MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blinded RCT enrolled 110 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM from November 2020 to May 2021. Any patients with previous abdominal surgery, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease were excluded. The patients were randomised into two groups: (i) the IPLA group which received ropivacaine intraperitoneal instillation at the dissected left crus and (ii) the placebo group (sterile water instillation). Perioperative analgesia was standardised. The first 24-h postoperative pain was assessed using a VAS. The respiratory effort was assessed using incentive spirometry simultaneously.
RESULTS: Total of 110 patients were recruited. The VAS score was lower with an enhanced recovery of respiratory effort in the local anaesthetic group compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05) within the first 24 h postoperatively. In addition, the placebo group required additional postoperative analgesia (P < 0.05). No side effects were reported with the use of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine.
CONCLUSION: The use of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is recommended as it is safe, effectively reduces acute postoperative pain, and enhances the recovery of respiratory effort postoperatively.
METHODS: This single-centre retrospective observational study evaluated 2479 intensive care unit (ICU) cases from January 2016 to December 2018. A total of 76 identified candidemia cases and 76 matched control cases were analyzed. The patients' demographic characteristics and illness severity were analyzed, and possible risk factors for candidemia were investigated.
RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified renal replacement therapy (RRT) (odds ratio [OR]: 52.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.82-356.92; P < 0.0001), multifocal Candida colonization (OR: 23.55; 95% CI: 4.23-131.05; P < 0.0001), parenteral nutrition (PN) (OR: 63.67; 95% CI: 4.56-889.77; P = 0.002), and acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR: 7.67; 95% CI: 1.24-47.30; P = 0.028) as independent risk factors. A new prediction score with a cut-off value of 5.0 (80.3% sensitivity and 77.3% specificity) was formulated from the logit model equation.
CONCLUSIONS: Renal replacement therapy, AKI, PN, and multifocal Candida colonization were the independent risk factors for the new candidemia prediction score with high discriminatory performance and predictive accuracy.
METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-two surgical patients requiring intubation were recruited into this prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled study. Group A patients had their ETTc initially inflated, checked by a cuff pressure gauge, recorded and then set to 25 cmH2O. Group B patients had their ETTc inflated using the pilot balloon palpation method. Patients were then followed up for post-operative sore throat, hoarseness and cough.
RESULTS: The overall incidence of post-operative sore throat was 39.0% versus 75.3% (P < 0.001), hoarseness 6.2% versus 15.1% (P < 0.05) and cough 7.5% versus 21.9% (P < 0.05) in Group A and B, respectively. Group A patients experienced a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of sore throat up to 24 h post-operatively (P < 0.001), hoarseness at the first hour (P = 0.004) and cough at first and 12 h post-operatively (P = 0.002).
CONCLUSION: Adjusting the ETTc pressure to 25 cmH2O reduces post-operative sore throat, hoarseness and cough compared to pilot balloon palpation method.