BackgroundThe early detection of coagulopathy helps guide decisions regarding optimal transfusion management during cardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine whether rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) could predict thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after CPB.MethodsWe analyzed 138 cardiac surgical patients for whom ROTEM tests and conventional laboratory tests were performed simultaneously both during and after CPB. An extrinsically activated ROTEM test (EXTEM), a fibrin-specific ROTEM test (FIBTEM) and PLTEM calculated by subtracting FIBTEM from EXTEM were evaluated. Correlations between clot amplitude at 10 min (A10), maximal clot firmness, platelet count, and fibrinogen concentrations at each time point were calculated. A receiver operating characteristic analysis with area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the thresholds of EXTEM, PLTEM and FIBTEM parameters during CPB and for predicting thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after weaning of CPB.ResultsThe A10 on EXTEM, PLTEM, and FIBTEM during CPB showed a good correlation with platelet counts (r = 0.622 on EXTEM and r = 0.637 on PLTEM; P < 0.0001 for each value) and fibrinogen levels (r = 0.780; P < 0.0001) after CPB. A10 on a FIBTEM threshold of 8 mm during the CPB predicted a fibrinogen concentration < 150 mg/dl (AUC = 0.853) after CPB. Additionally, the threshold level of A10 on EXTEM during CPB for predicting platelet counts < 100,000 /µl after CPB was 42 mm (AUC = 0.768).ConclusionsEXTEM, PLTEM, and FIBTEM parameters during CPB may be useful for predicting thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after weaning of CPB.

BackgroundSpinal nerve ligation (SNL) injury in rats produces a pain syndrome that includes mechanical and thermal allodynia. Previous studies have indicated that proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) play an important role in peripheral mediation of neuropathic pain, and that altered dorsal root ganglion (DRG) function and degree of DRG neuronal apoptosis are associated with spinal nerve injury. The present study was conducted to evaluate the expression of TNF-α and the extent of apoptosis in the dorsal root ganglion after SNL in rats.MethodsSprague-Dawley rats were subjected to SNL of the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves distal to the DRG and proximal to the formation of the sciatic nerve. At postoperative day 8, TNF-α protein levels in the L5-6 DRG were compared between SNL and naive groups using ELISA. In addition, we compared the percentage of neurons injured in the DRG using immunostaining for apoptosis and localization of activated caspase-3.ResultsSNL injury produced significant mechanical and cold allodynia throughout the 7-day experimental period. TNF-α protein levels were increased in the DRG in rats that had undergone SNL (12.7 ± 3.2 pg/100 µg, P < 0.001) when compared with naïve rats (4.1 ± 1.4 pg/100 µg). The percentage of neurons or satellite cells co-localized with activated caspase-3 were also significantly higher in rats with SNL than in naïve rats (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively).ConclusionsSNL injury produces mechanical and cold allodynia, as well as TNF-α elevation and apoptosis in the DRG.

Although serum aminotransferase levels are frequently measured for preoperative evaluation, their prognostic value to postoperative outcomes remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative serum aminotransferase levels and postoperative 90-day mortality in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. We included adult patients (n=6264) who underwent cardiovascular surgery between January 2010 and December 2016 at a tertiary academic hospital. Preoperative serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and De Ritis ratio (defined as AST/ALT) were categorized into three groups: low (≤20th percentile), middle (20th–80th percentile), and high (>80th percentile). Of the 6264 patients enrolled (40.4% women; median age, 62 years), 183 (2.9%) died within 90 days postoperatively. Multivariable-adjusted analyses revealed low ALT (hazard ratio 1.58, 95% confidence interval, 1.14–2.18) and high De Ritis ratio (hazard ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.20) were independent predictors of postoperative mortality, but AST did not have a statistically significant association. The association of low ALT and high De Ritis ratio with 90-day mortality was more pronounced in patients older than 60 years (P-values for interaction <0.05). Therefore, preoperative serum aminotransferase levels may be a valuable prognostic marker in patients with cardiovascular surgery, particularly in the elderly.

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Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pediatric patients has gained popularity due to better outcomes than open surgery. For this procedure, one-lung ventilation may be necessary to provide an adequate surgical field. Confirming lung isolation is crucial when one-lung ventilation is required. Recently, we experienced a case in which one-lung ventilation was confirmed by ultrasonography using the lung sliding sign and the lung pulse in an infant. Since lung ultrasonography can be performed easily and quickly, it may be a useful method to confirm lung isolation, particularly in emergency surgeries with limited time, devices, and experienced anesthesiologists.

BackgroundNefopam is a centrally acting non-opioid analgesic agent. Its analgesic properties may be related to the inhibitions of monoamine reuptake and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. The antinociceptive effect of nefopam has been shown in animal models of acute and chronic pain and in humans. However, the effect of nefopam on diabetic neuropathic pain is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the preventive effect of nefopam on diabetic neuropathic pain induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats.MethodsPretreatment with nefopam (30 mg/kg) was performed intraperitoneally 30 min prior to an intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Mechanical and cold allodynia were tested before, and 1 to 4 weeks after drug administration. Thermal hyperalgesia was also investigated. In addition, the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and TRP melastatin 8 (TRPM8) expression levels in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were evaluated.ResultsPretreatment with nefopam significantly inhibited STZ-induced mechanical and cold allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia. The STZ injection increased TRPM8, but not TRPA1, expression levels in DRG neurons. Pretreatment with nefopam decreased STZ-induced TRPM8 expression levels in the DRG.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that a nefopam pretreatment has strong antiallodynic effects on STZ-induced diabetic rats, which may be associated with TRPM8 located in the DRG.

Background: This study aimed to compare the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for predicting postoperative outcomes in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing esophagectomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1265 consecutive patients who underwent elective esophageal surgery. The patients were classified into no risk, low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups based on nutritional scores. Results: The moderate-risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–1.92, p < 0.001 in CONUT; HR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.22–2.12, p = 0.001 in GNRI; HR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.20–2.26, p = 0.002 in PNI) and high-risk groups (HR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.47–2.48, p < 0.001 in CONUT; HR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.64–3.93, p < 0.001 in GNRI; HR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.77–3.06, p < 0.001 in PNI) exhibited significantly worse 5-year overall survival (OS) compared with the no-risk group. As the nutritional status worsened, the trend in the OS rates decreased (p for trend in all indexes < 0.05). Conclusions: Malnutrition, evaluated by any of three nutritional indexes, was an independent prognostic factor for postoperative survival.

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