Metabolic Syndrome and Perioperative Complications during Scheduled Surgeries with Spinal Anesthesia

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a constellation of factors associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and Diabetes Mellitus. Despite of the many studies related to MS, little is known about its impact on scenarios such as surgical anesthesia. Objective: To examine the correlation between demographic and metabolic variables with the occurrence of perioperative complications in patients with MS undergoing scheduled surgeries using a spinal anesthesia technique in the surgery department at the University Clinic San Juan de Dios in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Methods: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional, single-center study of 150 subjects with MS and 150 control subjects. Perioperative complications, socio-demographic, hemodynamic and respiratory variables were registered. Groups were compared using t test, Fisher’s exact test or Chi-square, as appropriate. We applied a logistic multiple regression model, adjusted by backward stepwise at 0.25 and forward at 0.05, to find possible incompatible associations. p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were significant differences between groups in age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, frequency of diseases associated to MS and perioperative complications. There were no cases of mortality among patients. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups for intraoperative hypotension and hypertension with p values of <0.0001 and 0.034. Among postoperative complications there was statistically significant difference in pain (13.3% vs 5.3% in patients without MS) and nausea and/or postoperative vomiting (8% vs 2% in patients without MS) with a p value of 0.027 and 0.015 (by Fisher) respectively. Conclusions: Metabolic abnormalities in MS are a risk factor for developing complications in the perioperative period of patients scheduled for surgeries using the subarachnoid anesthesia technique. Accordingly, it is appropriate to implement health intervention strategies by the surgical team, aiming at their prevention and management.

The Association between Preoperative Parental Anxiety and Emergence Agitation in Preschoolers

Introduction: The preoperative distress and anxiety experienced by preschoolers are associated with an increased incidence of troubled recovery from anesthesia. However, influences of parental anxiety on children at different stages of the surgical processes are not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate any existing association between preoperative parental anxiety and emergence agitation in a pediatric surgery population. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 children ASA class I or II, aged 3 - 12 years old, undergoing adenotonsillectomy with sevoflurane, were included in the study. Before surgery, we used State-Trait Anxiety Inventory S-T (STAI S-T) to assess parental anxiety. Emergence agitation of the children was assessed with Watcha scale and recorded every 10 min of first 30 min of the postoperative period. Parents were contacted 24 hours after the surgery to evaluate their satisfaction, post operative pain and any side effect observed in the children. Results: Preoperatively, the mean STAI-S scores of mothers were significantly higher than those of fathers (p 0.05). The children had the highest agitation scores at 10th postoperative minutes with an incidence of 73.9%. There was no correlation between parental anxiety and emergence agitation. Logistic regression analysis showed that low educational level of the parent was the only independent factor for state anxiety (OR: 8.96, 95% CI: 1.50 - 40.35, p = 0.030). Discussion: In this study, we observed that education level of the parents might affect their preoperative anxiety. The factors influential in parental anxiety were not correlated with pediatric emergence agitation in this study.

Evaluation of Operating Room Noise by Different Medical Specialists

Noise pollution is in an increasing trend in the operating rooms, as has been the case in various other domains in life. It has been shown in studies that the main cause of this noise pollution consist of the behavior related to the operating room personel and the surgical equipment. These higher than normal noise levels may increase stress and decrease communication and performance, apart from the negative health effects on the operating team. In this study, we aimed to explore the sources of noise pollution and the place of music on these effects on anesthesiology and surgical doctors. Questions formulated through a questionnaire have been asked to the anesthesiology and surgical department physicians on a voluntary basis, and their approach to the concept of noise has been assessed. The study was planned as a descriptive study. In total, highest impact from noise pollution was found to be the aspirator (74.3%), chatting (55.4%), noises from the monitors (54.8%), alarms (48.6%), surgical material (25.9%) and music (23.8%). Noise had the most impact on the concentration of the doctors with a rate of 61.9%. Anesthesiologists, when compared to other surgical department physicians, were found to be impacted most by music with 37.2%. It is not realistic to eliminate all the noise and distraction. On the other hand, it can be minimalized through sufficient measures. Yet, general measures to keep the silence isn’t too likely to keep the noise down during long operations. Whereas music stays as a matter of personal choice. Controlled studies on whether to keep or not the music in the operating rooms aren’t yet sufficient, due to which, general recommendations do not apply. As a result of this study, we have found that while music might have performance increasing effects, it still has a potential as a distraction and interfere with the communication in the operating room.

Anesthesia Management in Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

Introduction and Purpose: The problem of obesity has started to increase in children and adolescents, similar to adults, due to irregular and unhealthy diet, the limitation of physical activity and genetic factors. Various difficulties and complications may be encountered in the anesthesia management of obese patients. Difficult airway, difficulty in intravenous and intra-arterial intervention, difficulty in positioning the patient, difficulty in finding suitable equipment for the patient, intraoperative and postoperative pulmonary complications, prolonged recovery and difficulty in patient transport are the points to be considered in perioperative management. In our presentation, we wanted to discuss perioperative anesthesia management in adolescent bariatric surgery, which is not performed frequently, with a case study. Case Presentation: A 16-year-old girl with BMI of 44.4 was evaluated for bariatric surgery due to obesity. She had a history of hypertension, sleep apnea and insulin resistance. In her physical examination, her mouth opening was normal, her Mallampati score was 3, and her neck circumference was 43 cm. After the preoperative difficult intubation preparations were completed, the patient was monitored. The patient was preoxygenated with 100% oxygen for 3 minutes. The patient with comfortable mask ventilation was intubated with an appropriately sized endotracheal tube. Hemodynamics and oxygen saturation remained stable throughout the surgery. At the end of the surgery, she was extubated without any problem and transferred to the pediatric surgical intensive care unit. The patient was taken to the ward on the 2nd postoperative day and discharged on the 6th day. Discussion and Conclusion: The problem of obesity in adolescents is increasing today, and it is possible to struggle with obesity by making lifestyle changes, teaching children and parents about healthy nutrition, encouraging more physical activity and creating weight control programs. At this point, metabolic and bariatric surgery emerges as a preferred method in overweight, obese adolescents. The anesthesia risks of these surgeries are significantly higher. Postoperative pain management and respiratory physiotherapy should be performed in obese patients. Although prevention of obesity is the mainstay of obesity treatment, bariatric surgery is also a safe and effective treatment method in adolescents.

Anesthetic Management of a Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair (MVR) with the MitraClip System in a Twice Renal Transplanted Patient

Chronic renal failure is strongly related to poor outcomes, in cardiovascular system, such as: cardiac dilatation, left ventricular dysfunction and mitral valve regurgitation. Mitral calcification and regurgitation play an important role in prediction of morbidity and mortality in patients on dialysis. Percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) with the MitraClip system, which has begun to be used in severe mitral insufficiency patients with multiple comorbid medical conditions, including renal disease, is a new, alternative method. This intervention is not associated with cardiopulmonary bypass, thus;it has been proven to be safe and effective in risky patients. In this report, we would like to share our anesthetic experience in successful mitral valve repair by MitraClip system in a patient who had undergone renal transplantation twice.