Following up on the successful BeSARPP annual meeting on sustainability in anesthesia held on Nov... more Following up on the successful BeSARPP annual meeting on sustainability in anesthesia held on November 2022, the Board Members of BeSARPP met to draft recommendations regarding the use of inhaled anesthetics, that would help anesthesiologists decrease the professional environmental impact of their daily practice in the operating room. This manuscript discusses the rationale for these recommendations. The major premise was none of these should compromise patient safety or the level of care we provide to our patients. For measures beyond those addressing the use of inhaled anesthetics, the reader is referred to other recommendations that can decrease the environmental footprint of anesthesia and perioperative care in general 1 .
Background: The perioperative management of antiplatelet therapy in noncardiac surgery patients w... more Background: The perioperative management of antiplatelet therapy in noncardiac surgery patients who have undergone previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains a dilemma. Continuing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) may carry a risk of bleeding, while stopping antiplatelet therapy may increase the risk of perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods: Occurrence of Bleeding and Thrombosis during Antiplatelet Therapy In Non-Cardiac Surgery (OBTAIN) was an international prospective multicentre cohort study of perioperative antiplatelet treatment, MACE, and serious bleeding in noncardiac surgery. The incidences of MACE and bleeding were compared in patients receiving DAPT, monotherapy, and no antiplatelet therapy before surgery. Unadjusted risk ratios were calculated taking monotherapy as the baseline. The adjusted risks of bleeding and MACE were compared in patients receiving monotherapy and DAPT using propensity score matching. Results: A total of 917 patients were recruited and 847 were eligible for inclusion. Ninety-six patients received no antiplatelet therapy, 526 received monotherapy with aspirin, and 225 received DAPT. Thirty-two patients suffered MACE and 22 had bleeding. The unadjusted risk ratio for MACE in patients receiving DAPT compared with monotherapy was 1.9 (0.93e3.88), P¼0.08. There was no difference in MACE between no antiplatelet treatment and monotherapy 1.03 (0.31e 3.46), P¼0.96. Bleeding was more frequent with DAPT 6.55 (2.3e17.96) P¼0.0002. In a propensity matched analysis of
Postoperative analgesia following robot-assisted thoracic surgery for mediastinal disease: retros... more Postoperative analgesia following robot-assisted thoracic surgery for mediastinal disease: retrospective comparative study of general anesthesia alone, combined with epidural analgesia, and with ultrasound-guided thoracic paraspinal block.
Background: There is insufficient evidence to recommend using either intraoperative cerebral oxim... more Background: There is insufficient evidence to recommend using either intraoperative cerebral oximetry or (processed) electroencephalogram (EEG) alone for preventing perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs). Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of combined use of cerebral oximetry and electroencephalogram-guided anesthesia on the incidence of PNDs in adult patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac interventions. Methods: A PICOS - based systematic review of English articles using Pubmed and Embase (from inception to August 2022) was performed. There were no exclusion criteria regarding the type of the study. proceedings and new study protocols or ongoing studies were not included. Review articles were analyzed in search of eligible references. All possible terms that were illustrative of PNDs were used. Results: Among the 63 full manuscripts that were analyzed in detail, 15 met the inclusion criteria. We found 2 retrospective, 8 prospective observational and 5 randomized c...
Reports on the demographic profile of older populations estimate that, in 2050, 19 countries will... more Reports on the demographic profile of older populations estimate that, in 2050, 19 countries will have at least 10% of their population aged 80 years or more. Many high risk elderly patients undergo cardiac surgery. In addition, advanced age has been shown to be a strong predictor of adverse neurological outcome. Despite sig- nificant improvements achieved in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients, neurological complications remain a global health issue. Recent findings have pointed out that cerebral hypoperfusion and too deep levels of anesthesia are major sources of adverse neurological outcomes. Cerebral near-in-frared spectroscopy provides information about cerebral perfusion non-invasively, and is increasingly used. Depth of anesthesia is evaluated using monitors that are based on processed electroencephalogram. This non-systematic review focuses on the results of studies performed with each monitor separately, and the need for a combined evaluation of their utilit...
Preoperative anxiety, which can affect postoperative recovery, is often present in patients under... more Preoperative anxiety, which can affect postoperative recovery, is often present in patients undergoing surgery under loco‐regional anaesthesia (LRA). Minimising preoperative anxiety with premedication can be effective but results in drug‐related side effects. Therefore, the use of non‐pharmacological techniques should be encouraged.
Background: Proper brain functioning depends on the balance between neuronal metabolism and cereb... more Background: Proper brain functioning depends on the balance between neuronal metabolism and cerebral circulation. Carotid obstruction causes the loss of this balance, and cerebral distress. Electroencephalographic monitoring using BIS generates timely information on the depth of anesthesia and the state of cerebral hypoperfusion, quantified as suppression rate (SR). In this case report we describe EEG changes in a patient with carotid obstruction and show the importance of EEG monitoring during endovascular treatment. Case report: A 59-year-old hypertense and diabetic man has a history of 5 episodes of transient ischemic attack. Arteriography of the carotids showed 100% obstruction on the left side and 95% on the right side, with indication for endovascular treatment with stenting of the right carotid (RC). Upon admission, the patient was awake, responsive to verbal commands, despite attention deficit. Initial findings: BP=117x78 mmHg, HR=55 bpm, BIS=75, BSR=4%, and slow EEG with low amplitudes, compatible with neuronal distress. Dexmedetomidine i.v (1 μg.kg -1 for 10 min, then 0.5μg.kg -1 .h -1 ) and fentanyl i.v.(100 μg) were infused. A filter and a stent were placed in RC. Before ballooning, adrenaline (5μg i.v.) was administered and findings were: HR=84 bpm, BP=168x93 mmHg, BIS=75, BSR=4%.
Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2019
Objective To analyze our long-term experience with valve-sparing reimplantation technique in trea... more Objective To analyze our long-term experience with valve-sparing reimplantation technique in treating aortic root aneurysm, aortic regurgitation, and aortic dissection in patients with tricuspid aortic valve. Methods Between March 1998 and October 2018, 303 consecutive patients underwent valve-sparing reimplantation in our institution. The mean age of this cohort was 52.9 ± 15 years. Time to event analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk of death, reoperation, and aortic regurgitation (AR) recurrence were analyzed using the coxregression method. Results In-hospital mortality was 1% (n = 3) of which two were admitted for acute aortic dissection. Median follow-up was 5.81 years ([IQR]: 2.8-10 years). Thirty-nine patients (14.4%) died during follow-up. At 5 and 10 years, overall survival was 92 ± 2%and 75 ± 4.9%, respectively. Seventeen patients required late aortic valve reoperation. Freedom from valve reoperation was 95 ± 2% and 90 ± 3%. Freedom from AR > 2+ and AR > 1+ at 10 years was 91 ± 4% and 71.5 ± 4.6%, respectively. Significant multivariate predictors of death included age, New York Heart Association dyspnea class (NYHA), type A acute dissection (TAAD), and preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Significant multivariate predictors of AR recurrence included indication for surgery, previous cardiac surgery, and presence of preoperative AR. Freedom from events like major bleeding, thromboembolic events, and infective endocarditis at 10 years were 97%, 98%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusions Aortic valve-sparing with the reimplantation technique has been performed for over two decades in our institution, and the results in patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) are excellent in terms of survival and freedom from valve-related adverse outcomes including valve reoperation. These results continue supporting the use of valve sparing root replacement using the reimplantation technique (VSRR) in patients with aortic aneurysm, irrespective of whether they have preoperative AR or not. VSRR is safe, durable, and reproducible, but further follow-up, well into the second decade is still necessary.
Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the associa... more Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P¼0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P¼0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P¼0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09e1.90; P¼0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89e1.90; P¼0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events. Clinical trial registration: NCT01601223.
BackgroundThe Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting... more BackgroundThe Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparin...
Risk factors for developing Persistent peri-incisional Chest Pain (PCP) after sternotomy are mult... more Risk factors for developing Persistent peri-incisional Chest Pain (PCP) after sternotomy are multiple. We examined whether hypoesthesia, hyperalgesia or dysesthesia, evoked in the postoperative period might be associated with PCP after sternotomy. One hundred patients undergoing a sternotomy were evaluated on day 5. Peri-incisional sensory testing was performed using von Frey filament. Presence and severity of PCP were assessed at 2 and 6 months. PCP was present in 29% and 15% of patients respectively at 2 and 6 months. Hyperalgesia on day 5 was present in 43% of patients with PCP at 6 months compared to 15% without PCP. Hypoesthesia was present in 57% of patients with PCP at 6 months compared to 22% without PCP. There was no significant difference in the incidence of dysesthesia. On day 5, hyperalgesia was correlated with a risk to develop PCP at 6 months. Among sensory abnormalities, the presence of hyperalgesia is associated with PCP at 6 months postoperatively.
Following up on the successful BeSARPP annual meeting on sustainability in anesthesia held on Nov... more Following up on the successful BeSARPP annual meeting on sustainability in anesthesia held on November 2022, the Board Members of BeSARPP met to draft recommendations regarding the use of inhaled anesthetics, that would help anesthesiologists decrease the professional environmental impact of their daily practice in the operating room. This manuscript discusses the rationale for these recommendations. The major premise was none of these should compromise patient safety or the level of care we provide to our patients. For measures beyond those addressing the use of inhaled anesthetics, the reader is referred to other recommendations that can decrease the environmental footprint of anesthesia and perioperative care in general 1 .
Background: The perioperative management of antiplatelet therapy in noncardiac surgery patients w... more Background: The perioperative management of antiplatelet therapy in noncardiac surgery patients who have undergone previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains a dilemma. Continuing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) may carry a risk of bleeding, while stopping antiplatelet therapy may increase the risk of perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods: Occurrence of Bleeding and Thrombosis during Antiplatelet Therapy In Non-Cardiac Surgery (OBTAIN) was an international prospective multicentre cohort study of perioperative antiplatelet treatment, MACE, and serious bleeding in noncardiac surgery. The incidences of MACE and bleeding were compared in patients receiving DAPT, monotherapy, and no antiplatelet therapy before surgery. Unadjusted risk ratios were calculated taking monotherapy as the baseline. The adjusted risks of bleeding and MACE were compared in patients receiving monotherapy and DAPT using propensity score matching. Results: A total of 917 patients were recruited and 847 were eligible for inclusion. Ninety-six patients received no antiplatelet therapy, 526 received monotherapy with aspirin, and 225 received DAPT. Thirty-two patients suffered MACE and 22 had bleeding. The unadjusted risk ratio for MACE in patients receiving DAPT compared with monotherapy was 1.9 (0.93e3.88), P¼0.08. There was no difference in MACE between no antiplatelet treatment and monotherapy 1.03 (0.31e 3.46), P¼0.96. Bleeding was more frequent with DAPT 6.55 (2.3e17.96) P¼0.0002. In a propensity matched analysis of
Postoperative analgesia following robot-assisted thoracic surgery for mediastinal disease: retros... more Postoperative analgesia following robot-assisted thoracic surgery for mediastinal disease: retrospective comparative study of general anesthesia alone, combined with epidural analgesia, and with ultrasound-guided thoracic paraspinal block.
Background: There is insufficient evidence to recommend using either intraoperative cerebral oxim... more Background: There is insufficient evidence to recommend using either intraoperative cerebral oximetry or (processed) electroencephalogram (EEG) alone for preventing perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs). Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of combined use of cerebral oximetry and electroencephalogram-guided anesthesia on the incidence of PNDs in adult patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac interventions. Methods: A PICOS - based systematic review of English articles using Pubmed and Embase (from inception to August 2022) was performed. There were no exclusion criteria regarding the type of the study. proceedings and new study protocols or ongoing studies were not included. Review articles were analyzed in search of eligible references. All possible terms that were illustrative of PNDs were used. Results: Among the 63 full manuscripts that were analyzed in detail, 15 met the inclusion criteria. We found 2 retrospective, 8 prospective observational and 5 randomized c...
Reports on the demographic profile of older populations estimate that, in 2050, 19 countries will... more Reports on the demographic profile of older populations estimate that, in 2050, 19 countries will have at least 10% of their population aged 80 years or more. Many high risk elderly patients undergo cardiac surgery. In addition, advanced age has been shown to be a strong predictor of adverse neurological outcome. Despite sig- nificant improvements achieved in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients, neurological complications remain a global health issue. Recent findings have pointed out that cerebral hypoperfusion and too deep levels of anesthesia are major sources of adverse neurological outcomes. Cerebral near-in-frared spectroscopy provides information about cerebral perfusion non-invasively, and is increasingly used. Depth of anesthesia is evaluated using monitors that are based on processed electroencephalogram. This non-systematic review focuses on the results of studies performed with each monitor separately, and the need for a combined evaluation of their utilit...
Preoperative anxiety, which can affect postoperative recovery, is often present in patients under... more Preoperative anxiety, which can affect postoperative recovery, is often present in patients undergoing surgery under loco‐regional anaesthesia (LRA). Minimising preoperative anxiety with premedication can be effective but results in drug‐related side effects. Therefore, the use of non‐pharmacological techniques should be encouraged.
Background: Proper brain functioning depends on the balance between neuronal metabolism and cereb... more Background: Proper brain functioning depends on the balance between neuronal metabolism and cerebral circulation. Carotid obstruction causes the loss of this balance, and cerebral distress. Electroencephalographic monitoring using BIS generates timely information on the depth of anesthesia and the state of cerebral hypoperfusion, quantified as suppression rate (SR). In this case report we describe EEG changes in a patient with carotid obstruction and show the importance of EEG monitoring during endovascular treatment. Case report: A 59-year-old hypertense and diabetic man has a history of 5 episodes of transient ischemic attack. Arteriography of the carotids showed 100% obstruction on the left side and 95% on the right side, with indication for endovascular treatment with stenting of the right carotid (RC). Upon admission, the patient was awake, responsive to verbal commands, despite attention deficit. Initial findings: BP=117x78 mmHg, HR=55 bpm, BIS=75, BSR=4%, and slow EEG with low amplitudes, compatible with neuronal distress. Dexmedetomidine i.v (1 μg.kg -1 for 10 min, then 0.5μg.kg -1 .h -1 ) and fentanyl i.v.(100 μg) were infused. A filter and a stent were placed in RC. Before ballooning, adrenaline (5μg i.v.) was administered and findings were: HR=84 bpm, BP=168x93 mmHg, BIS=75, BSR=4%.
Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2019
Objective To analyze our long-term experience with valve-sparing reimplantation technique in trea... more Objective To analyze our long-term experience with valve-sparing reimplantation technique in treating aortic root aneurysm, aortic regurgitation, and aortic dissection in patients with tricuspid aortic valve. Methods Between March 1998 and October 2018, 303 consecutive patients underwent valve-sparing reimplantation in our institution. The mean age of this cohort was 52.9 ± 15 years. Time to event analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk of death, reoperation, and aortic regurgitation (AR) recurrence were analyzed using the coxregression method. Results In-hospital mortality was 1% (n = 3) of which two were admitted for acute aortic dissection. Median follow-up was 5.81 years ([IQR]: 2.8-10 years). Thirty-nine patients (14.4%) died during follow-up. At 5 and 10 years, overall survival was 92 ± 2%and 75 ± 4.9%, respectively. Seventeen patients required late aortic valve reoperation. Freedom from valve reoperation was 95 ± 2% and 90 ± 3%. Freedom from AR > 2+ and AR > 1+ at 10 years was 91 ± 4% and 71.5 ± 4.6%, respectively. Significant multivariate predictors of death included age, New York Heart Association dyspnea class (NYHA), type A acute dissection (TAAD), and preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Significant multivariate predictors of AR recurrence included indication for surgery, previous cardiac surgery, and presence of preoperative AR. Freedom from events like major bleeding, thromboembolic events, and infective endocarditis at 10 years were 97%, 98%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusions Aortic valve-sparing with the reimplantation technique has been performed for over two decades in our institution, and the results in patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) are excellent in terms of survival and freedom from valve-related adverse outcomes including valve reoperation. These results continue supporting the use of valve sparing root replacement using the reimplantation technique (VSRR) in patients with aortic aneurysm, irrespective of whether they have preoperative AR or not. VSRR is safe, durable, and reproducible, but further follow-up, well into the second decade is still necessary.
Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the associa... more Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P¼0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P¼0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P¼0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09e1.90; P¼0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89e1.90; P¼0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events. Clinical trial registration: NCT01601223.
BackgroundThe Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting... more BackgroundThe Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparin...
Risk factors for developing Persistent peri-incisional Chest Pain (PCP) after sternotomy are mult... more Risk factors for developing Persistent peri-incisional Chest Pain (PCP) after sternotomy are multiple. We examined whether hypoesthesia, hyperalgesia or dysesthesia, evoked in the postoperative period might be associated with PCP after sternotomy. One hundred patients undergoing a sternotomy were evaluated on day 5. Peri-incisional sensory testing was performed using von Frey filament. Presence and severity of PCP were assessed at 2 and 6 months. PCP was present in 29% and 15% of patients respectively at 2 and 6 months. Hyperalgesia on day 5 was present in 43% of patients with PCP at 6 months compared to 15% without PCP. Hypoesthesia was present in 57% of patients with PCP at 6 months compared to 22% without PCP. There was no significant difference in the incidence of dysesthesia. On day 5, hyperalgesia was correlated with a risk to develop PCP at 6 months. Among sensory abnormalities, the presence of hyperalgesia is associated with PCP at 6 months postoperatively.
Uploads
Papers by Mona Momeni