Prevention of Emergence Agitation with Ketamine in Rhinoplasty

Effect of esketamine on the EC50 of remifentanil for suppression of choking cough during extubation

Choking cough during awakening from anesthesia is common (15%-94%) and can cause severe discomfort and complications, especially in neck surgery. This study compared the median effective concentration (EC50) of remifentanil combined with esketamine versus remifentanil alone for suppressing cough during extubation in male patients undergoing anterior cervical spine surgery. Group E received 0.25 mg/kg esketamine intravenously 30 min before surgery ended, while group D received a placebo. We observed that the EC50 values were 1.88 ng/mL for group E and 2.55 ng/mL for group D. No significant differences were observed in intraoperative hemodynamics or extubation time. Additionally, group E had lower postoperative pain scores at 2 and 24 h. Findings suggest that combining esketamine with remifentanil reduces the EC50 for cough suppression and effectively lowers early postoperative pain, providing reference for perioperative safety and improvement of prognosis in patients undergoing anterior cervical surgery.

"The effect of intramuscular dexmedetomidine versus oral gabapentin premedication on the emergence agitation after rhinoplasty". A prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Emergence agitation EA is a state of confusion and harmful aggressiveness during recovery. It is a common complication after rhinoplasty, with risk of trauma, bleeding, and hemodynamic instability. Dexmedetomidine and gabapentin premedication could improve the quality of recovery after rhinoplasty.

METHODS

One hundred fifty-three participants (ASA I-II, both sexes and age 18-40 years) scheduled for rhinoplasty were randomized into three groups. Group C didn't receive premedication, Group D received intramuscular (IM) dexmedetomidine, and Group G received oral gabapentin. The degree of EA by Riker sedation-agitation scale (RSAS) during recovery, pain severity, and adverse events recorded.

RESULTS

The results showed statistically significant differences in EA scores with the lowest values in group D (p-value 0.002). Moreover, the incidence of EA was 17.6% (9/51) in Group D, 41.2% (21/51) in Group G, and 56.9% (29/51) in Group C with P value < 0.001 and significant differences in VAS score at 4, 8, and 12 h with the highest median (range) values in group C 4(3-6) in comparison to group D 2(1-3) and group G 2(1-3) and p-value < 0.001; no significant differences in adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

IM dexmedetomidine premedication was more efficient than gabapentin in the reduction of the emergence agitation incidence, severity, and postoperative pain scores after rhinoplasty in adults.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ID

NCT05626998 on 25/11/2022.

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in patients undergoing nasal surgeries for prevention of emergence agitation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Emergence agitation is a common complication after nasal surgeries, marked by increased agitation and a heightened risk of injuries. Factors like urinary catheter, endotracheal tube, postoperative pain, and younger age contribute to its occurrence. Due to the variety of preventive approaches reported in the literature, a network meta-analysis is essential.

METHODS

This systematic review employs a network meta-analysis design, following Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA-NMA criteria. Inclusion criteria involve randomized controlled studies on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for preventing emergence agitation in nasal surgeries. Electronic searches, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, without language or date restrictions, were conducted. Two independent reviewers selected studies, and data extraction was performed using standardized tables. Bayesian NMA, MetaInsight web app, and Cochrane Foundation Risk of Bias Assessment Tool were applied for data analysis and bias assessment.

RESULTS

After a rigorous selection process, 17 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) encompassing 2,122 patients and 14 interventions were included. The best ranked treatments identified were intraoperative dexmedetomidine (1 μg.kg-1 for 10 minutes as a bolus, followed by 0.4 μg.kg-1.h-1), bilateral nasociliary and maxillary nerve block, ketamine (0.5 mg.kg-1 administered 20 minutes before the end of surgery), nasal compression for 40 minutes before anesthesia induction, and suction above the cuff of the endotracheal tube.

CONCLUSIONS

Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions emerged as effective strategies in mitigating emergence agitation after nasal surgeries, offering clinicians valuable options for improving postoperative outcomes in this patient population.

Magnesium sulfate infusion for emergence agitation in adult patients after general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Emergence agitation following general anesthesia poses significant risks to both patients and medical staff. While extensive research has explored the efficacy of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) in managing pediatric emergence agitation, its effectiveness in adults remains uncertain. Therefore, this meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy of MgSO4 in mitigating emergence agitation following general anesthesia in adult populations.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MgSO4 or placebo infusion during surgical procedures involving adult patients under general anesthesia. Key outcomes assessed included the incidence of emergence agitation, agitation severity scores, extubation duration, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1 (Cochrane, London, UK), with heterogeneity evaluated using I2 statistics. Significance was defined at P<0.05 for Odds Ratios (OR), mean differences (MD), and standard mean differences (SMD).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Five RCTs encompassing 605 participants were included. MgSO4 resulted in a lower emergence agitation incidence (OR=0.29 [95% CI: 0.12;0.72]; P=0.007). There were no significant differences between groups for patient's agitation severity scores (SMD=-0.69 [95% CI: -1.82; 0.44]; P=0.23), extubation time (MD=1.16 [95% CI: -1.06; 3.37]; P=0.30), or PONV incidence (OR=0.52 [95% CI: 0.15-1.76]; P=0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Magnesium sulfate infusion during general anesthesia was associated with lower incidence of emergence agitation in adults. However, no significant differences were observed regarding emergence agitation severity scores, PONV, or extubation time.

Minimizing Narcotic Use in Rhinoplasty: An Updated Narrative Review and Protocol

Opioids are commonly used to reduce pain after surgery; however, there are severe side effects and complications associated with opioid use, with addiction being of particular concern. Recent practice has shifted to reduce opioid consumption in surgery, although a specific protocol for rhinoplasty is still in progress. This paper aims to expand on the protocol previously established by the senior author based on updated evidence and details. This was accomplished by first high-lighting and summarizing analgesic agents with known opioid-reducing effects in the surgical field, with a particular focus on rhinoplasty, then compiling these analgesic options into a recommended protocol based on the most effective timing of administration (preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative). The senior author's previous article on the subject was referenced to compile a list of analgesic agents of importance. Each analgesic agent was then searched in PubMed in conjunction with "rhinoplasty" or "opioid sparing" to find relevant primary sources and systematic reviews. The preferred analgesic agents included, as follows: preoperative, 1000 mg oral acetaminophen, 200 mg of oral celecoxib twice daily for 5 days, and 1200 mg oral gabapentin; intraoperative, 0.75 μg/kg of intravenous dexmedetomidine and 1-2 mg/kg injected lidocaine with additional 2-4 mg/kg per hour or 1.5 cc total bupivacaine nerve block injected along the infraorbital area bilaterally and in the subnasal region; and postoperatively, 5 mg oral acetaminophen and 400 mg of oral celecoxib. When choosing specific analgesic agents, considerations include potential side effects, contraindications, and the drug-specific mode of administration.

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block on emergence agitation and postoperative analgesia after septorhinoplasty: A prospective randomized trial

Background and Aims

Emergence agitation (EA) is frequently encountered following nasal surgeries, and postoperative pain is a significant contributing element. We aimed to assess the role of suprazygomatic maxillary nerve (MN) block (SMB) guided by ultrasound (US) in lowering EA incidence and enhancing analgesia quality in septorhinoplasty cases.

Material and Methods

Sixty cases aged 18-60 years, of both genders, categorized by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II and listed for septorhinoplasty, were randomized to receive general anesthesia (GA) with either no block (the control group) or combined with bilateral US-guided SMB (the SMB group). The incidence of EA, postoperative pain scores, total rescue 24-hour analgesic consumption, and incidence of adverse events were all noted.

Results

EA incidence was significantly reduced in the SMB group than in the control group (five patients (16.7%) vs 14 patients (46.6%), respectively; P = 0.026). Pain scores at 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours postoperative were significantly decreased in the SMB group (P = 0.024, 0.000, 0.000, 0.009, and 0.038, respectively), with significantly less morphine consumption at 24 hours postoperative in the SMB group compared with the control group (P = 0.000). No serious adverse events were noted.

Conclusions

Preemptive application of US-guided SMB was effective in lowering EA incidence. Furthermore, it enhanced the analgesic quality and reduced the requirement for rescue analgesics in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty.

The effect of magnesium sulfate on emergence agitation in surgical adult patients undergoing general anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Investigating the effect of magnesium sulfate (MS) on emergence agitation (EA) in adult surgical patients following general anesthesia (GA).

DESIGN

Systematic literature review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO number: CRD42023461988).

SETTING

Review of published literature.

PATIENTS

Adults undergoing GA.

INTERVENTIONS

Intravenous administration of MS.

MEASUREMENTS

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science for publications until September 14, 2023. The primary outcome was the incidence of EA, while the secondary outcomes included the impact of MS on postoperative agitation score (PAS), emergence variables and adverse events. Relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) measured dichotomous outcome, while standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% CI measured continuous outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

Meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indicated that MS was associated with a lower incidence of EA at various time points (0 min: RR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.41, 0.95]; p = 0.183, I2 = 43.6%; 5 min: RR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.16, 0.52]; p = 0.211, I2 = 36%; 10 min: RR = 0.14, 95% CI [0.06, 0.32]; p = 0.449, I2 = 0%; 15 min: RR = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.55]; p = 0.265, I2 = 19.5%; 30 min: RR = 0.05, 95% CI [0.00, 0.91]; the postoperative period: RR = 0.21, 95% CI [0.09, 0.49]; p = 0.724, I2 = 0%;). Additionally, MS was associated with a reduced PAS at various time points except for 0 min. However, no significant differences were observed in extubation time, the length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit, postoperative nausea and vomiting or total complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited available evidence suggests that MS was associated with a lower incidence of EA. Nevertheless, further high-quality studies are warranted to strengthen and validate the effect of MS in preventing EA in adult surgical patients.

Dexmedetomidine versus remifentanil in nasal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nasal surgeries, addressing anatomical variations for form and function, require careful anesthesia administration, including dexmedetomidine and remifentanil. This meta-analysis evaluates their safety and efficacy variations in nasal surgeries, emphasizing patient comfort and optimal outcomes.

METHODS

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL Complete) were searched for records in English. Studies that measure the effect of dexmedetomidine versus remifentanil on patients underwent nasal surgery were included. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A random-effect model was preferred and statistical analysis was performed by Stata software version 17.

RESULTS

Out of an initial pool of 63 articles, five studies were selected for this analysis. All of these chosen studies were Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). The meta-analysis involved a total of 302 participants, with 152 in the remifentanil group and 150 in the dexmedetomidine group. The analysis aimed to compare the effects of Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil on heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during surgery. Both groups exhibited similar MAP and HR, with the exception of a slightly lower HR in the remifentanil group at the 15th minute of surgery (Standardized Mean Difference: -0.24 [-0.83, 0.34]). Furthermore, when evaluating the impact of these medications on post-surgery outcomes, including pain levels, the use of pain relief medications, patient-surgeon satisfaction, agitation scores, and recovery time, no significant differences were observed between the two medications in any of these aspects.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the study compared Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil in nasal surgeries anesthesia. No significant differences were found in heart rate, blood pressure, satisfaction, pain, agitation, or recovery time. The study had limitations, and future research should establish standardized protocols and consider various surgical factors.

Effect of three modalities on emergence agitation among post-traumatic stress disorder patients undergoing laparoscopy: a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Emergence agitation (EA) after general anesthesia is common in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Due to the recent worldwide events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and wars, PTSD is not rare. Accordingly, a reliable, cost-effective anesthetic protocol to lower the incidence of EA is crucial. Therefore, we aimed to compare three different interventions for avoiding EA in PTSD patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery. Participants were divided into four groups: 1: performing pre-operative relaxation techniques (deep breathing exercise and progressive muscle relaxation [PMR]); 2: administrating intra-operative Ketamine; 3: applying both previously mentioned strategies and 4 as controls.

METHODS

This study was carried out on 144 adult women scheduled for gynecological laparoscopy, randomly allocated into four groups: three intervention groups and a control group (36 each). Women aged 18-45 years old, with a diagnosis of PTSD were included in the study. Patients with a positive history of major neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, or renal disease were excluded. Any patient who reported the use of psychiatric drugs were also excluded from the study. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics software version 26. Kolmogorov- Smirnov was used to verify the normality of the distribution of variables. Odds ratio was calculated to clarify the strength and direction of the association between intervention groups and control. Data was deemed significant at a p-value ≤0.05.

RESULTS

Heart rate (HR) and Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) intra-operative and post-operative till 24 hours were significantly lower in groups 1, 2, and 3 compared to group 4 (p<0.001). There was a significant statistical difference in the intraoperative HR percentage decrease. MABP percentage decrease post-operative was higher in all the intervention groups with no statistically significant difference, except for group 1 compared to group 4, which was statistically significant (12.28 ± 11.77 and 6.10 ± 7.24, p=0.025). Visual Analogue Scale measurements were significantly less in the intervention groups 1, 2, and 3 compared to group 4. On Riker sedation-agitation scores, group 1 was 85 times more likely to be non-agitated (85 (15.938 - 453.307), p<0.001), group 2 was 175 times more likely to be non-agitated (175 (19.932-1536.448), p<0.001) and group 3 was protected against agitation.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative relaxation techniques (breathing exercises and PMR) significantly lowered HR, MABP, VAS score, and EA than controls. These effects were not significantly different from intra-operative ketamine injection or the combination of both (relaxation techniques and ketamine). We recommend routine pre-operative screening for PTSD and the application of relaxation techniques (breathing exercises and PMR) in the pre-operative preparation protocol of PTSD-positive cases as well as routine practical application of preoperative relaxation techniques. Further studies on using pre-operative relaxation techniques in general could be cost-effective.

Focal Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Arrhythmias: Efficacy and Safety under Deep Sedation

Focal pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel technique for treating cardiac arrhythmias. It has demonstrated positive results in initial studies and has a good safety profile. In recent studies, PFA was often utilized for first-time pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and was performed under general anesthesia. In our study, we assessed the feasibility, safety, acute procedural efficacy, and efficiency of focal PFA under deep sedation in patients, 80% of whom had undergone at least one left atrial ablation previously. We treated 30 patients (71 ± 7, 46% male) using the CENTAURI system for various atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, typical and atypical atrial flutter, and focal atrial tachycardia. The average procedure and fluoroscopy times were 122 ± 43 min and 9 ± 7 min, respectively. A total of 83.33% of patients received additional line ablations beyond PVI, specifically targeting the posterior box and anterior mitral line. All ablations were successfully performed in deep sedation with only one major and one minor complication observed. The major complication was a vasospasm of the right coronary artery during ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus, which was treated successfully with intracoronary nitroglycerin. All patients could be discharged in sinus rhythm. Moreover, adenosine appears effective in identifying dormant conduction in some patients after focal PFA. In conclusion, focal PFA is an effective approach for complex left atrial ablations under deep sedation, offering both high efficacy and efficiency with a reliable safety profile. Studies on long-term outcomes are needed.

Comparing Recovery from Desflurane and Sevoflurane in Patients with Different Body Fat Percentages: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Increased body fat may influence the partition coefficients of inhaled anesthetics. We compared patient responses to desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia, as measured by a quicker recovery and fewer complications, in patients with higher body fat percentages, not only obese people.

METHODS

This study included 120 patients. Participants were stratified into low or high body fat percentages groups using bioelectrical impedance analysis and were randomized 1:1 to receive desflurane or sevoflurane as an inhaled anesthetic, recorded as Low-Desflurane, Low-Sevoflurane, High- Desflurane, and High-Sevoflurane. Recovery time, Riker sedation-agitation scale scores, and complications were recorded over 1 hour in the post-anesthesia care unit.

RESULTS

A total of 106 patients were analyzed. There were no significant differences in the overall recovery time between the patient subgroups with higher and lower body fat percentages; in addition, there were no significant differences in the incidence of nausea, vomiting,dizziness, or headache (all p>0.05). However, the incidence of agitation emergence in the HighSevoflurane subgroup was significantly higher compared to the High-Desflurane subgroup (33.3% vs.7.41%; p = 0.043).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, for patients with a lower body fat percentage, both desflurane and sevoflurane can provide good and fast recovery; for patients with a higher body fat percentage,desflurane may provide better recovery with a lower incidence of agitation emergence compared to sevoflurane.

Impact of intravenous administration of nalbuphine at different time points for postoperative analgesia and sedation in adenotonsillectomized children: a prospective, randomized controlled trial

Objective

To compare the efficacy of intravenous administration of nalbuphine at different time points for postoperative analgesia and sedation in adenotonsillectomized children.

Methods

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome scheduled for adenotonsillectomy were randomly divided into group A (patients received intravenous nalbuphine 0.2 mg/kg before anesthesia induction), group B (patients received intravenous nalbuphine 0.2 mg/kg 10 min before the end of surgery), and group C (patients did not receive nalbuphine injection). The time points for measuring outcomes were before anesthesia induction (T0), extubation (T1), and 0, 15, 30, or 45 min in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) (T2-T5, respectively).

Results

There were 40 patients in group A, 41 patients in group B and 39 patients in group C. Patients in group B had significantly lower FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) pain scores at T2-T5 than those in group C (all p<0.05). Patients in group B had higher Ramsay Sedation Score at T2-T4 than those in group C (all p<0.05). The proportion of patients who received remedial analgesia in the PACU in group A (17.5%, p=0.008) and group B (9.8%, p<0.001) was significantly lower than that in group C (46.2%).

Conclusion

Intravenous administration of nalbuphine 10 min before the end of adenotonsillectomy in children could decrease pain intensity and increase sedation levels during the recovery period with the reduction of remedial analgesia in the PACU.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200060118.

The analgesic efficacy of ketamine for septorhinoplasty: a meta-analysis study

BACKGROUND

The analgesic efficacy of ketamine supplementation was not well-established for septorhinoplasty and this meta-analysis aimed to compare ketamine supplementation with placebo for the postoperative pain control of septorhinoplasty.

METHODS

We systematically searched several databases, including PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO and Cochrane library databases, and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the effect of ketamine supplementation versus placebo for pain control after septorhinoplasty. This meta-analysis was conducted by random effect model.

RESULTS

Five RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. In comparison with control group for septorhinoplasty, ketamine supplementation was associated with significantly decreased pain scores at 30 min (SMD = - 3.84; 95% CI = - 6.73 to - 0.96; P = 0.009), pain scores at 1 h (SMD = - 2.70; 95% CI = - 3.79 to - 1.61; P < 0.00001), pain scores at 2 h (SMD = - 1.83; 95% CI = - 3.01 to - 0.64; P = 0.003), rescue analgesics (OR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.17; P < 0.00001), but unraveled no obvious impact on pain scores at 4 h (SMD = - 1.13; 95% CI = - 3.37 to 1.12; P = 0.32) or the incidence of nausea and vomiting (OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.30 to 1.72; P = 0.45).

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine supplementation was effective to improve pain relief after septorhinoplasty.

The Topics and Publication Trends in Emergence Deliri-Um: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2002 to 2022

Background

Emergence delirium is an early postoperative behavior change in pediatric patients, posing risks to patient safety and leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased medical costs. As a result, the research on emergence delirium has grown substantially. This study aims to identify the most influential literature, trends, and topics in emergence delirium research, as well as to quantify the fundamental data of academic publications on this topic.

Methods

We searched for articles on emergence delirium in the Science Citation Index Expanded databases, covering the period from 2002 to 2022. Bibliographic information, including countries, institutions, journals, authorships, references, and keywords, was collected for further analysis.

Results

A total of 739 articles on emergence delirium published between 2002 and 2022 were collected. China emerged as the most prolific publisher in this field, accounting for over 30% of all articles (226 publications), followed by the United States (n = 143) and South Korea (n = 92). The top three productive journals were Pediatric anesthesia (n=78, IF=2.129), Anesthesia and Analgesia (n=28, IF=6.627), and BMC Anesthesiology (n=28, IF=2.583). Yonsei University was the most active institution, with 22 publications related to emergence delirium. Among authors, Kin, Hee-Soo (n = 9) published the most articles in this field, followed by Yao, Yusheng (n = 7), Lee, Ji-Hyun (n = 7). The prominent topics in emergence delirium research during the past two decades were "children", "emergence delirium" and "propofol".

Conclusion

Through bibliometric analysis, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in the field of emergence delirium over the past two decades. The results demonstrate a significant growth in emergence delirium research worldwide, with China leading in the number of publications. Despite the wealth of literature on strategies for preventing and managing emergence delirium in clinical settings, further basic research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of emergence delirium.

Effects of intra-operative administration of subanesthetic s-ketamine on emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

Ketamine is administered in the perioperative period for its benefits in analgesia, anti-agitation and anti-depression when administered at a small dose. However, it is not clear whether the intra-operative administration of ketamine would affect emergence under sevoflurane anesthesia. To investigate this effect, we designed this trial.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we enrolled 44 female patients aged 18-60 who were scheduled to elective laparoscopic gynecological surgeries. All patients were randomly assigned to saline or s-ketamine group. In s-ketamine group, patients received 0.125 mg/kg s-ketamine 30 min after the start of surgery. In saline group, patients were administered the same volume of saline. Sevoflurane and remifentanil were used to maintain general anesthesia. The primary outcome was emergence time. We also assessed postoperative agitation, cognitive function, and delirium. In addition, we collected and analyzed prefrontal electroencephalogram (EEG) during and after general anesthesia.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in emergence time between s-ketamine group and saline group (10.80 ± 3.77 min vs. 10.00 ± 2.78 min, P = 0.457). Neither postoperative agitation (4 [3, 4] vs. 4 [3, 4], P = 0.835) nor cognitive function (25.84 ± 2.69 vs. 25.55 ± 2.19, P = 0.412) differed between groups. No postoperative delirium was observed in either group. Subanesthetic s-ketamine resulted in active EEG with decreased power of slow (-0.35 ± 1.13 dB vs. -1.63 ± 1.03 dB, P = 0.003), delta (-0.22 ± 1.11 dB vs. -1.32 ± 1.09 dB, P = 0.011) and alpha (-0.31 ± 0.71 dB vs. -1.71 ± 1.34 dB, P = 0.0003) waves and increased power of beta-gamma bands (-0.30 ± 0.89 dB vs. 4.20 ± 2.08 dB, P < 0.0001) during sevoflurane anesthesia, as well as an increased alpha peak frequency (-0.16 ± 0.48 Hz vs. 0.31 ± 0.73 Hz, P = 0.026). EEG patterns did not differ during the recovery period after emergence between groups.

CONCLUSION

Ketamine administered during sevoflurane anesthesia had no apparent influence on emergence time in young and middle-aged female patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Subanesthetic s-ketamine induced an active prefrontal EEG pattern during sevoflurane anesthesia but did not raise neurological side effects after surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100046479 (date: 16/05/2021).

Risk factors for emergence agitation during the awakening period in elderly patients after total joint arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the incidence and risk factors for emergence agitation (EA) in elderly patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty (TJA) under general anaesthesia, and to assess their predictive values.

DESIGN

Single-centre retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A 1600-bed general tertiary hospital in China.

PARTICIPANTS

This study enrolled 421 elderly patients scheduled for elective primary TJA under general anaesthesia.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

EA was assessed using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale during the awakening period after surgery in the post-anaesthesia care unit. Risk factors for EA were identified using univariate and multivariable logistic analyses. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive values of the risk factors for EA.

RESULTS

The incidence of EA in elderly patients who underwent TJA was 37.6%. According to the multivariable logistic analysis, postoperative pain (95% CI: 1.951 to 3.196), male sex (95% CI: 1.781 to 6.435), catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) (95% CI: 4.001 to 15.392) and longer fasting times for solids (95% CI: 1.260 to 2.301) and fluids (95% CI: 1.263 to 2.365) were independent risk factors for EA. As shown by the ROC analysis, postoperative pain and fasting times for solids and fluids had good predictive values, with areas under the ROC curve equalling 0.769, 0.753 and 0.768, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

EA is a common complication after TJA in elderly patients. Some risk factors, including postoperative pain, male sex, CRBD and longer fasting times, can increase the incidence of EA. These risk factors may contribute to identifying high-risk patients, which facilitates the development of effective strategies to prevent and treat EA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR1800020193.

Comparing the Effect of Ketamine and Lidocaine on Agitation and Pain in Rhinoplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

Emergence agitation (EA) is an important clinical problem that occurs during the initial period of recovery from anesthesia. This study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine and lidocaine administered on agitation level, postoperative pain, and hemodynamic changes in adults after rhinoplasty.

Materials and Methods

Totally 72 patients scheduled to undergo elective rhinoplasty were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups including control group (n = 24), ketamine group (n = 24), and lidocaine group (n = 24). Twenty minutes before surgery completion, 1 ml saline was administered intravenously to the saline group, while 0.5 mg/kg ketamine or 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine was administered to two other groups. The emergence agitation level of the patients was evaluated using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale just after extubation and in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Postoperative pain was evaluated by Numerical Rating Scale that scored (from 0 to 10) every 10 min until the patients were discharged from PACU.

Results

There was a significant difference between EA level between ketamine (P = 0.049) and lidocaine (P = 0.019) groups compared to the control group, and there was a significant difference between pain level between the ketamine (P = 0.008) and lidocaine (P = 0.035) groups compared the to control group, while there was no significant difference between the level of agitation (P = 0.922) and level of pain (P = 0.845) after extubation between the ketamine and lidocaine groups.

Conclusion

Ketamine and lidocaine are highly effective in preventing EA and pain control. Further studies with a greater sample size and longer follow-up period are needed to confirm the current findings.

Effect of S-ketamine administered at the end of anesthesia on emergence delirium in preschool children undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy

Background: S-ketamine (the S-isomer of ketamine) is twice as potent as the racemic mixture of this agent and carries fewer side effects when administered to humans. Information regarding the use of S-ketamine for the prevention of emergence delirium (ED) is limited. Thus, we evaluated the effect of S-ketamine administered at the end of anesthesia on ED in preschool children undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. Methods: We investigated 108 children aged 3-7 years, who were scheduled for elective tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy under general anesthesia. They were randomly assigned to receive either S-ketamine 0.2 mg/kg or an equal volume of normal saline at the end of anesthesia. The primary outcome was the highest score on the pediatric anesthesia ED (PAED) scale during the first 30 min post-surgery. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of ED (defined as a score of ≥ 3 on Aono scale), pain score, time to extubation, and incidences of adverse events. Multivariate analyses were also performed using logistic regression to evaluate the independent factors predictive of ED. Results: The median (interquartile range) PAED score of the S-ketamine group (0 [0, 3]) was significantly lower than that in the control group (1 [0, 7]) (estimate median difference = 0, 95% confidence interval -2 to 0, p = 0.040). Significantly fewer patients in the S-ketamine group had an Aono scale score ≥ 3 (4 [7%] vs. 12 [22%], p = 0.030). Patients in the S-ketamine group also had a lower median pain score than did control subjects (4 [4, 6] vs. 6 [5, 8], p = 0.002). The time to extubation and incidences of adverse events were comparable between the two groups. However, multivariate analyses indicated that except S-ketamine use, pain scores, age and duration of anesthesia were independent factors predictive of ED. Conclusion: S-ketamine (0.2 mg/kg) administered at the end of anesthesia effectively reduced the incidence and severity of ED in preschool children undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy without prolonging the time to extubation or increasing adverse events. However, S-ketamine use was not an independent factor predictive of ED.

Intramuscular Ketamine Effect on Postnasal Surgery Agitation: A Prospective Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigates the effect of intramuscular ketamine on emergence agitation (EA) following septoplasty and open septorhinoplasty (OSRP) when administered at subanesthetic doses at the end of surgery. A random sample of 160 ASA I-II adult patients who underwent septoplasty or OSRP between May and October, 2022, was divided into two groups of eighty patients each: ketamine (Group K) and saline (Group S) with the latter serving as the control group. At the end of surgery immediately after turning off the inhalational agent, Group K was administered with intramuscular 2 ml of normal saline containing 0.7 mg/kg ketamine and Group S with 2 ml of intramuscular normal saline. Sedation and agitation scores at emergence from anesthesia were recorded after extubation using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). The incidence of EA was higher in the saline group than in the ketamine group (56.3% vs. 5%; odds ratio (OR): 0.033; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.010-0.103; p < 0.001). Variables associated with a higher incidence of agitation were ASA II classification (OR: 3.286; 95% (CI): 1.359-7.944; p=0.008), longer duration of surgery (OR: 1.010; 95% CI: 1.001-1.020; p=0.031), and OSRP surgery (OR: 2.157; CI: 1.056-5.999; p=0.037). The study concluded that the administration of intramuscular ketamine at a dose of 0.7 mg/kg at the end of surgery effectively reduced the incidence of EA in septoplasty and OSRP surgery.

Emergence Agitation and Anesthetic Considerations in the Management of Patients With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Report of Two Cases and a Review of the Literature

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disturbance resulting from exposure to a traumatic experience that lasts more than one month. PTSD in the United States has a lifetime prevalence of 3.4% to 26.9% in civilians and 7.7% to 17.0% in military veterans. Emergence agitation (EA) and emergence delirium (ED) are known phenomena in the postanesthetic period. PTSD is closely associated with EA following anesthesia. In addition, EA in patients with PTSD can be severe and challenging to manage. EA is a risk to both patients and healthcare workers. Furthermore, EA has been shown to increase the overall risk of postoperative delirium and complications. Currently, studies on the anesthetic management of patients with PTSD are scarce and limited to case reports. Here, we present a summary of several important published case reports and a brief review of the literature regarding the anesthetic management of PTSD and EA to aid in managing patients with PTSD. In addition, we present two cases of successful EA prevention in patients with severe PTSD. From our review of the literature and the successful prevention of EA in our patients with severe PTSD, we conclude that there is an increased need for overall awareness among anesthesia and perioperative care providers of the effect of PTSD on EA. Anesthesia providers should aim to include as many management recommendations as possible and avoid possible triggers of EA via a multidisciplinary approach. Multiple pharmacological agents have been used for the anesthetic management of PTSD with varying results. Of the agents studied, dexmedetomidine has been found to be the most consistently beneficial.

A Perioperative Intervention to Prevent and Treat Emergence Delirium at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Emergence delirium (ED) is a temporary condition associated with a patient awakening from an anesthetic and/or adjunct agent (e.g., sedatives and analgesics). During the condition, patients risk harming themselves or staff by engaging in dangerous behavior, which may include thrashing, kicking, punching, and attempting to exit the bed/table. A multidisciplinary team at Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) developed and implemented a multicomponent intervention to reduce the severity and occurrence of ED. The intervention consists of a training component and 21 clinical components. The 21 clinical components are implemented on a patient-by-patient basis and include routine screening for risk factors, enhanced communication among staff, adjusting the environment, following a specific medication strategy, and application of manual restraint (hands-on). The authors provide 15 online Supplemental Materials (S1–S15) to promote replication of the intervention. To our knowledge, this is the first manuscript that describes this type of multicomponent intervention in sufficient detail to allow others to replicate it. Following implementation of the intervention at VAPHS, perioperative staff reported that they observed a substantial reduction in the occurrence and severity of ED, ED-related patient and staff injuries, and ED-related loss of intravenous access and airway patency. Despite staff’s reported success of the intervention, rigorous research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention.

Online Supplement to “A Perioperative Intervention to Prevent and Treat Emergence Delirium at a Veteran Affairs Medical Center”

This supplementary material was provided by the authors to give readers additional information and resources to replicate their work.

Pre-anesthetic use of butorphanol for the prevention of emergence agitation in thoracic surgery: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial

Background

Emergence agitation (EA) is common in patients after general anesthesia (GA) and is associated with poor outcomes. Patients with thoracic surgery have a higher incidence of EA compared with other surgery. This study aimed to investigate the impact of pre-anesthetic butorphanol infusion on the incidence of EA in patients undergoing thoracic surgery with GA.

Materials and methods

This prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in 20 tertiary hospitals in China. A total of 668 patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy/segmentectomy for lung cancer were assessed for eligibility, and 620 patients were enrolled. In total, 296 patients who received butorphanol and 306 control patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Patients in the intervention group received butorphanol 0.02 mg/kg 15 min before induction of anesthesia. Patients in the control group received volume-matched normal saline in the same schedule. The primary outcome was the incidence of EA after 5 min of extubation, and EA was evaluated using the Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale (RSAS). The incidence of EA was determined by the chi-square test, with a significance of P < 0.05.

Results

In total, 296 patients who received butorphanol and 306 control patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The incidence of EA 5 min after extubation was lower with butorphanol treatment: 9.8% (29 of 296) vs. 24.5% (75 of 306) in the control group (P = 0.0001). Patients who received butorphanol had a lower incidence of drug-related complications (including injecting propofol pain and coughing with sufentanil): 112 of 296 vs. 199 of 306 in the control group (P = 0.001) and 3 of 296 vs. 35 of 306 in the control group (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The pre-anesthetic administration of butorphanol reduced the incidence of EA after thoracic surgery under GA.

Clinical trial registration

[http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=42684], identifier [ChiCTR1900025705].

Effect of Preoperative Thoracic Paravertebral Blocks on Emergence Agitation During Tracheal Extubation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

This study aims to compare the effects of preoperative thoracic paravertebral blocks (TPVB) with intercoastal nerve blocks (ICNB) on emergence agitation (EA) during tracheal extubation in patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A randomized clinical trial was conducted in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy at Beijing Chest Hospital between June 2019 and December 2020.

Interventions

Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either ultrasound-guided preoperative TPVB or ICNB.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the occurrence of emergency agitation, which was evaluated by Aono’s four-point scale (AFPS). Secondary outcomes included hemodynamics [mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR)]; and post-operative pain intensity [visual analog scale (VAS), Ramsay sedation score (RSS), and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) demand times].

Results

Among the 100 patients aged 55–75 years old, 50 were randomized to each group; 97 patients completed the trial. Compared to the ICNB group, the occurrence of EA in the TPVB group was significantly lower [31.3% (15/48) vs. 12.2% (6/49), relative risk = 1.276, 95% CI: 1.02–1.60, P = 0.028]. For patients in the TPVB group, the MAP and HR at 5, 10, and 30 min after extubation were significantly lower; the intraoperative details including emergence time, extubation time, and consumption of sufentanil were significantly shorter than that in the ICNB group. Additionally, patients in the TPVB group showed significantly lower VAS at rest or coughing and significantly lower RSS at 60 and 240 min after extubation than patients in the ICNB group (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Preoperative TPVB was associated with less EA during tracheal extubation when compared with ICNB in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy.

Clinical Trial Registration

[http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx], identifier [ChiCTR1900023852].

The effects of intraoperative magnesium sulfate administration on emergence agitation and delirium in pediatric patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The role of intraoperative magnesium for the prevention of emergence agitation or delirium is unclear as there have been conflicting results reported by several randomized controlled trials.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium sulfate on emergence agitation or emergence delirium in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched to identify studies which evaluated the effects of magnesium on postoperative emergence agitation or emergence delirium. The primary outcome was the incidence of emergence agitation or emergence delirium during the post-anesthesia stay. The secondary outcome was the agitation or delirium score upon admission to the post-anesthesia care unit. We estimated the odds ratio and standardized mean difference using a random-effect model.

RESULTS

A total of 712 pediatric patients from 10 randomized controlled trials were included in the final analysis. The incidence of emergence agitation or emergence delirium was 29.7% in the magnesium group and 50.5% in the control group. The pooled effect size revealed that the administration of magnesium sulfate significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative emergence agitation or emergence delirium in pediatric patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia (Odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.15 to 0.64; p = .002). Additionally, children in the magnesium group reported significantly lower agitation or delirium scores than those in the control group (standardized mean difference, -0.70; 95% confidence interval, -1.15 to -0.24; p = .003).

CONCLUSION

The administration of magnesium sulfate reduced the incidence and severity of emergence agitation or emergence delirium in pediatric patients after the use of general anesthesia during surgery.

Sleep quality and emergence delirium in children undergoing strabismus surgery: a comparison between preschool- and school-age patients

Background

Emergence delirium (ED) is common in pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia with sevoflurane. Preoperative sleep quality is associated with the risk factors for ED. However, research on the relationship between sleep quality and ED is limited. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ED and preoperative sleep quality in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery.

Methods

This clinical trial included pediatric patients aged 4–12 years who underwent elective strabismus surgery. The patients and their parents were questioned about the patients’ preoperative sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. For anesthesia induction, thiopental (5 mg/kg) and rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) were used, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (minimum alveolar concentration, 1–1.5). After administration of a reversal drug, extubation was performed, and the patients were transferred to a post-anesthesia recovery unit. At 10 min after extubation, the degree of ED was measured using the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) and Watcha scale scores.

Results

Of the 62 enrolled patients, three pediatric patients were excluded. The overall incidence of ED was 22%. A total of 59 patients were divided into the two groups. The ED group and the non-ED group comprised 13 and 46 patients. Age, height and weight were significantly lower in the ED group than in the non-ED group. Preoperative PSQI and Watcha scale score were significantly higher in the ED group than in the non-ED group. Multivariate analysis showed that age (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 0.490 [0.290–0.828], p = 0.008) and preoperative PSQI score (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 2.149[1.224–3.771], p = 0.008) was associated with ED. In sub-group analysis, PAED scale and Watcha scale scores showed a moderate correlation with preoperative sleep quality in preschool-age patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the incidence of ED tended to be higher in younger age and poorer preoperative sleep quality in pediatric patients. In particular, the poorer sleep quality score was associated with higher incidence of ED in the preschool-age. Large-scale clinical studies and long-term follow-up studies on ED and sleep quality are required.

Trial registration

This study was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03332407) at November 5th 2017.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-021-01507-2.

Predictive Value of Preoperative Profiling of Serum Metabolites for Emergence Agitation After General Anesthesia in Adult Patients

Background: Emergence agitation (EA) in adult patients under general anesthesia leads to increased postoperative complications and heavy medical burden. Unfortunately, its pathogenesis has not been clarified until now. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between preoperative serum metabolites and EA. Methods: We used an untargeted metabolic analysis method to investigate the different metabolomes in the serum of EA patients and non-EA patients undergoing elective surgical procedures after the induction of general anesthesia. A Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score ≥ +2 was diagnosed as EA during postoperative emergence. Non-EA patients were matched with EA patients according to general characteristics. Preoperative serum samples of the two groups were collected to investigate the association between serum metabolites and EA development. Results: The serum samples of 16 EA patients with 34 matched non-EA patients were obtained for metabolic analysis. After screening and alignment with databases, 31 altered metabolites were detected between the two groups. These metabolites were mainly involved in the metabolism of lipids, purines, and amino acids. Analyses of receiver-operating characteristic curves showed that the preoperative alterations of choline, cytidine, glycerophosphocholine, L-phenylalanine, oleamide, and inosine may be associated with adult EA. Conclusion: Multiple metabolic abnormalities (including those for lipids, purines, and amino acids) and other pathological processes (e.g., neurotransmitter imbalance and oxidative stress) may contribute to EA. Several altered metabolites in serum before surgery may have predictive value for EA diagnosis. This study might afford new metabolic clues for the understanding of EA pathogenesis.

Effect of ketamine on emergence agitation following septoplasty: a randomized clinical trial

Background and objectives

The risk of emergence agitation (EA) is high in patients undergoing nasal surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of EA in adults undergoing septoplasty and the effect of ketamine on EA.

Methods

In this randomized study, a total of 102 ASA I–II patients who underwent septoplasty between July 2018 and April 2019 were divided into two groups: ketamine (Group-K, n = 52) and saline (Group-S, n = 50). After anesthesia induction, Group-K was intravenously administered 20 mL of saline containing 1 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine, whereas Group-S was administered 20 mL of saline. Sedation and agitation scores at emergence from anesthesia, incidence of cough, emergence time, and response to verbal stimuli time were recorded. The sedation/agitation and pain levels were recorded for 30 minutes in the recovery unit.

Results

There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the incidence of EA (Group-K: 15.4%, Group-S: 24%). The incidence of cough during emergence was higher in Group-S than in Group-K, but the response time to verbal stimuli and emergence time were shorter in Group-S. The sedation and agitation scores were similar after surgery. Pain scores were higher in Group-S at the time of admission to the recovery unit and were similar between groups in the other time points.

Conclusion

Administration of 1 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine after anesthesia induction does not affect the incidence of EA in patients undergoing septoplasty, but it prolongs the emergence and response time to verbal stimuli and reduces the incidence of cough.

Adult Emergence Agitation: A Veteran-Focused Narrative Review

Emergence agitation (EA) is a self-limited state of psychomotor excitement during awakening from general anesthesia. EA is confined to the emergence period as consciousness is restored, which sharply distinguishes it from other postoperative delirium states. Sporadic episodes of EA may become violent with the potential for harm to both patients and caregivers, but the long-term consequences of such events are not fully understood. Current literature on EA in adults is limited to small-scale studies with inconsistent nomenclature, variable time periods that define emergence, a host of different surgical populations, and conflicting diagnostic criteria. Therefore, true incidence rates and risk factors are unknown. In adult noncardiac surgery, the incidence of EA is approximately 19%. Limited data suggest that young adults undergoing otolaryngology operations with volatile anesthetic maintenance may be at the highest risk for EA. Currently suggested EA mechanisms are theoretical but might reflect underblunted sympathetic activation in response to various internal (eg, flashbacks or anxiety) or external (eg, surgical pain) stimuli as consciousness returns. Supplemental dexmedetomidine and ketamine may be utilized for EA prevention. Compared to the civilian population, military veterans may be more vulnerable to EA due to high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifesting as violent flashbacks; however, confirmatory data are limited. Nonetheless, expert military medical providers suggest that use of patient-centered rapport tactics, PTSD trigger identification and avoidance, and grounding measures may alleviate hyperactive emergence phenomena. Future research is needed to better characterize EA in veterans and validate prophylactic measures to optimize care for these patients. This narrative review provides readers with an important framework to distinguish EA from delirium. Furthermore, we summarize current knowledge of EA risk factors, mechanisms, and adult management strategies and specifically revisit them in the context of veteran perioperative health. The anesthesiology care team is ideally positioned to further explore EA and develop effective prevention and treatment protocols.

No Opioids after Septorhinoplasty: A Multimodal Analgesic Protocol

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background:

From a public health perspective, nasal surgery accounts for many unused opioids. Patients undergoing septorhinoplasty require few opioids, and efforts to eliminate this need may benefit both patients and the public.

Methods:

A multimodal analgesic protocol consisting of 15 components encompassing all phases of care was implemented for 42 patients.

Results:

Median age and BMI were 34 years and 23, respectively. Most were women (79%), White (79%), primary surgeries (62%), and self-pay (52%). Comorbid conditions were present in 74% of the patients, with anxiety (33%) and depression (21%) being the most common. Septoplasties (67%) and osteotomies (45%) were common. The median operative time was 70 minutes. No patients required opioids in recovery, and median time in recovery was 63 minutes. Ten (24%) patients required an opioid prescription after discharge. In those patients, median time to requirement was 27 hours (range 3–81), and median total requirement was 20 mg morphine equivalents (range 7.5–85). Protocol compliance inversely correlated to opioid use (P = 0.007). Compliance with local and regional anesthetic (20% versus 63%, P = 0.030) as well as ketorolac (70% versus 100%, P = 0.011) was lower in patients who required opioids. Patients who required opioids were less likely to be administered a beta blocker (0% versus 34%, P = 0.041). Pain scores were higher in opioid users on postoperative days 1–5 (P < 0.05). No complications occurred in those requiring opioids, and satisfaction rates were equivalent between groups.

Conclusion:

This protocol allowed us to safely omit opioid prescriptions in 76% of patients following septorhinoplasty, without adverse effects on outcomes or patient satisfaction.

Effects of Adding a Combined Infraorbital and Infratrochlear Nerve Block to General Anaesthesia in Septorhinoplasty

Purpose

In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that preoperative bilateral infraoptic nerve (ION) and infratrochlear nerve (ITN) blocks under general anesthesia with sevoflurane and remifentanil reduced the incidence of emergence agitation (EA), pain scores, and the analgesic consumption after the septorhinoplasty.

Patients and Methods

Our study was conducted as a prospective randomized, double-sided blind study. Fifty-two patients whose septorhinoplasty operation was planned under general anesthesia were included in the study. Patients were randomly distributed to either the ION and ITN blocks were performed. Group 1: Bilateral ION and ITN blocks were performed; Group 2: ION and ITN blocks were not performed. Duration of the surgery and anesthesia, Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale (RSAS) score, EA presence, duration of postoperative analgesia, numerical rating scale (NRS) scores, and cumulative dexketoprofen consumption were recorded.

Results

The RSAS score, NRS score and cumulative dexketoprofen consumption of the patients in Group 1 were statistically significantly lower than the patients in Group 2 (p<0.05). It was also found that patients in Group 1 (n: 8/26) had less EA compared to patients in Group 2 (n: 16/26) and this difference was statistically significant (p: 0.026). Postoperative analgesia duration of patients in Group 1 was found to be statistically significantly higher than patients in Group 2 (p: <0.001). In addition, the number of patients given postoperative dexketoprofen in Group 1 (n: 8/26) was found to be statistically significantly lower than patients in Group 2 (n: 25/26). (p: <0.001).

Conclusion

Bilateral ION and ITN blocks in septorhinoplasty operation is an effective, reliable and simple technique in the treatment of postoperative pain.

Comparison of Rhinoplasty Patients Informed With Standard Verbal Information in Preoperative Period and Rhinoplasty Patients Informed and Treated With Visual Information Through Catalog in Terms of the Development of Agitation, Edema and Ecchymose in the Postoperative Period

AIM

In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of standard verbal information in the preoperative period and the information by visual expression and physical applications in the development of agitation, edema and ecchymosis in the postoperative period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in 60 ASA I-II patients who were going to undergo open rhinoplasty by plastic surgery. In the Preoperative Anesthetic Assessment the patients were divided into two groups as the patients given standard verbal information (Group S; n = 30) and those informed with a catalog which contains visuals (Group V; n = 30) In the preoperative period, anxiety levels of the patients were evaluated. Standard anesthesia induction was performed in both groups after standard monitoring. Patients were monitored in the post-anesthesia care unit and ward. Patient's extubation quality, presence of postoperative agitation and periorbital edema and ecchymosis at the 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th hours were evaluated.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of intraoperative and postoperative MAP, HR, extubation quality, presence of recovery agitation, postoperative pain, development edema and ecchymosis (P > 0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between post-extubation MAP and edema scores at the 16th and 24th hours postoperatively and between the post-anesthesia care unit entry MAP and ecchymosis at the 24th postoperative hours independently of the groups (r = 0.27; P = 0.038, r = 0.302; P = 0.019, r = 0.345; P = 0.007, respectively).

RESULT

In our study, it was concluded that detailed visual information and physical application in the preoperative period among rhinoplasty patients had no effect on the incidence of postoperative agitation, development of edema and ecchymosis.

Evaluation of emergence agitation after general anaesthesia in rhinoplasty patients: Inhalation anaesthesia versus total intravenous anaesthesia

BACKGROUND

Emergence agitation (EA) is a clinical condition that occurs early in recovery from general anaesthesia, and reduces patient comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low-flow sevoflurane anaesthesia and total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) on agitation in rhinoplasty patients, and to determine the frequency of EA in low flow sevoflurane anaesthesia after rhinoplasty.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 90 rhinoplasty patients, under general anaesthesia were included in this prospective randomised study. After induction of anaesthesia, propofol infusion was initiated in the TIVA group (n = 45), and sevoflurane was administered in the SEVO group with a fresh gas flow of 1 l/min and MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) 1-1.1 (n = 45). Early emergence times, Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS), Boezaart scale, Likert scale and incidences of nausea/vomiting were recorded at the end of surgery.

RESULTS

Early emergence time was significantly shorter in the TIVA group, than in the SEVO group (p < 0.001). İntraoperative bleeding was significantly lower in the TIVA group, than in the SEVO group (p = 0.005), and surgical field image quality and surgeon satisfaction were better in the TIVA group (p = 0.016, p < 0.001). The ratio of patients with RASS > +1 for all patients was 35.6% at 0 min, postoperatively. This rate was 12.2% (n = 11) in the TIVA group, and 23.3% (n = 21) in the SEVO group (p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

In rhinoplasty, TIVA caused shorter early emergence times, less bleeding, high surgeon satisfaction, and lower EA scores when compared with low flow sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Emergence agitation: current knowledge and unresolved questions

Emergence agitation (EA), also referred to as emergence delirium, can have clinically significant consequences. The mechanism of EA remains unclear. The proposed risk factors of EA include age, male sex, type of surgery, emergency operation, use of inhalational anesthetics with low blood-gas partition coefficients, long duration of surgery, anticholinergics, premedication with benzodiazepines, voiding urgency, postoperative pain, and the presence of invasive devices. If preoperative or intraoperative objective monitoring could predict the occurrence of agitation during emergence, this would help to reduce its adverse consequences. Several tools are available for assessing EA. However, there are no standardized clinical research practice guidelines and its incidence varies considerably with the assessment tool or definition used. Total intravenous anesthesia, propofol, μ-opioid agonists, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, nefopam, α2-adrenoreceptor agonists, regional analgesia, multimodal analgesia, parent-present induction, and preoperative education for surgery may help in preventing of EA. However, it is difficult to identify patients at high risk and apply preventive measures in various clinical situations. The risk factors and outcomes of preventive strategies vary with the methodologies of studies and patients assessed.This review discusses important outcomes of research on EA and directions for future research.

Safety of Postoperative Opioid Alternatives in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review

With the growing opioid epidemic, plastic surgeons are being encouraged to transition away from reliance on postoperative opioids. However, many plastic surgeons hesitate to use nonopioid analgesics such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and local anesthetic blocks because of concerns about their safety, particularly bleeding. The goal of this systematic review is to assess the validity of risks associated with nonopioid analgesic alternatives. A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed and MEDLINE databases was conducted regarding the safety of opioid alternatives in plastic surgery. Inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded 34 relevant articles. A systematic review was performed because of the variation between study indications, interventions, and complications. Thirty-four articles were reviewed that analyzed the safety of ibuprofen, ketorolac, celecoxib, intravenous acetaminophen, ketamine, gabapentin, liposomal bupivacaine, and local and continuous nerve blocks after plastic surgery procedures. There were no articles that showed statistically significant bleeding associated with ibuprofen, celecoxib, or ketorolac. Similarly, acetaminophen administered intravenously, ketamine, gabapentin, and liposomal bupivacaine did not have any significant increased risk of adverse events. Nerve and infusion blocks have a low risk of pneumothorax. Limitations of this study include small sample sizes, different dosing and control groups, and more than one medication being studied. Larger studies of nonopioid analgesics would therefore be valuable and may strengthen the conclusions of this review. As a preliminary investigation, this review showed that several opioid alternatives have a potential role in postoperative analgesia. Plastic surgeons have the responsibility to lead the reduction of postoperative opioid use by further developing multimodal analgesia.

Effects of Bilateral Infraorbital and Infratrochlear Nerve Block on Emergence Agitation after Septorhinoplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Emergence agitation is common after septorhinoplasty, and postoperative pain is the main risk factor for this condition. Infraorbital and infratrochlear nerve block have been reported to facilitate pain management in patients after nasal procedures. The effect of peripheral nerve block on the incidence of emergence agitation has not been evaluated. Sixty-six patients that were scheduled for septorhinoplasty were assigned to receive bilateral infraorbital and infratrochlear nerve block with either 8 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine (Block group) or isotonic saline (Sham Block group). The incidence of emergence agitation was evaluated using the Riker sedation-agitation scale. Analgesic consumption, hemodynamic parameters, postoperative pain scores, adverse events, and patient satisfaction with analgesia were evaluated. The incidence of emergence agitation was lower in the Block group than in the Sham Block group (6 (20.0%) versus 20 (62.5%), p = 0.002). The mean intraoperative remifentanil consumption was lower in the Block group than in the Sham Block group (0.074 ± 0.014 μg/kg/min. versus 0.093 ± 0.019 μg/kg/min., respectively, p < 0.0001), as was the proportion of patients that needed postoperative tramadol administration and median postoperative pain score at 0–2 h after surgery (9 (30.0%) versus 21 (65.6%), p = 0.011; 3.0 (2.0–4.0) versus 4.0 (3.0–4.0), p < 0.0001, respectively). Hemodynamic parameters and the incidence of adverse events were similar between the two groups. The median patient satisfaction score with respect to analgesia was higher in the Block group than in the Sham Block group (3.5 (3.0–4.0) versus 3.0 (3.0–4.0), respectively, p = 0.034). The preoperative bilateral infraorbital and infratrochlear nerve block decreased the incidence of emergence agitation after septorhinoplasty.