Exposure to anesthesia is not associated with development of α-synucleinopathies: A nested case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Preclinical studies suggest that inhalational anesthetics may induce neuropathology changes in the nigrostriatal system, leading to development of α-synucleinopathies. We explored the role of general anesthesia in the development of Parkinson disease (PD) and other α-synucleinopathies.

METHODS

All α-synucleinopathy cases in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1991, to December 2010, were identified from diagnostic codes, and then reviewed for type and index date of diagnosis. Cases were matched by sex and age (±1 year) to a referent control, a resident living in Olmsted County, and free of α-synucleinopathies before the index date (year of onset of the α-synucleinopathy). Medical records of both cases and controls were reviewed for lifetime exposure to anesthesia prior to the index date.

RESULTS

A total of 431 cases with clinically defined α-synucleinopathies were identified. Of these, 321 (74%) underwent 1,069 procedures under anesthesia before the diagnosis date, and in the control group, 341 (79%) underwent 986 procedures. When assessed as a dichotomous variable, anesthetic exposure was not significantly associated with α-synucleinopathies (odds ratio [OR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.54-1.05; P=.094). No association was observed when anesthetic exposure was quantified by the number of exposures (OR, 0.64, 0.89, and  0.74, for 1, 2-3, and ≥4 exposures, respectively, compared to no exposure as the reference; P=.137) or quantified by the cumulative duration of exposure assessed as a continuous variable (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.02 per 1-h increase of anesthetic exposure; P=.776).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not observe a significant association between exposure to general anesthesia and risk for the development of α-synucleinopathies.

Three Risk Stratification Tools and Postoperative Pneumonia After Noncardiothoracic Surgery

BACKGROUND

Postoperative in-hospital pneumonia is a serious complication. This study aims to investigate the association between 3 preoperative stratification tools (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status [ASA-PS] score, Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI], and Rockwood Frailty Deficit Index [FI]) and risk for postoperative pneumonia.

METHODS

We identified adult patients who developed postoperative pneumonia following noncardiothoracic surgery under general anesthesia, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017. Patients with postoperative pneumonia were 1:1 matched to control subjects based on age, sex, and the exact type of operations. Medical records were reviewed to identify variables that may be associated with risk for developing postoperative pneumonia. Analyses adjusted for clinical characteristics were performed using the conditional logistic regression, taking into account 1:1 matched set case-control study design.

RESULTS

We identified 211 cases of postoperative pneumonia, and all 3 tested stratification tools were associated with increased risk: ASA-PS (after all adjustments of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) III, odds ratio 4.17 [95% confidence interval 1.74-10.01]; ASA > III 24.03 [6.54-88.32]), CCI (CCI values > 3, 1.29 [1.02-1.63] per unit CCI score), and frail FI score 3.25 (1.45-7.27). Because of incomplete intake documentation, the FI could not be calculated in 57 (13.5%) patients, but these "unknown frailty" patients were also at increased risk for postoperative pneumonia, 3.15 (1.29-7.72).

DISCUSSION

Three commonly used stratification indices (ASA-PS score, CCI, and FI) were associated with increased risk for postoperative pneumonia. Patients unable to complete intake form to calculate the FI were also at increased risk.

Preoperative cognitive impairment associated with oversedation during recovery from anesthesia

PURPOSE

Our objective was to examine the association between preoperative cognitive status and postoperative recovery from anesthesia.

METHODS

We included patients (70-91 years old) from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging who received general anesthesia and were admitted to the postanesthesia care unit from January 1, 2010 through April 30, 2018. Procedures were categorized according to patient's preoperative cognitive status: cognitive impaired (CI) and cognitive unimpaired (CU). Perioperative records were reviewed and analyses were performed with generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

A total of 896 procedures from 611 patients were included, with 203 (22.7%) procedures in the CI group. Compared to CU procedures, CI procedures had higher rates of moderate-deep sedation during anesthesia recovery (52 [25.6%] vs. 103 [14.9%]; odds ratio [OR], 1.91; 95% CI, 1.30-2.80; P  < 0.01), postoperative pulmonary complications (22 [10.8%] vs. 34 [4.9%]; OR, 2.36[1.22-4.54]; P  =  0.01), and postoperative delirium (32 [16.2%] vs. 24 [3.5%]; OR, 5.33 [2.88-9.86]; P  <  0.01). When moderate-deep sedation during anesthesia recovery was a covariate, both CI (OR, 3.02[1.60-5.70]; P  <  0.01) and moderate-deep sedation (OR, 3.94[2.19-7.11]; P  <  0.01) were associated with delirium. In multivariable analysis, postoperative pulmonary complications were associated with moderate-deep sedation (OR, 2.14[1.18-3.87]; P  = 0 .01) but not with CI (OR, 1.49 [0.76-2.92]; P  = 0 .25).

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive impairment was associated with higher rates of moderate-deep residual sedation during anesthesia recovery and delirium, while moderate-deep sedation was associated with higher rates of pulmonary complications and delirium. We speculate that tailoring the anesthetic to facilitate faster emergence for CI patients could improve complication rates.

Risk factors and outcomes of postoperative emergency response team activation: a matched case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To determine patient and perioperative characteristics associated with unexpected postoperative clinical deterioration as determined for the need of a postoperative emergency response team (ERT) activation. DESIGN: Retrospective case–control study. SETTING: Tertiary academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who underwent general anaesthesia discharged to regular wards between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 and required ERT activation within 48 postoperative hours. Controls were matched based on age, sex and procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline patient and perioperative characteristics were abstracted to develop a multiple logistic regression model to assess for potential associations for increased risk for postoperative ERT. RESULTS: Among 105 345 patients, 797 had ERT calls, with a rate of 7.6 (95% CI, 7.1–8.1) calls per 1000 anaesthetics (0.76%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following risk factors for postoperative ERT: cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% CI, 1.18–2.18), neurological disease (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.11–2.22), preoperative gabapentin (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.17–2.20), longer surgical duration (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.11, per 30 min), emergency procedure (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.09–2.18), and intraoperative use of colloids (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.17–1.92). Compared with control participants, ERT patients had a longer hospital stay, a higher rate of admissions to critical care (55.5%), increased postoperative complications, and a higher 30-day mortality rate (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.73–6.54). CONCLUSION: We identified several patient and procedural characteristics associated with increased likelihood of postoperative ERT activation. ERT intervention is a marker for increased rates of postoperative complications and death.

Risk factors and outcomes of postoperative emergency response team activation: a matched case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To determine patient and perioperative characteristics associated with unexpected postoperative clinical deterioration as determined for the need of a postoperative emergency response team (ERT) activation.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study.

SETTING

Tertiary academic hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who underwent general anaesthesia discharged to regular wards between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 and required ERT activation within 48 postoperative hours. Controls were matched based on age, sex and procedure.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Baseline patient and perioperative characteristics were abstracted to develop a multiple logistic regression model to assess for potential associations for increased risk for postoperative ERT.

RESULTS

Among 105 345 patients, 797 had ERT calls, with a rate of 7.6 (95% CI, 7.1-8.1) calls per 1000 anaesthetics (0.76%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following risk factors for postoperative ERT: cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% CI, 1.18-2.18), neurological disease (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.11-2.22), preoperative gabapentin (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.17-2.20), longer surgical duration (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11, per 30 min), emergency procedure (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.09-2.18), and intraoperative use of colloids (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.17-1.92). Compared with control participants, ERT patients had a longer hospital stay, a higher rate of admissions to critical care (55.5%), increased postoperative complications, and a higher 30-day mortality rate (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.73-6.54).

CONCLUSION

We identified several patient and procedural characteristics associated with increased likelihood of postoperative ERT activation. ERT intervention is a marker for increased rates of postoperative complications and death.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting after bariatric surgery and dexmedetomidine anesthetic: a propensity-weighted analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery have high rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Dexmedetomidine based anesthetic could reduce PONV rates.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if PONV rates differ in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery with anesthesia primarily based on dexmedetomidine or standard anesthetic management with inhalational agents and opioids.

SETTING

University hospital.

METHODS

From January 2014 to April 2018, 487 patients underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery and met inclusion criteria (dexmedetomidine, n = 174 and standard anesthetic, n = 313 patients). In both groups, patients received preoperative PONV prophylaxis. We analyzed rates of PONV and moderate-to-deep sedation. A propensity score was calculated and outcomes were assessed using generalized estimating equations with inverse probability of treatment weighting.

RESULTS

Perioperative opioids and volatile anesthetics were reduced in dexmedetomidine patients. During anesthesia recovery the incidence of PONV was similar between dexmedetomidine and standard anesthetic patients (n = 37 [21.3%] versus n = 61 [19.5%], respectively; inverse probability of treatment weighting odds ratio = 1.35; 95% confidence interval .78-2.32, P = .281), and the incidence of sedation higher in dexmedetomidine patients (n = 86 [49.4%] versus n = 75 [24.0%]; inverse probability of treatment weighting odds ratio = 2.43; 95% confidence interval 1.47-4.03, P < 0.001). Rates of PONV and sedation were similar during the remainder of the hospital stay. A secondary sensitivity analysis was performed limited to dexmedetomidine patients who did not receive volatile and results were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

While dexmedetomidine-based anesthesia was associated with reduced opioid and volatile agents use, it was not associated with a reduction of PONV. The higher rates of moderate-to-deep sedation during anesthesia recovery observed with dexmedetomidine may be undesirable in morbidly obese patients.

Postoperative pulmonary complications in contemporary cohort of patients with pulmonary hypertension

Patients with pulmonary hypertension are at increased risk for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Herein, we review PPCs in pulmonary hypertension patients undergoing non-cardiac procedures under general anesthesia. The medical records of pulmonary hypertension patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia between 2010 and 2017 were reviewed for PPCs. In addition we reviewed nursing-documented respiratory depressive episodes in the post-anesthesia care unit to assess the associations between these episodes and later PPCs. There were 20 PPCs among 128 patients who underwent 197 procedures (10.2 per 100 surgeries) [95% CI 6.7-15.2]. Of these, 5 occurred during anesthesia recovery and 15 following anesthesia recovery. Three-quarters of the PPCs occurred within 24 postoperative hours. All the PPCs were severe. The frequency of PPCs was significantly higher in those who experienced respiratory depression during anesthesia recovery vs. in those who did not (5/17, 29% vs. 10/175, 6%; odds ratio 5.15, 95% CI 1.58-16.81, p = 0.007). Increased PPC rates were observed among patients who were current/previous smokers and who routinely use benzodiazepines, and among those undergoing emergent surgery. With treatment, all PPCs resolved. The rate of PPCs in the population of contemporary surgical pulmonary hypertension patients was 10.2%, and three-quarters occurred during first 24 postoperative hours. Patients who had respiratory depression during anesthesia recovery were 5-fold more likely to experience later PPCs.