IMPORTANCE An intraoperative higher level of positive end-expiratory positive pressure (PEEP) with alveolar recruitment maneuvers improves respiratory function in obese patients undergoing surgery, but the effect on clinical outcomes is uncertain. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a higher level of PEEP with alveolar recruitment maneuvers decreases postoperative pulmonary complications in obese patients undergoing surgery compared with a lower level of PEEP. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Randomized clinical trial of 2013 adults with body mass indices of 35 or greater and substantial risk for postoperative pulmonary complications who were undergoing noncardiac, nonneurological surgery under general anesthesia. The trial was conducted at 77 sites in 23 countries from July 2014-February 2018; final follow-up: May 2018. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to the high level of PEEP group (n = 989), consisting of a PEEP level of 12 cm H 2 O with alveolar recruitment maneuvers (a stepwise increase of tidal volume and eventually PEEP) or to the low level of PEEP group (n = 987), consisting of a PEEP level of 4 cm H 2 O. All patients received volume-controlled ventilation with a tidal volume of 7 mL/kg of predicted body weight. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was a composite of pulmonary complications within the first 5 postoperative days, including respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchospasm, new pulmonary infiltrates, pulmonary infection, aspiration pneumonitis, pleural effusion, atelectasis, cardiopulmonary edema, and pneumothorax. Among the 9 prespecified secondary outcomes, 3 were intraoperative complications, including hypoxemia (oxygen desaturation with SpO 2 Յ92% for >1 minute). RESULTS Among 2013 adults who were randomized, 1976 (98.2%) completed the trial (mean age, 48.8 years; 1381 [69.9%] women; 1778 [90.1%] underwent abdominal operations). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the primary outcome occurred in 211 of 989 patients (21.3%) in the high level of PEEP group compared with 233 of 987 patients (23.6%) in the low level of PEEP group (difference, −2.3% [95% CI, −5.9% to 1.4%]; risk ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.83 to 1.04]; P = .23). Among the 9 prespecified secondary outcomes, 6 were not significantly different between the high and low level of PEEP groups, and 3 were significantly different, including fewer patients with hypoxemia (5.0% in the high level of PEEP group vs 13.6% in the low level of PEEP group; difference, −8.6% [95% CI, −11.1% to 6.1%]; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among obese patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, an intraoperative mechanical ventilation strategy with a higher level of PEEP and alveolar recruitment maneuvers, compared with a strategy with a lower level of PEEP, did not reduce postoperative pulmonary complications.

Dexmedetomidine-based anesthesia and scalp block facilitated AC surgery without any requirement for urgent airway intervention or unplanned conversion to a full general anesthetic. This approach can enable physiologic testing before and during tumour resection facilitating real-time surgical decision-making based on intraoperative brain mapping with patients awake thereby minimizing the risk of neurologic deficit and increasing the opportunity for optimal surgical resection.

Purpose Determining epidural catheter placement and accurately depositing corticosteroids at the site of the pathology in adults with chronic back pain can be challenging. Fluoroscopy is considered the standard of care for guiding epidural catheter positioning and subsequent injection in patients receiving epidural corticosteroids, but the technique has some limitations. We hypothesized that electrophysiological stimulation using the Tsui test is feasible for determining the appropriate epidural catheter position in adults with chronic back pain receiving epidural corticosteroids. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of 12 patients receiving epidural corticosteroid injections for chronic back pain. Anatomical landmarks and epidural needle positions were initially confirmed by fluoroscopy. Epidural catheter position was assessed according to sensory and motor responses, as described by Tsui et al. (Can J Anaesth 45: 640-644, 1998). The current was increased slowly from zero until muscle activity was visible or the current reached 10 mA. The catheter was then advanced until muscle responses occurred in the desired myotome. The test was deemed positive or negative according to the Tsui criteria. The anatomical level was confirmed by fluoroscopy prior to injection. Results Electrophysiological stimulation effectively established the appropriate epidural catheter position in 11 patients (92%). Epidural stimulation occurred at a mean (SD) threshold of 3.95 (3.35) mA. The kappa statistic between interventions was 0.65, indicating a substantial level of agreement. Conclusion This study demonstrated that electrophysiological stimulation using the Tsui technique is feasible for epidural catheter positioning in adults with chronic back pain. It may optimize epidural steroid injection in this population. RésuméObjectif Il peut être difficile de déterminer le positionnement du cathéter péridural et de placer de façon précise les corticostéroïdes au site de la lésion chez les adultes souffrant de maux de dos chroniques. La fluoroscopie est considérée comme la norme de soins pour guider le positionnement du cathéter péridural et l'injection subséquente chez les patients recevant des corticostéroïdes par voie péridurale, mais la technique comporte certaines limites. Nous avons émis l'hypothèse que la stimulation électrophysiologique réalisée à l'aide du test de Tsui était faisable pour déterminer le positionnement adéquat du cathéter péridural chez les adultes souffrant de maux de dos Author contributions Niamh McAuliffe made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data; drafted the article and revised the manuscript; and approved the final version to be published. Sharon Pickworth made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data; revised the manuscript; and approved the final version to be published. Tania DiRenna made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data; and revised the manuscript;...

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