Anaesthesia for cancer patients

Anesthesia management and outcomes of gynecologic oncology surgery

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed postoperative mortality, morbidity, and complications associated with anesthesia administration for gynecologic oncology abdominal surgery and investigated the risk factors for the development of these complications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing the data of patients who underwent elective gynecologic oncology surgery between 2010 and 2017. The demographic data; comorbidities; preoperative anemia; Charlson Comorbidity Index; anesthesia management; complications; preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods; mortality; and morbidity were investigated. The patients were classified as surviving or deceased. Subgroup analyses of patients with endometrial, ovarian, cervical, and other cancers were performed.

RESULTS

We analyzed 416 patients; 325 survived and 91 were deceased. The postoperative chemotherapy rates (p < 0.001), and postoperative blood transfusion rates (p = 0.010) were significantly higher in the deceased group, while the preoperative albumin levels were significantly lower in the deceased group (p < 0.001). Infused colloid amount was higher in the deceased group of endometrial (p = 0.018) and ovarian cancers (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative patient management for cancer surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach led by an anesthesiologist and surgeon. Any improvement in the duration of hospital stay, morbidity, or recovery rate depends on the success of the multidisciplinary team.

The future clinical implications of trained immunity

INTRODUCTION

Trained Immunity (TI) refers to the long-term modulation of the innate immune response, based on previous interactions with microbes, microbial ligands or endogenous substances. Through metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming, monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils develop an enhanced capacity to mount innate immune responses to subsequent stimuli and this is persistent due to alterations at the myeloid progenitor compartment.

AREAS COVERED

The purpose of this article is to review the current understanding of the TI process and discuss about its potential clinical implications in the near future. We address the evidence of TI involvement in various diseases, the currently developed new therapy, and discuss how TI may lead to new clinical tools to improve existing standards of care.

EXPERT OPINION

The state of art in this domain has made considerable progress, linking TI-related mechanisms in multiple immune-mediated pathologies, starting with infections to autoimmune disorders and cancers. As a relatively new area of immunology, it has seen fast progress with many of its applications ready to be investigated in clinical settings.

Can anesthetic effects and pain treatment influence the long-term prognosis of early-stage lymph node-negative breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery?

Background

Breast cancer is currently the leading cause of women’s death. It is crucial to further improve the approach to treatment and the long-term survival rate of breast cancer patients, and to reduce the rates of recurrence and metastasis. It has been reported that the possibility of tumor metastasis depends on the metastatic potential of the tumor and the host defense against tumor metastasis, in which cellular immunity and the function of natural killer (NK) cells are critical to maintaining this balance. Surgical stress response and postoperative pain inhibit perioperative immune function in patients and increase the likelihood of dissemination and metastasis of cancer cells after cancer surgery. The study aims to investigate the effect of anesthetic factors and pain treatment on the long-term prognosis of patients with early stage lymph node negative breast preservation surgery.

Methods

A total of 337 patients with early-stage lymph node negative breast cancer (ASA I-II) who had undergone successful breast-conserving surgery in our hospital were included in this retrospective analysis. Cases were divided into general anesthesia with postoperative analgesia group (GA + PCA), general anesthesia without postoperative analgesia group (GA), epidural anesthesia with postoperative analgesia group (EA + PCA), and epidural anesthesia without postoperative analgesia group (EA). The 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival were recorded in the 4 groups.

Results

The general condition and length of hospital stay of the patients were not statistically different between the 4 groups. However, the 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate of the 4 groups were statistically different. The 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate were the lowest in the GA group, while the EA + PCA group had the highest 5-year disease-free survival rate. The 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate in the GA + PCA group were significantly higher than those in the GA group. The 5-year disease-free survival rate in EA group was significantly higher than GA group.

Conclusions

Epidural anesthesia and postoperative pain treatment maybe beneficial to the long-term prognosis of patients with early-stage lymph node-negative breast cancer.

The expression of kappa-opioid receptor promotes the migration of breast cancer cells in vitro

Background

Opioid receptors are implicated in cell proliferation and cancer migration. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of opioid receptor κ (OPRK1) in breast cancer remain unknown.

Methods

Small interfering RNA (siRNAs) was used to knockdown the expression of OPRK1. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) determined the genes transcription. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay and cell death rates were determined by Annexin V/PI and flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were detected by wound healing analysis and transwell assay, respectively.

Results

Our research demonstrated that OPRK1 was overexpressed in breast cancer cells compared with the normal human mammary epithelial cells. OPRK1 knockdown could inhibited cell viability and migration in cancer cells, accompanied with the decreased proteins and genes expression of N-cadherin, Snail, MMP2 and Vimentin, while the E-cadherin expression was increased. Additionally, OPRK1 knockdown also promoted PI3K/AKT signaling inactivation. Activation of AKT reversed the OPRK1 knockdown-induced cell viability inhibition and migration suppression, while inhibition of AKT reduced cell viability and promoted cell death.

Conclusions

Our findings illustrated the role of OPRK1 played on promoting migration in vitro, and we also provided the therapeutic research of OPRK1 knockdown combined with AKT inhibition.

Anaesthetic challenges in cancer patients: current therapies and pain management

THE OBJECTIVE

The aim is to present the major effects of cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery) that the anaesthesiologist should consider preoperatively, and to review techniques of the analgesic management of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To summarize the major challenges that cancer patients present for the anaesthesiologists, a literature review was conducted. Articles presenting evidence or reviewing the possible effects of anaesthetics on cancer cells were also included. Online databases of Science Direct, PubMed, and ELSEVIER, as well as reference lists of included studies were searched. Articles published from 2005 to 2016 were selected.

RESULTS

Anaesthesiologists should pay attention to patients receiving chemotherapy and its side effects on organ systems. Bleomycin causes pulmonary damage, anthracyclines are cardiotoxic, and platinum-based chemotherapy agents are nephrotoxic. A lot of chemotherapy agents lead to abnormal liver function, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. Surgery itself is suspected to be associated with an increased risk of metastasis and recurrence of cancer. Regional anaesthesia and general anaesthesia with propofol should be used and volatile agents should be avoided to prevent cancer patients from perioperative immunosuppression that leads to increased risk of cancer recurrence. Pain management for palliative patients remains a major problem.

CONCLUSIONS

To provide the best treatment for cancer patients, cooperation of anaesthesiologists with oncologists and surgeons becomes imperative. It has been established that anaesthetic techniques and drugs could minimize the perioperative inflammation. However, further research of the perioperative "onco-anaesthetic" is needed.

Minor laparoscopic liver resection: toward 1-day surgery?

BACKGROUND

Technical advances in laparoscopy and enhanced recovery after surgery programs have progressively decreased the need for hospitalization. The present study aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of an early discharge protocol after minor laparoscopic liver resection (LLR).

METHODS

The study sample consisted of patients with both benign and malignant hepatic lesions involving no more than two hepatic segments who underwent minor LLR and were discharged within 24 h. Patients were selected based on their fitness for surgery, proximity to the hospital, and availability of a responsible adult to care for them once discharged. Patients and their accompanying caregiver were instructed about the procedure, its potential complications, and the conditions required for an early discharge. They were also provided with a 24-h dedicated phone number for assistance.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients [mean age 48.9 year (SD 14.75); 12 women] with no more than one comorbidity were included. The majority (87.5%) was classified as ASA I or II. Thirteen patients (46%) were operated on for malignant lesions. The median operative time was 90 min, the median pneumoperitoneum time was 60 min, and the estimated blood loss was 50 mL. Mortality was zero. No transfusion, conversion, or pedicule clamping was necessary. No anesthesia-related complications occurred. All patients were discharged at 24 h. Only one patient (4.2%) was readmitted at postoperative day 3 for intolerable abdominal pain due to a wound abscess that was treated by antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

By applying a standardized protocol for admission, preoperative workup, and anesthesia, early discharge after minor LLR can be successfully carried out in highly selected patients with minimal impact on primary healthcare services.

Chemotherapy alters cisatracurium induced neuromuscular blockade characteristics: A prospective cohort study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the characteristics of NMDR induced muscle paralysis in breast cancer patients with and without a history of recent chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil (CAF) regimen.

DESIGN

This is a non-randomized prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Operating room of a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Out of a total of 50 patients who had undergone mastectomy, 22 patients were allocated to the "Chemo group" and 28 patients to the "Non-Chemo group", based on a valid history of recent chemotherapy.

INTERVENTION

After induction of anesthesia with thiopental and cisatracurium, neuromuscular monitoring was started for all patients.

MEASUREMENTS

Initially the time to 100% single-twitch (ST) suppression was measured. Then, the time for the appearance of the first response to post-tetanic count (PTC) stimulation, Train-of-Four (TOF) stimulation, and TOF50% were measured consequently.

MAIN RESULTS

Time to get STzero was significantly longer in the Chemo group than in the Non-chemo group. Time for the appearance of the first response of PTC and TOF and TOF50% was significantly shorter in the Chemo group than the other group. The mean duration of intense block was 27.66 minutes in the Chemo group versus 42.47 minutes in the Non-chemo group.

CONCLUSION

This research demonstrated that in patients having undergone chemotherapy, the effect of NDMRs starts with a longer lag time and finishes earlier too. Thus, these patients are ready for intubation after a longer time. Moreover, we have to repeat cisatracurium injections after shorter intervals to maintain the desired level of blockade.

Perioperative Considerations in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma are complex, with the potential for significant complications, and require extensive pre-, peri-, and postoperative management. This article discusses, in depth, the necessary considerations in the treatment of these patients.

Anesthetic techniques and cancer recurrence after surgery

Many of the most common anesthetics are used in surgical oncology, yet effects on cancer cells are still not known. Anesthesia technique could differentially affect cancer recurrence in oncologic patients undergoing surgery, due to immunosuppression, stimulation of angiogenesis, and dissemination of residual cancer cells. Data support the use of intravenous anesthetics, such as propofol anesthesia, thanks to antitumoral protective effects inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2 and prostaglandins E2 in cancer cells, and stimulation of immunity response; a restriction in the use of volatile anesthetics; restriction in the use of opioids as they suppress humoral and cellular immunity, and their chronic use favors angiogenesis and development of metastases; use of locoregional anesthesia compared with general anesthesia, as locoregional appears to reduce cancer recurrence after surgery. However, these findings must be interpreted cautiously as there is no evidence that simple changes in the practice of anesthesia can have a positive impact on postsurgical survival of cancer patients.

Patients with immunodeficiency

Patients presenting in an immunocompromised state merit special consideration when being evaluated for fitness to undergo surgery. A variety of immunodeficient conditions and their respective therapies, including human immunodeficiency virus, cancer, and transplantation, exert numerous systemic effects that may lead to multiorgan dysfunction. Understanding the potential impact of these disease manifestations, and their proper evaluation, is essential in achieving optimal perioperative outcomes for these patients.

Current cancer therapies - a guide for perioperative physicians

Cancer is expected to be the leading cause of death around the world. New cancer therapies have improved survival but they can also lead to complications and toxicity. In this article, the effects of modern anti-cancer therapies are reviewed. The perioperative effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and experimental therapies in relation to anaesthesia are discussed. Common and rare complications are summarised as is advice for optimal treatment of the cancer patient in the perioperative period.

Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by midazolam by targeting transient receptor potential melastatin 7

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), a Ca²⁺-permeable channel, has been demonstrated to be present in cancer cells and involved in their growth and proliferation. The present study used midazolam, a benzodiazepine class anesthesic, to pharmacologically intervene in the expression of TRPM7 and to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Midazolam significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells, concurring with the induction of G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest and blockage of Rb activation. Central-type and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor antagonists did not abrogate proliferation inhibition by midazolam, while the specific TRPM7 agonist bradykinin reversed this effect. In addition, other benzodiazepines, diazepam and clonazepam also exhibited anti-proliferative activities. The inhibitory activity on cancer cell growth and proliferation, combined with the TRPM-dependent mechanism, reveals the anticancer potential of midazolam as a TRPM7 inhibitor and supports the suggestion that TRPM7 is a valuable target for pharmaceutical intervention.

Can anaesthetic technique effect postoperative outcome?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Conventional wisdom maintains that multiple aspects of surgical technique and management may affect postoperative outcome, while anaesthetic technique has little long-term effect on patient outcomes. There is accumulating evidence that, on the contrary, anaesthetic management may in fact exert a number of longer-term effects in postoperative outcome. Here, we review the most topical aspects of anaesthetic management which may potentially influence later postoperative outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is strong evidence that administration of supplemental oxygen and the avoidance of perioperative hypothermia, allogeneic blood transfusion, hyperglycaemia or large swings in blood glucose levels reduces postoperative infection rates. There is also some evidence that the use of regional anaesthesia techniques reduces chronic postsurgical pain and that avoidance of nitrous oxide reduces the long-term risk of myocardial infarction. Current evidence is equivocal regarding the effects of anaesthesia techniques and cancer recurrence. The instigation of perioperative beta-blockade in noncardiac surgery may not reduce perioperative adverse events or improve postoperative cardiovascular risk.

SUMMARY

Further prospective, large-scale human trials with long-term follow-up are required to clarify the association between anaesthesia and cancer recurrence, neurotoxicity and the developing brain and long-term postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the elderly.

Preoperative assesment of the immunocompromised patient

In some surgical patients immunosuppression is easily apparent and directly caused by known underlying disease or treatment. In others, although induced by the underlying disease, immunosuppression may be less obvious. Perioperative management of immunocompromised patient is mostly directed by the fact that immunosuppression itself does not cause pathology, but does leave the patient prone to infection. Immunodeficiency can be broadly characterized as congenital (primary) or acquired (secondary). The majority of immune deficiencies that are of interest to the anaesthetist are acquired. They can be present both in children and adults, in a huge variety of patients that are presented preoperatively. Most of them do not require different than usual perioperative anaesthetic management. However, in some of them specific aspects of treatment should be considered, such as HIV infected, cancer, transplant patients, and those scheduled for organ transplantation.

Reduction in mortality after epidural anaesthesia and analgesia in patients undergoing rectal but not colonic cancer surgery: a retrospective analysis of data from 655 patients in central Sweden

BACKGROUND

There is some evidence that epidural analgesia (EDA) reduces tumour recurrence after breast and prostatic cancer surgery. We assessed whether EDA reduces long-term mortality after colorectal cancer surgery.

METHODS

All patients having colorectal cancer surgery between January 2004 and January 2008 at Linköping and Örebro were included. Exclusion criteria were: emergency operations, laparoscopic-assisted colorectal resection, and stage 4 cancer. Statistical information was obtained from the Swedish National Register for Deaths. Patients were analysed in two groups: EDA group or patient-controlled analgesia (PCA group) as the primary method of analgesia.

RESULTS

A total of 655 patients could be included. All-cause mortality for colorectal cancer (stages 1-3) was 22.7% (colon: 20%, rectal: 26%) after 1-5 yr of surgery. Multivariate regression analysis identified the following statistically significant factors for death after colon cancer (P<0.05): age (>72 yr) and cancer stage 3 (compared with stage 1). A similar model for rectal cancer found that age (>72 yr) and the use of PCA rather than EDA and cancer stages 2 and 3 (compared with stage 1) were associated with a higher risk for death. No significant risk of death was found for colon cancer when comparing EDA with PCA (P=0.23), but a significantly increased risk of death was seen after rectal cancer when PCA was used compared with EDA (P=0.049) [hazards ratio: 0.52 (0.27-1.00)].

CONCLUSIONS

We found a reduction in all-cause mortality after rectal but not colon cancer in patients having EDA compared with PCA technique.

Drugs of anaesthesia and cancer

Anaesthesia represents one of the most important medical advances in history, and, nowadays, can widely be considered safe, thanks to the discovery of new drugs and the adoption of modern technologies. Nevertheless, anaesthetic practices still represent cause for concern regarding the consequences they produce. Various anaesthetics are frequently used without knowing their effects on specific diseases: despite having been reported that invasion or metastasis of cancer cells easily occurs during surgical procedures, numerous anaesthetics are used for cancer resection even if their effect on the behaviour of cancer cells is unclear. Guidelines for a proper use of anaesthetics in cancer surgery are not available, therefore, the aim of the present review is to survey available up-to-date information on the effects of the most used drugs in anaesthesia (volatile and intravenous anaesthetics, nitrous oxide, opioids, local anaesthetics and neuromuscular blocking drugs) in correlation to cancer. This kind of knowledge could be a basic valuable support to improve anaesthesia performance and patient safety.