Zuo Mingzhang, Huang Yuguang, Ma Wuhua, Xue Zhanggang, Zhang Jiaqiang, Gong Yahong, Che Lu, Chinese Society of Anesthesiology Task Force on Airway Management
Abstract:Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is a highly contagious disease. It firstly appeared in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in December 2019. During the next two months, it moved rapidly throughout China. Most of the infected patients have mild symptoms including fever, fatigue and cough, but in severe cases, patients can progress rapidly and develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, metabolic acidosis and coagulopathy. The new coronavirus was reported to spread via droplets, contact and natural aerosols from human to human. Therefore, aerosol-producing procedures such as endotracheal intubation may put the anesthesiologists at high risk of nosocomial infections. In fact, SARS-CoV-2 infection of anesthesiologists after endotracheal intubation for confirmed COVID-19 patients have been reported in hospitals in Wuhan. The expert panel of airway management in Chinese Society of Anaesthesiology has deliberated and drafted this recommendation, by which we hope to guide the performance of endotracheal intubation by frontline anesthesiologists and critical care physicians. During the airway management, enhanced droplet/airborne personal protective equitment (PPE) should be applied to the health care providers. A good airway assessment before airway intervention is of vital importance. For patients with normal airway, awake intubation should be avoided, and modified rapid sequence induction is strongly recommended. Sufficient muscle relaxant should be assured before intubation. For patients with difficult airway, good preparation of airway devices and detailed intubation plans should be made.
Keywords:COVID-19;SARS-CoV-2;endotracheal intubation;difficult airway;infection control precaution
Abstract:A novel coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 rapidly spread around the world. Most severe cases need endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, and some mild cases may need emergent surgery under general anesthesia. The novel coronavirus was reported to transmit via droplets, contact and natural aerosols from human to human. Therefore, aerosol-producing procedures such as endotracheal intubation and airway suction may put the healthcare providers at high risk of nosocomial infection. Based on recently published articles, this review provides detailed feasible recommendations for primary anesthesiologists on infection prevention in operating room during COVID-19 outbreak.
Keywords:COVID-19;SARS-CoV-2;infection control precaution;perioperative management;anesthesia machine;disinfection
Abstract:Objective Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and post-operative delirium (POD) are two common post-operative cerebral complications. The current meta-analysis was to systematically review the effects of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) on POCD and POD in surgical patients.Methods Electronic databases were searched to identify all randomized controlled trials comparing PHC with atropine/scopolamine/placebo on POCD and POD in surgical patients. Primary outcomes of interest included the incidences of POCD and POD; the secondary outcomes of interest included peri-operative mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores. Two authors independently extracted peri-operative data, including patients’ baseline characteristics, surgical variables, and outcome data. For dichotomous data (POCD and POD occurrence), treatment effects were calculated as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidential interval (CI). Each outcome was tested for heterogeneity, and randomized-effects or fixed-effects model was used in the presence or absence of significant heterogeneity. For continuous variables (MMSE scores), treatment effects were calculated as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.Results Our search yielded 33 studies including 4017 patients. Meta-analysis showed that, the incidence of POCD in PHC group was comparable to that in saline group (OR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.58-1.64; P=0.92), scopolamine group (OR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.48-1.27; P=0.32) and atropine group (OR=1.20; 95% CI: 0.86-1.67; P=0.29). The incidence of POD in PHC group was comparable to that in saline group (OR=1.53; 95% CI: 0.81-2.90; P=0.19) and scopolamine group (OR=0.53; 95% CI: 0.06-4.56; P=0.56), but higher than that in atropine group (OR=4.49; 95% CI: 1.34-15.01; P=0.01).Conclusions PHC premedication was not associated with increased incidences of POCD or POD as compared to either scopolamine or placebo.
Abstract:Objective Type Ⅱ endoleak is the most common subtype of endoleak as a complication after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The efficacy of transarterial (TA) embolization and translumber (TL) embolization in the management of type Ⅱ endoleak remains equipoise. The aim of this study is to compare the technical and clinical success between TA embolization and TL embolization for type Ⅱ endoleak after EVAR.Methods The protocol was registered (CRD 42018114453) and the electronic databases (Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were systematically searched till March 2019. The search terms included EVAR, type Ⅱ endoleak, and embolization. The articles were read and extracted by two authors independently to include randomized control trails and retrospective studies that compared TA embolization and TL embolization in patients who developed type Ⅱ endoleak after EVAR. The technical and clinical success rates were meta-analyzed with random effect model.Results A total of 6 articles with 268 patients and 290 type Ⅱ endoleaks were included. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of technical success rate for TA vs. TL was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.10-3.18; P=0.51) and the pooled OR of clinical success rate for TA vs. TL was 0.31(95% CI, 0.07-1.29; P=0.11). As a limitation, 6 articles were all retrospective studies which may lead to bias.Conclusion Both TA and TL could be effective procedure of embolizations to resolve the type Ⅱ endoleak. The meta-analysis result indicated that TA embolization was not inferior to TL embolization in technical success and clinical success.
Abstract:Objective The purpose of this study was to produce an arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) peptide-modified ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and verify its utility as a T1 positive MRI imaging contrast agent in vitroand in vivo.Methods The carboxylated Fe3O4 NPs stabilized with sodium citrate were conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-linked RGD nanoparticles to form a novel target contrast agent Fe3O4-PEG-RGD NPs. The specificity of Fe3O4-PEG-RGD to bind RGD receptor was investigated in vitro by HepG2 cellular uptake and cell MR imaging, and in vivo by MR imaging of subcutaneous HepG2 tumors of nude mice.Results The formed Fe3O4-PEG-RGD NPs displayed good biocompatibility, and the ultrahigh r1 relaxivity was 1.37 mM -1S -1. The synthesized Fe3O4-PEG-RGD NPs were demonstrated spherical-like with an approximate diameter of 2.7 nm in similar size. The targeting effect to HepG2 cells was confirmed by in vitro cellular uptake and cell MR imaging. The in vivo MR imaging of nude mice demonstrated that the MR signal intensity enhancement of HepG2 tumor in Fe3O4-PEG-RGD NPs treated mice was significantly higher than in mice treated with non-targeted Fe3O4-mPEG NPs at the same post-administration time point. Conclusion The results indicate that the Fe3O4-PEG-RGD particles have potential utility as T1 positive contrast agent in targeted MR imaging.
Abstract:Objective Hemocoagulase injection based on the venom of Agkistrodon halys Pallas is widely used in the treatment of hemorrhagic disorders. This study aimed to characterize the clinical laboratory findings of hemocoagulase-induced hypofibrinogenemia as the associated adverse reaction of hemocoagulase injection.Methods We retrospectively enrolled 27 in-patients who were treated with hemocoagulase injection for hemoptysis and developed hypofibrinogenemia during the period of January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2018. Clinical data were collected and investigated, including clinical manifestations, hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters, dosage of hemocoagulase, the medication time, and the cryoprecipitate blood product infusion. Differences in fibrinogen, D-dimer, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) before, during, and after the application of hemocoagulase injection were analyzed statistically.Results Plasma fibrinogen level during medication of hemocoagulase injection decreased significantly compared to that before the treatment (F=1.80, P<0.001), with the average decrease of 2.28 g/L (0.63-3.9 g/L). After withdrawal, fibrinogen level increased significantly compared to that during the medication (F=-1.20, P<0.001), but was still lower than that before the medication (F=0.59, P=0.03). The D-dimer level and the FDP level after withdrawal decreased significantly compared to the levels during the medication (F=0.83, P=0.002; Wilcoxon-test, Z=-4.54, P<0.001). Spearman’s correlation analyses did not find either fibrinogen change during-before the administration or FDP change after-during the administration was associated with the dosage of hemocoagulase (r=-0.17, P=0.40; r=-0.28, P=0.15; respectively) and the time of recovery from hypofibrinogenemia (r=-0.45, P=0.05; r=0.13, P=0.61; respectively).Conclusion Monitoring both clotting and fibrinolysis parameters is essential in the management of hemoptysis patients treated with hemocoagulase injection. Clinicians should be aware of hypofibrinogenemia and consider discontinuation of the administration of hemocoagulase whenever necessary.
Abstract:Objective Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is invariably fatal without surgical resection. The primary aim of the current study was to determine the safety of variable surgical resections for patient with HC and their survival after surgical resection. In addition, prognostic factor for the overall survival was also evaluated. Methods The study included 59 consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed with HC and underwent surgical resections with curative intend between February 2009 and February 2017. Patients were followed up at 3-6 months intervals after hospital discharge. Postoperative complications and overall survival were determined. Associations of clinicopathologic and surgeon-related factors with overall survival were evaluated through univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis. Results Of patients with Bismuth and Corlette (B & C) type Ⅲ (n=19) and Ⅳ (n=25) HC lesions, 33 (55.9%) were treated with hilar resection combined with major liver resection (MLR), while the other 11 patients with type Ⅲ and Ⅳ, and those with type Ⅰ (n=8) and Ⅱ (n=7) HC lesions were treated with hilar resection. The overall surgical mortality was 5.1% and surgical morbidity was 35.6%. There was no statistical difference in the mortality between MLR group and hilar resection group (6.1% vs. 3.8%; X2=0.703, P=0.145). The median follow-up period was 18 months (range, 1-94 months). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate was 59.3%, 36.5%, and 17.7%, respectively. The overall survival after resections was 18 months. In HC patients with B & C type Ⅲ and Ⅳ lesions, the median survival was 23 months for hilar resection with MLR and 8 months for hilar resection alone; the 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate was 63.9%, 23.3%, and 15.5%, respectively for hilar resection with MLR, and 11.1%, 0, and 0, respectively for hilar resection alone, with significant differene observed (HR, 9.902; 95% CI, 2.636-19.571, P=0.001). Four factors were independently associated with overall survival: preoperative serum Ca19-9 (HR, 7.039; 95% CI, 2.803-17.678, P<0.001), histopathologic grade (HR, 4.964; 95% CI, 1.046-23.552, P=0.044), surgical margins (P=0.031), and AJCC staging (P=0.015). Conclusions R0 resection is efficacious in surgical treatment of HC. MLR in combination with caudate lobe resection may increase the chance of R0 resection and improve survival of HC patients with B & C type Ⅲ and Ⅳ lesions. Preoperatively prepared for biliary drainage may ensure the safety of MLR in most HC patients. Novel adjuvant therapies are needed to improve the survival of HC patients with poor prognostic factors.
Abstract:Objective s To investigate the effects of preoperative smoking and smoking cessation time on preoperative peripheral blood inflammatory indexes and postoperative hospitalization outcomes in male patients with lung cancer and surgery therapy.Methods We retrospectively enrolled 637 male patients who underwent curative-intent lung cancer resection between January 2014 and December 2016. Patients were classified as the current smokers, the never smokers, and the ex-smokers based on their smoking history, and the ex-smokers were allocated into five subgroups according to their smoking cessation times (CeT): CeT≤6 weeks, 6weeks<CeT≤1year, 1year<CeT≤5years, 5years<CeT≤10years, CeT>10years. The preoperative peripheral blood white blood cells (WBCs), albumin, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), intraoperative blood loss, 30-day mortality, in-hospital days, hospitalization costs, intensive care unit (ICU), admission days and placement time of closed thoracic drainage tube were compared among different groups.Results There were significant differences in WBC (F=5.275, P<0.001) and albumin (F=2.470, P<0.05) among patients of current smokers, ex-smokers with different smoking cessation time, and never-smokers. The blood WBC count in current smokers (7.7×10 9/L) was significantly higher than that in ex-smokers (7.0×10 9/L)and never-smokers (5.9×10 9/L) (t=-2.145, P<0.05; t=-6.073, P<0.01, respectively). The level of peripheral blood albumin in current smokers (41.1 g/L) was lower than that in ex-smokers (42.1 g/L) and never-smokers (43.2 g/L) (t=2.323, P<0.05; t=3.995, P<0.01, respectively). The level of peripheral blood NLR in current smokers (3.7) was higher than that in ex-smokers (3.1) and never smokers (2.8) (t=-1.836, P<0.05; t=-2.889, P<0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in WBC, albumin and NLR among five subgroups of different smoking cessation time. No significant difference was observed in intraoperative blood loss, 30-day mortality, hospitalization costs, hospital stay, ICU stay and placement time of closed thoracic drainage tube among groups either. Conclusion Smoking increases the preoperative inflammatory indexes in peripheral blood of lung cancer patients. Smoking cessation has beneficial effect on reducing levels of these inflammatory indexes, which may be not impacted by the time length of smoking cessation. Therefore, lung cancer patients should be encouraged to quit smoking at any time.
Abstract:Chinese scientists have been actively engaged in biotechnology research since the mid-20th century. However, biotechnology education, especially biomedical laboratory technology education, is relatively scarce in China. More and more cutting-edge equipment and techniques have been introduced into biomedical laboratories in China, but there is a lack of high-quality technicians to apply these advancements to scientific research. In addition, the traditional education and apprenticeship systems have been demonstrated little progress. To address this gap, West China Hospital of Sichuan University established a 2-year educational program for laboratory technology in 2006 based on the residency training program. The project integrates scientific methods into the research laboratory technician training in relevant disciplines, and has developed a systematic, scientific, and effective standardized training system to cultivate high-level and stable experimental technician team for the need of advanced laboratories, which has been demonstrated greatly improve the efficiency of biomedical researchers and laboratory facilities. In this article, we introduce the practical experience in establishment and development of a standardized training system for biomedical laboratory technicians to ensure the sustainable development of medical researches.
Abstract:Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common pediatric cancer. The second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) in long-term survivors of pediatric ALL are relatively rare. Herein we report a 10-year-old girl who was diagnosed as primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) 5 years after the initial diagnosis of ALL with radiotherapy-free treatment. PNET is an exceedingly rare neoplasm in SMNs of survivors of childhood ALL. It is predisposed to be misdiagnosed and the pathogenesis is unclear. The outcome is poor. Long-term follow-up is necessary for the survival children of ALL.
Abstract:Hypoxemia after general anesthesia is not uncommon. For patients after thoracotomy, the differential diagnosis is usually difficult. Surgical, anesthetic, and patient-associated factors may contribute to postoperative hypoxemia. We described two patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy and developed hypoxemia immediately after extubation. Phrenic nerve injury was suspected in both patients. One case recovered spontaneously without intervention. The second case who had been demonstrated as bilateral phrenic nerve injury after the operation was continuously on ventilator after physical therapy and respiratory training for 2 months.
Keywords:Phrenic nerve injury;hypoxemia;video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery