Persistent postoperative pain (PPP) has been described as a complication of cardiac surgery (CS). We aimed to study PPP after CS (PPPCS) by conducting a systematic review of the literature regarding its incidence, intensity, location, and the presence of neuropathic pain, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The review comprised 3 phases: a methodological assessment of 6 different databases identifying potential articles and screening for inclusion criteria by 2 independent reviewers; data extraction; and study quality assessment. Meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled incidence rates using a random effects model. We have identified 442 potentially relevant studies through database searching. A total of 23 studies (involving 11,057 patients) met our inclusion criteria. Persistent postoperative pain affects 37% patients in the first 6 months after CS, and it remains present more than 2 years after CS in 17%. The reported incidence of PPP during the first 6 months after CS increased in recent years. Globally, approximately half of the patients with PPPCS reported moderate to severe pain. Chest is the main location of PPPCS followed by the leg; neuropathic pain is present in the majority of the patients. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to provide estimates regarding incidence and intensity of PPPCS, which elucidates its relevance. There is an urgent need for adequate treatment and follow-up in patients with PPPCS.

Spinal cord ischemia remains the Achilles' heel of thoracic and thoracoabdominal diseases management. Great improvements in morbidity and mortality have been obtained with the endovascular approach TEVAR (Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair) but this devastating complication continues to severely affect the quality of life, even if the primary success of the procedure - dissection/aneurysm exclusion - has been achieved. Several strategies to deal with this complication have been published in the literature over the time. Knowledge and technology have been evolving from identification of the risk factors associated with spinal cord ischemia, including lessons learned from open surgery, and from developments in the collateral network concept for spinal cord perfusion. In this comprehensive review, the authors cover several topics from the traditional measures comprising haemodynamic control, cerebrospinal drainage and neuroprotective drugs, to the staged-procedures approach, the emerging MISACE (minimally invasive selective segmental artery coil-embolization) and innovative neurologic monitoring such as NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy) of the collateral network.

BackgroundPersistent postoperative pain (PPP) is defined as persistent pain after surgery of greater than three months’ duration.ObjectivesIdentify the incidence of PPP in our hospital and its associated factors; evaluate quality of life (QoL) and treatment of patients.Patients and MethodsWe conducted an observational prospective study in adults proposed to various types of surgery using the brief pain inventory short form preoperatively (T0), one day after surgery, and three months later (T3). If the patient had pain at T3 and other causes of pain were excluded, they were considered to have PPP, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form was applied. QoL was measured with the EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D).ResultsOne hundred seventy-five patients completed the study. The incidence of PPP was 28%, and the affected patients presented lower QoL. The majority referred to a moderate to severe level of interference in their general activity. Cholecystectomies were less associated with PPP, and total knee/hip replacements were more associated with it. Preoperative pain, preoperative benzodiazepines or antidepressants, and more severe acute postoperative pain were associated with the development of PPP. Half of the patients with PPP were under treatment, and they refer a mean symptomatic relief of 69%.ConclusionsThis study, apart from attempting to better characterize the problem of PPP, emphasizes the lack of its treatment.

No abstract

Introduction. Patients proposed to vascular noncardiac surgery (VS) have several comorbidities associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We evaluated incidence, predictors, and outcomes, and compared different scores to predict MACE after VS. Methods. We included all patients admitted from 2006 to 2013. Perioperative MACE included cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE), acute heart failure (AHF), and cardiac arrest (CA). Lee Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI), Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI-CRI), Vascular Study Group of New England (VSG-CRI), and South African Vascular Surgical (SAVS-CRI) Cardiac Risk Indexes were calculated and analyzed. We performed multivariate logistic regression to assess independent predictors with calculation of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). To reduce overfitting, we used leave-one-out cross-validation approach. The Predictive ability of scores was tested using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results. A total of 928 patients were included. We observed 81 MACE (28 MI, 22 arrhythmias, 10 CPE, 9 AHF, 12 CA) in 60 patients (6.5%): 3.3% in intermediate-risk surgery and 9.8% in high-risk surgery. Previous history of coronary artery disease (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.8-5.7), atrial fibrillation (OR = 5.1, CI = 2.4-11.0), insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.26, CI = 1.51-7.06), mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.75, CI = 1.41-4.63), and heart rate (OR = 1.02, CI = 1.01-1.03) at admission were considered independent risk factors in multivariate analysis. The AUROC of our model was 0.79, compared with RCRI (0.66), VSG-CRI (0.69), VQI-CRI (0.71), and SAVS-CRI (0.73). Conclusions. Observed MACE were within predicted range (1% to 5% after intermediate-risk surgery and >5% after high-risk surgery). SAVS-CRI and VQI-CRI had slightly better predictive capacity than VSG-CRI or RCRI.

No abstract

Objective: Patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) have comorbidities that increase the risk of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of mortality, MI and AKI after EVAR and to compare AKI incidence with Vascular Surgery Kidney Injury Predictive Score (VSKIPS). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of EVAR procedures performed between March 2006 and November 2013. We defined mortality at 30 days, MI as an increase in troponin level to >0.034 ng mL -1 in the first 72 h and AKI as an increase in creatinine level to >0.3 mg dL -1 in the first 48 h after surgery. Risk factors were analysed using logistic regression calculating Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). Results: Ninety-eight patients were included in the study. The incidence of mortality, MI, and AKI was 2%, 5%, and 18%, respectively. AKI increased the risk of MI [odds ratio (OR) 24.4, p=0.006]. Preoperative serum urea level of >50 mg dL -1 (OR 4.97, p=0.038), general anaesthesia (OR 9.64, p=0.002) and surgery duration (OR 1.53, p=0.043) were considered independent predictors of AKI. The AUROC of the AKI model was 0.886 compared with 0.793 of VSKIPS. Conclusion: We found the incidence of mortality, MI and AKI consistent with that of previous studies. However, we may be underestimating the last two because of the short follow-up time. AKI was an independent predictor of MI. Preoperative serum urea level of >50 mg dL

Introduction: Spasticity is a complex problem in patients with neurological disorders and may distress their quality of life. Intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps reduce spasticity with low doses and minimal side effects but are not free from complications. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps as well as patients' satisfaction. Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study including all intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps placed up to December 2015. Demographic characteristics, clinical diagnoses, date of placement or withdrawal/replacement of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps, baclofen dosage and complications of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps were collected. Assessments from the Ashworth and Penn's scales, Katz index and patients' global satisfaction were analysed. Results: In 19 years we placed 251 intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps in 155 patients. The mean age was 41.1 ± 15.8 years. The most frequent conditions were: trauma (34%), cerebral palsy (14%), multiple sclerosis (12%) and stroke (12%). Eighty-five patients (55%) required a second pump, and eleven (7%) a third one. The lifetime of the first pump was 72 (36 -89) and the total follow-up time was 96 (9 -132) months. The causes of withdrawal/replacement were: battery failure (57%), catheter migration/kinking (24%), infection (14%) and pump displacement/exteriorization (7%). The complication rate was 0.21 events/month. There was a significant improvement in the Ashworth and Penn's scales after the placemen of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps (p < 0.001 for all diagnoses) and the patients were satisfied with the treatment. Discussion: The incidence of complications was within range of other international studies despite our long follow-up time. Events per month, loss to follow-up, re-intervention rate, incidence of infection and mortality were similar to other studies. Conclusion: Intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps are safe and effective in the treatment of spasticity. Infusion pumps provide a high level of satisfaction regarding treatment and quality of life.Intrathecal baclofen dose (μg/day) -median (P25 -P75) 230 (95 -400)