In a prospective study of 80 patients under 40 years of age, given spinal anaesthesia through either a 0.52 mm (25-gauge) needle or a 0.33 mm (29-gauge) needle, the incidence of post-dural puncture headache and backache was compared. There were no headaches in the 0.33 mm needle group, while in the 0.52 mm needle group an incidence of 25% was found. The incidence of backache was the same in both groups. The technique of performing spinal anaesthesia was evaluated and concluded to be slightly more difficult with a 0.33 mm needle, as estimated by the number of redirections of the needle needed to obtain cerebrospinal fluid. There were no differences between the two needles with respect to obtaining adequate spinal anaesthesia and spread of blockade.

Our fast-track management, called the PACU protocol, is efficient and safe for the postoperative management of selected patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Age and left ventricular dysfunction are significant preoperative predictors of failure of this protocol.

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Summary We tested the hypothesis that, in patients with clear airways, the anatomical position of three single‐use extraglottic airway devices is similar. The airways studied were: the laryngeal mask airway unique (LMA‐U™), the Softseal laryngeal mask airway (SS‐LM™) and the Cobra perilaryngeal airway (Cobra‐PLA™). Three hundred spontaneously breathing patients were randomly allocated to have their airway managed using one of these three supraglottic airway devices. A rigid endoscope was passed down the airway tube and the following anatomical assessments were made: position of the epiglottis; position of the glottis; and position of the cuff. The epiglottis was more frequently visible with the LMA‐U than with the SS‐LM (76 vs 57%, p = 0.006) and with the LMA‐U than with the Cobra‐PLA (76 vs 46%, p < 0.0001). The epiglottis was in contact with the mask aperture bars in 25% of patients, and in 34% of these, the epiglottis was seen to be herniated through the aperture bars. Herniation of the epiglottis through the mask aperture bars occurred more frequently with the Cobra‐PLA than the LMA‐U (8 vs 3%, p = 0.008). The vocal cords and arytenoids were more frequently visible with the LMA‐U and SS‐LM than with the Cobra‐PLA (both p < 0.006). Herniation of the arytenoids through the mask aperture bars was more frequently seen with the Cobra‐PLA than with the LMA‐U (8 vs 0%, p = 0.004). The position of the cuff was optimal for the LMA‐U and SS‐LM in 90% and 93% of patients, respectively. The cuff was more frequently in the midline with the LMA‐U than with the SS‐LM (p = 0.002). We conclude that the anatomical position of the LMA‐U and SS‐LMA is superior to that of the Cobra‐PLA in patients with clear airways. The mask aperture bars probably have no anatomical utility and predispose to herniation of the pharyngeal structures.

BackgroundIn our institution, we have redefined our criteria for direct availability of red blood cell (RBC) units in the operation room. In this study, we sought to evaluate the safety of applying this new logistical policy of blood transfusion in the first preliminary group of patients.MethodsIn March 2010, we started a new policy concerning the elective availability of RBC units in the operation room. This policy was called: No Elective Red Cells (NERC) program. The program was applied for patients undergoing primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or single valve surgery. No elective RBC units were preoperatively ordered for these patients. In case of urgent need, blood was delivered to the operating room within 20 min. The present study includes the first 500 patients who were managed according to this policy. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of biomedical variables on fulfilling this NERC program.ResultsThe majority of patients (n = 409, 81 %) did not receive any RBCs during the hospital stay. In patients who did receive RBCs (n = 91, 19 %), 11 patients (2.2 %) received RBCs after 24 h postoperatively. Female gender, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and EuroSCORE were significant predictors for the need of blood transfusion (OR = 3.12; 2.79; 1.17 respectively).ConclusionIn a selected group of patients, it is safe to perform cardiac surgery without the immediate availability of RBCs in the operating room. Transfusion was avoided in 81 % of these patients. Female gender, LVEF and EuroSCORE were associated with blood transfusion.

ObjectivesOutcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are worse in women than in men. This study aims to investigate whether off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery improves the outcomes in women by comparing different outcome measures in both genders.MethodsPatients who underwent isolated CABG, either on-pump (ONCAB) or OPCAB, between January 1998 and June 2017 were included. Primary endpoints were 30-day and 120-day mortality. Logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate the effect of the CABG technique on important outcomes such as mortality and the need for blood transfusion.ResultsThe data of 17,052 patients were analysed, 3,684 of whom were women (414 OPCAB) and 13,368 men (1,483 OPCAB). The mean number of grafts was lower in the OPCAB group of both genders (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, both men and women undergoing OPCAB surgery received fewer red blood cell transfusions (p < 0.001) and had higher postoperative haemoglobin levels (p < 0.001) than those undergoing ONCAB. Early mortality occurred less frequently after OPCAB surgery in both genders, although the difference was not significant. However, 120-day mortality was significantly lower after OPCAB surgery in women, even after correction for preoperative risk factors [odds ratio (OR) = 0.356, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.144–0.882, p = 0.026]. The difference in 120-day mortality was not significant in men (OR = 0.787, 95% CI 0.498–1.246, p = 0.307).ConclusionsWomen undergoing CABG benefit more from OPCAB surgery than from ONCAB surgery in terms of 120-day mortality. This difference was not found in men in our patient population.

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Background and aim of the study: In vitro studies have shown a reduction in radial artery spasm with the use of calcium antagonists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical treatment of the radial artery conduit using either verapamil or nicardipine before the anastomoses.Methods: This prospective randomized study included 131 patients, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery with the use of the radial artery as a conduit. In 65 patients, the harvested radial artery was topically treated with verapamil and in 66 patients with nicardipine. After harvesting the radial artery, the direct flow through the conduit was measured in vitro before 5-minute incubation in nicardipine or verapamil and measured again after incubation. The flow before and after incubation was compared. Postincubation flow was also compared in the two groups. After performing the anastomosis, the flow through the radial artery was measured in vivo. Results:The mean flow after NaCl incubation was 19.93 ± 12.66 mL/min and after incubation in the Ca+ channel blocker 47.16 ± 14.58 mL/min (P < .001). No significant difference in postincubation free flow was found between verapamil (46.29 ± 15.43 mL/ min) and nicardipine (48.01 ± 13.77 mL/min; P = .503).Conclusion: Topical treatment with Ca+ channel blockers reduces radial artery spasm and significantly increases the free flow through the radial artery conduit. Nicardipine is a safe and effective alternative of verapamil in preventing spasm of radial artery conduit. K E Y W O R D Sradial artery, calcium channel blockers, coronary artery bypass grafting