UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to explore the optimal dose of dexmedetomidine as a 0.59% ropivacaine adjuvant for epidural anesthesia on perioperative hemodynamics and anesthesia efficacy in patients undergoing great saphenous varicose vein surgery.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 90 patients were randomly divided into three groups: 0.25 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with 0.59% ropivacaine epidural infusion group (ED1 group), 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with 0.59% ropivacaine epidural infusion group (ED2 group), and 0.75 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with 0.59% ropivacaine epidural infusion group (ED3 group). Hemodynamics, anesthesia efficiency, and adverse reactions were recorded.
UNASSIGNED: Compared with the ED1 group, the ED2 group had lower systolic blood pressure at T1-3 (T1, 95%CIs, 6.52-21.93, p < 0.001; T2, 95%CIs, 2.88-18.21, p = 0.004; T3, 95%CIs, 0.49-18.17, p = 0.035), and the diastolic blood pressure at T1-2 was decreased (T1, 95%CIs, 4.55-14.36, p < 0.001; T2, 95%CIs, 0.37-12.17, p = 0.033). Compared with the ED2 group, the ED3 group had higher systolic blood pressure at T1-2 (T1, 95%CIs, 5.90-21.46, p < 0.001; T2, 95%CIs, 2.07-17.55, p = 0.008) and higher diastolic blood pressure at T1-3 (T1, 95%CIs, 2.91-12.81, p = 0.001; T2, 95%CIs, 1.32-13.23, p = 0.011; T3, 95%CIs, 0.14-11.52, p = 0.043). Compared with the ED2 group, the heart rate was significantly decreased at T1-4 in the ED3 group (T1, 95%CIs, 2.25-15.72, p = 0.005; T2, 95%CIs, 2.35-13.82, p = 0.003; T3, 95%CIs, 0.50-9.79, p = 0.025; T4, 95%CIs, 1.46-10.36, p = 0.005). The myocardial oxygen consumption in all three groups was significantly decreased at each time point compared to T0 (p < 0.05 or < 0.001), and no significant between-group differences were detected (P>0.05). Compared with the ED1 group, the anesthesia efficiency of ED2 and ED3 groups was markedly enhanced, but the risk of bradycardia in ED2 and ED3 groups was dramatically increased (6 of 28 [21.4%] vs. 14 of 30 [46.7%] and 14 of 27 [51.9%], p = 0.023), one patient in the ED3 group experienced difficulty urinating, and remaining adverse reactions were mild in all three groups.
UNASSIGNED: A measure of 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine is the optimal dose as a 0.59% ropivacaine adjuvant for epidural anesthesia in patients undergoing great saphenous varicose vein surgery.
UNASSIGNED: http://www.chictr.org.cn/, registration number: ChiCTR2200060619.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between timing of indwelling catheter removal and urinary retention after cesarean.
METHODS: Retrospective cohort study.
METHODS: Eight hospitals in suburban, rural, and urban Colorado and Montana.
METHODS: Women who gave birth by cesarean from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022 (N = 3,496).
METHODS: We categorized participants who gave birth between January 1, 2021, and June 29, 2021, (before implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery initiative) into Group A and participants who gave birth between July 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, (after implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery initiative) into Group B. We used descriptive statistics to report the proportion of participants in both groups who experienced urinary retention after birth. We performed chi-square tests to determine the association between the time of catheter removal and incidence of urinary retention. We used the Wilcoxon rank sum test to determine the association between length of stay and urinary retention.
RESULTS: Urinary retention rates were 5.8% in Group A and 12.6% in Group B (p < .001). In both groups, participants who received epidural anesthesia experienced significantly more urinary retention than those who received spinal anesthesia (p < .001). Participants who received epidural anesthesia and experienced urinary retention pushed 16.9% longer than those without urinary retention (p < .001). The proportion of participants who experienced urinary retention after catheter removal was 19.4% at 7 hours, 4.6% at 16 hours, and 9.9% at 12 hours after birth. Length of stay was determined to be inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS: We determined that the optimal time of catheter removal to minimize the rate of urinary retention was 12 to 16 hours after cesarean among women who received morphine sulfate as the spinal anesthesia.

Choloepus didactylus (two-toed sloth) is a Xenarthran mammal whose morphology has so far been little studied. Given the increasing number of sloths requiring clinical and surgical interventions, this lack of clarity regarding anatomical features and landmarks has had a negative impact on veterinary decision-making for this species. We therefore sought to describe the topography of the medullary cone (MC) of Choloepus didactylus in order to provide guidance to qualified professionals on the ideal access for locoregional anesthesia. In evaluating four specimens, radiographs and dissections revealed that Choloepus didactylus has three lumbar vertebrae and five sacral vertebrae. The lumbar intumescence is located between T14 and the cranial half of L2, the medullary cone is located between the caudal half of L2 and L3, with an average length of 2.26 cm, and the cauda equina extends from S1 to S5. Based on these anatomical findings, we propose that the lumbosacral region would be the most suitable target for epidural anesthesia in Choloepus didactylus.

UNASSIGNED: Factor (F)XI deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder with a poor correlation between bleeding tendency and FXI level. Management of pregnant women with FXI deficiency is not clearly established, especially regarding neuraxial analgesia (NA).
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective multicenter observational study was conducted in French hemostasis centers on pregnant women with FXI of <60 IU/dL.
UNASSIGNED: Data to report were (i) FXI levels before pregnancy and at time of delivery, (ii) type of NA and delivery management modalities, and (iii) possible complications related to NA and bleeding complications.
UNASSIGNED: Three hundred fourteen pregnancies in patients with FXI deficiency of <60 IU/dL were reported (from 20 centers); among them, 199 NA procedures have been completed (137 epidurals and 61 spinals, 1 had both). The period of childbirth was mostly from 2014 to 2020 (281/314; 89.5%). Congenital FXI deficiency was established with certainty by investigators in 32.8% patients (n = 103). Previous bleedings were described in 20.4% of the patients (64/314; 45.3% cutaneous, 31.3% gynecologic, and 15.6% postsurgical). Thirteen deliveries had an NA procedure with FXI of <30 IU/dL, 42 with FXI of 30-40 IU/dL, and 118 with FXI of 40-60 IU/dL. Median FXI levels at delivery in the epidural and spinal groups were not significantly different but were significantly lower in the group without NA by medical staff contraindications. There were no complications related to NA. A 17.5% postpartum hemorrhage or excessive postpartum bleeding incidence was reported, which is consistent with previous data.
UNASSIGNED: Our data support the use of a 30 IU/dL FXI threshold for NA, as suggested by the French proposals published in August 2023.

OBJECTIVE: The causes of epidural catheter migration beneath the skin have not been previously investigated. We hypothesized that greater subcutaneous fat thickness might be associated with increased catheter migration beneath the skin.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who had undergone combined general and epidural anesthesia, selecting individuals who received thoracic and abdominal CT scans within the first 5 postoperative days. Needle depth was defined as the distance from the needle tip to the skin surface when the anesthesiologist determined that the needle tip had reached the epidural space. We measured the length of the epidural catheter from the skin surface to the epidural space (catheter length), and subcutaneous fat thickness (fat thickness) using CT imaging. Migration distance was calculated by subtracting needle depth from catheter length.
RESULTS: We analyzed 127 patients (72 males), all undergoing epidural catheter insertion in the left lateral decubitus position via a paramedian approach. The median age of the patients was 71 years. Epidural catheters were postoperatively found to substantially curve beneath the skin. Regression analysis revealed no significant influence of fat thickness on catheter length (regression coefficient 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: - 0.17, 0.38). However, it indicated a positive correlation between fat thickness and needle depth (regression coefficient 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.70), and a negative correlation between fat thickness and migration distance (regression coefficient - 0.40, 95% CI: - 0.65, - 0.14).
CONCLUSIONS: We found a negative correlation between epidural catheter migration beneath the skin and subcutaneous fat thickness. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the possibility of substantial subcutaneous curving of the catheter, especially in patients with scant subcutaneous fat.

暂无摘要。

OBJECTIVE: Post-operative pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is often treated using thoracic epidural analgesics or thoracic paravertebral analgesics. This article describes a case where a thoracic disc herniation is treated with a thoracoscopic microdiscectomy with post-operative thoracic epidural analgesics. The patient developed a bupivacaine pleural effusion which mimicked a hemothorax on computed tomography (CT).
METHODS: The presence of bupivacaine in the pleural effusion was confirmed using a high performance liquid chromatography method.
RESULTS: The patient underwent a re-exploration to relieve the pleural effusion. The patient showed a long-term recovery similar to what can be expected from an uncomplicated thoracoscopic microdiscectomy.
CONCLUSIONS: A pleural effusion may occur when thoracic epidural analgesics are used in patents with a corridor between the pleural cavity and epidural space.

Friedreich\'s ataxia (FRDA), a rare inherited neurodegenerative disease, presents distinctive complexities in obstetrical anesthesia. Available research about FRDA in obstetrics is extremely limited. In this report, the anesthetic management of a 40-year-old primigravida with FRDA undergoing cesarean delivery is presented. An uneventful cesarean delivery with effective epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine at the L2-L3 intervertebral space was performed in our case. Neither hypotension nor bradycardia was observed, and vital signs remained stable, with no need for administration of vasoactive drugs. After discharge, the parturient reported no change in her neurologic symptoms. Conclusive recommendations are contingent upon more extensive studies. Overall management and the choice to proceed with neuraxial anesthesia in a woman with FRDA should be based on comprehensive consultations in both cardio-obstetrics and pre-anesthetic evaluations.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the optimal concentration of ropivacaine epidural anesthesia for clinical use in percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) by comparing the effects of different concentrations.
METHODS: Seventy patients scheduled for their first PTED procedure were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive ropivacaine at varying concentrations (0.3% or 0.4%). Primary outcome measures included the numeric rating scale (NRS) and hip extension level (HEL). Secondary outcome measures included intraoperative fentanyl dosage and postoperative complications.
RESULTS: One patient withdrew due to severe postoperative complications. The remaining 69 patients were allocated to the 0.3% (n = 34) and 0.4% (n = 35) groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). The NRS score was significantly lower in the 0.4% group than in the 0.3% group (P < 0.01), whereas the HEL score was significantly higher (P < 0.001). The average fentanyl dose in the 0.4% group was significantly lower than that in the 0.3% group (P < 0.01). Postoperative complications occurred in five and two patients in the 0.3% and 0.4% groups, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Although 0.4% ropivacaine (20 mL) impacts muscle strength, it does not impede PTED surgery. Given its effective analgesic properties and few postoperative complications, 0.4% ropivacaine can be considered a preferred dose for PTED.
BACKGROUND: This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2200060364; Registration Date: 29/5/2022) and on chictr.org.cn ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=171002 ).

Exercise induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a rare and potentially life-threatening syndrome characterized by anaphylaxis provoked by exercise. Although vaginal delivery with labor pain is a physical strain for women and a possible trigger for EIA, no consensus exists on the management strategy of delivery in patients with EIA. A 28-year-old primigravida was referred to our hospital because of history of EIA, associated with pruritus, urticaria, and respiratory distress, exacerbated during physical activity. To avoid physical stress, we chose scheduled labor induction with epidural anesthesia, and administered prophylactic intravenous hydrocortisone. She delivered vaginally with no symptoms suggestive of EIA during labor. Since it is quite possible for patients with EIA to develop anaphylaxis during vaginal delivery with labor pain, epidural anesthesia and prophylactic steroid administration may be the most rational approaches for delivery in pregnant women with EIA.