µg/dL (RR = 3.36, p < 0.001), serum cholesterol <150 mg/dL (RR = 1.26, p < 0.001), and serum sodium <135 mEq/L (RR = 1.09, p = 0.001). The predictive ability of the model was 83% based on the area under the curve. Conclusion: The easy-to-obtain clinical and biochemical factors identified may facilitate AI diagnosis and help identify patients with suspected AI. Using these factors in clinical practice may also reduce the number of nonessential dynamic tests for AI

A Predictive Risk Score to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Outpatients: A 7 Year Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI) requires dynamic tests which may not be available in some institutions. This study aimed to develop a predictive risk score to help diagnose AI in outpatients with indeterminate serum cortisol levels. Methods: Five hundred and seven patients with intermediate serum cortisol levels (3–17.9 µg/dL) who had undergone ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) stimulation tests were included in the study. A predictive risk score was created using significant predictive factors identified by multivariable analysis using Poisson regression clustered by ACTH dose. Results: The seven predictive factors used in the development of a predictive model with their assigned scores are as follows: chronic kidney disease (9.0), Cushingoid appearance in exogenous steroid use (12.0), nausea and/or vomiting (6.0), fatigue (2.0), basal cortisol <9 µg/dL (12.5), cholesterol <150 mg/dL (2.5) and sodium <135 mEq/L (1.0). Predictive risk scores range from 0–50.0. A high risk level (scores of 19.5–50.0) indicates a higher possibility of having AI (positive likelihood ratio (LR+) = 11.75), while a low risk level (scores of <19.0) indicates a lower chance of having AI (LR+ = 0.09). The predictive performance of the scoring system was 0.82 based on the area under the curve. Conclusions: This predictive risk score can help to determine the probability of AI and can be used as a guide to determine which patients need treatment for AI and which require dynamic tests to confirm AI

Prognostic Factors for All-Cause Mortality in Thai Patients with Fragility Fracture of Hip: Comorbidities and Laboratory Evaluations

Background and Objectives: Although the types of comorbidities and laboratory evaluations are major factors associated with mortality after hip fractures, there have been no studies of the association of these factors and mortality in Thai hip-fracture patients. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors associated with mortality after a hip fracture in the Thai population, including types of comorbidities, treatment-related factors, and laboratory evaluations. Materials and Methods: This five-year retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Thailand. A total of 775 Thai patients who had been admitted with a hip fracture resulting from a simple fall were identified using the International Classification of Disease 10 codes, and a review of their medical charts was conducted. Associations between general factors, comorbidities, laboratory evaluations, treatment factors including type of treatment, and time to death were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard regression and the hazard ratio (HR). Results: The overall mortality rate of hip fracture patients was 13.94%. Independent prognostic factors found to be significantly associated with mortality were nonoperative treatment (HR = 3.29, p < 0.001), admission glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR = 3.40, p < 0.001), admission hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dL. (HR = 2.31, p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (HR = 2.63, p < 0.001), dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (HR = 4.06, p < 0.001), and active malignancy (HR = 6.80, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The types of comorbidities and laboratory evaluation findings associated with mortality in Thai patients with hip fractures include chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, active malignancy, admission GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, and admission hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dL. The risks of mortality for Thai hip-fracture patients with these comorbidities or laboratory evaluation findings were 2.5, 4, 7, 3.5, and 2.5 times higher, respectively, than patients without those factors

Association of positive fluid balance and cardiovascular complications after thoracotomy for noncancer lesions

Tanyong Pipanmekaporn,1,2 Yodying Punjasawadwong,2 Somrat Charuluxananan,3 Worawut Lapisatepun,2 Pavena Bunburaphong,3 Somchareon Saeteng41Clinical Epidemiology Program, 2Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; 3Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; 4Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandObjective: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of positive fluid balance on cardiovascular complications after thoracotomy for noncancer lesions.Methods: After approval from an institutional review board, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. All consecutive patients undergoing thoracotomy between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011 in a single medical center were recruited. The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of cardiovascular complications, which were defined as cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and pulmonary embolism. Univariable and multivariable risk regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between positive fluid balance and cardiovascular complications.Results: A total of 720 patients were included in this study. The incidence of cardiovascular complications after thoracotomy for noncancer lesions was 6.7% (48 of 720). Patients with positive fluid balance >2,000 mL had a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular complications than those with positive fluid balance ≤2,000 mL (22.2% versus 7.0%, P=0.005). Cardiac arrhythmias were the most common complication. Univariable risk regression showed that positive fluid balance >2,000 mL was a significant risk factor (risk ratio =3.15, 95% confident interval [CI] =1.44–6.90, P-value =0.004). After adjustment for all potential confounding variables during multivariable risk regression analysis, positive fluid balance >2,000 mL remained a strong risk factor for cardiovascular complications (risk ratio =2.18, 95% CI =1.36–3.51, P-value =0.001). Causes of positive fluid balance >2,000 mL included excessive hemorrhage (48%), hypotension without excessive hemorrhage (29.6%), and liberal fluid administration (22.4%).Conclusion: Positive fluid balance was a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Strategies to minimize positive fluid balance during surgery for patients at high risk of cardiovascular complications include preparing adequate blood and blood products, considering appropriate hemoglobin level as a transfusion trigger, and adjusting the optimal dose of local anesthetic for intraoperative thoracic epidural analgesia.Keywords: cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, hemorrhag

Validity and reliability of the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU)

Tanyong Pipanmekaporn,1 Nahathai Wongpakaran,2 Sirirat Mueankwan,3 Piyawat Dendumrongkul,2 Kaweesak Chittawatanarat,3 Nantiya Khongpheng,3 Nongnut Duangsoy31Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; 2Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; 3Division of Surgical Critical Care and Trauma, Department of Surgery, Chiang Mai University Hospital, Chiang Mai, ThailandPurpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), when compared to the diagnoses made by delirium experts.Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in both surgical intensive care and subintensive care units in Thailand between February–June 2011. Seventy patients aged 60 years or older who had been admitted to the units were enrolled into the study within the first 48 hours of admission. Each patient was randomly assessed as to whether they had delirium by a nurse using the Thai version of the CAM-ICU algorithm (Thai CAM-ICU) or by a delirium expert using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision.Results: The prevalence of delirium was found to be 18.6% (n=13) by the delirium experts. The sensitivity of the Thai CAM-ICU’s algorithms was found to be 92.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] =64.0%-99.8%), while the specificity was 94.7% (95% CI =85.4%-98.9%). The instrument displayed good interrater reliability (Cohen’s κ=0.81; 95% CI =0.64-0.99). The time taken to complete the Thai CAM-ICU was 1 minute (interquatile range, 1-2 minutes).Conclusion: The Thai CAM-ICU demonstrated good validity, reliability, and ease of use when diagnosing delirium in a surgical intensive care unit setting. The use of this diagnostic tool should be encouraged for daily, routine use, so as to promote the early detection of delirium and its rapid treatment.Keywords: delirium, surgical intensive care unit, Confusion Assessment Method for the ­intensive care unit, validity, reliabilit

Early-Stage Ovarian Malignancy Score versus Risk of Malignancy Indices: Accuracy and Clinical Utility for Preoperative Diagnosis of Women with Adnexal Masses

Background and objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of the Early-stage Ovarian Malignancy (EOM) score with the Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) in the presurgical assessment of women presenting with adnexal masses. Materials and Methods: A secondary analysis was carried out in a retrospective cohort of women who presented with an adnexal mass and were scheduled for surgery at Phrapokklao Hospital between September 2013 and December 2017. The clinical characteristics, ultrasonographic features of the masses, and preoperative CA-125 levels were recorded. The EOM and the RMI score were calculated and compared in terms of accuracy and clinical utility. Decision curve analysis (DCA), which examined the net benefit (NB) of applying the EOM and the RMI in practice at a range of threshold probabilities, was presented. Results: In this study, data from 270 patients were analyzed. Fifty-four (20.0%) women in the sample had early-stage ovarian cancer. All four RMI versions demonstrated a lower sensitivity for the detection of patients with early-stage ovarian cancer compared to an EOM score ≥ 15. An EOM ≥ 15 resulted in a higher proportion of net true positive or NB than all versions of the RMIs from a threshold probability of 5% to 30%. Conclusions: It also showed a higher capability to reduce the number of inappropriate referrals than the RMIs at a threshold probability between 5% and 30%. The EOM score showed higher diagnostic sensitivity and has the potential to be clinically more useful than the RMIs to triage women who present with adnexal masses for referral to oncologic gynecologists. Further external validation is required to support our findings

Diagnostic Added-Value of Serum CA-125 on the IOTA Simple Rules and Derivation of Practical Combined Prediction Models (IOTA SR X CA-125)

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic added-value of serum CA-125 to the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Simple Rules in order to facilitate differentiation between malignant and benign ovarian tumors before surgery. Methods: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional cohort of women scheduled for surgery in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital between April 2010 and March 2018 was carried out. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected. Histopathologic diagnosis was used as the reference standard. Logistic regression was used for development of the model. Evaluation of the diagnostic added-value was based on the increment of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AuROC). Results: One hundred and forty-five women (30.3%) out of a total of 479 with adnexal masses had malignant ovarian tumors. The model that included information from the IOTA Simple Rules and serum CA-125 was significantly more superior to the model that used only information from the IOTA Simple Rules (AuROC 0.95 vs. 0.89, p < 0.001 for pre-menopause and AuROC 0.98 vs 0.83, p < 0.001 for post-menopause). Conclusions: The IOTA SR X CA-125 model showed high discriminative ability and is potentially useful as a decision tool for guiding patient referrals to oncologic specialists

Efficacy of Phrenic Nerve Block and Suprascapular Nerve Block in Amelioration of Ipsilateral Shoulder Pain after Thoracic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Ipsilateral shoulder pain (ISP) is a common complication after thoracic surgery. Severe ISP can cause ineffective breathing and impair shoulder mobilization. Both phrenic nerve block (PNB) and suprascapular nerve block (SNB) are anesthetic interventions; however, it remains unclear which intervention is most effective. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of PNB and SNB for the prevention and reduction of the severity of ISP following thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Materials and methods: Studies published in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library without language restriction were reviewed from the publication’s inception through 30 September 2022. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the comparative efficacy of PNB and SNB on ISP management were selected. A network meta-analysis was applied to estimate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of 381 records screened, eight studies were eligible. PNB was shown to significantly lower the risk of ISP during the 24 h period after surgery compared to placebo (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.58) and SNB (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.64). PNB significantly reduced the severity of ISP during the 24 h period after thoracic surgery (WMD –1.75, 95% CI –3.47 to –0.04), but these effects of PNB were not statistically significantly different from SNB. When compared to placebo, SNB did not significantly reduce the incidence or severity of ISP during the 24 h period after surgery. Conclusion: This study suggests that PNB ranks first for prevention and reduction of ISP severity during the first 24 h after thoracic surgery. SNB was considered the worst intervention for ISP management. No evidence indicated that PNB was associated with a significant impairment of postoperative ventilatory status