Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Critical Care (Online)最新文献

The ongoing revolution in artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping perioperative care, including obstetric anesthesia. This narrative review synthesizes major AI applications in cesarean delivery, the world's most common inpatient surgery. Integrating history, obstetric factors, physiological variables, and imaging, AI tools enhance preoperative evaluation (estimation of risks of difficult airway), prediction of adverse events, ultrasound spine evaluation for neuraxial procedure, and postpartum hemorrhage. Language models can bridge consent and education gaps, while improving detection and treatment of postoperative pain. Machine learning models improve hemodynamic management with prediction of spinal-induced hypotension, assisted fluid management, and vasopressor requirements, with reduction of hypotensive burden. Yet cesarean-specific evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, with uncertain effects on maternal-neonatal outcomes. While promising, AI cannot replace the expertise and clinical judgment of a trained obstetric anesthesiologist. It should, instead, be viewed as a valuable tool to facilitate and support our practice, and multicenter prospective trials are needed to guide implementation.

Despite the refinement in guidelines and improving outcomes, a subset of patients with septic shock fails to respond to treatment and progresses into refractory septic shock with an associated high morbidity and mortality. This population remains underrepresented in clinical trials due to their heterogeneity, in addition to time and ethical constraints. As a large specialist referral centre, we propose an updated, pragmatic, and largely inexpensive approach based on our current clinical practice, which focuses on early multimodal therapy, aiming to reduce the detrimental effects associated with high-dose vasopressors.

Background: Chronic postsurgical pain affects surgical patients with a mean incidence of approximately 20%, posing a major public health concern with substantial implications for patients and healthcare systems. Despite increasing knowledge of risk factors, the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain remains high. Hence, there is growing interest in developing individualised pain management strategies using predictive risk. A novel chronic postsurgical pain risk assessment system using machine learning is under development in Western Norway. As a first step in implementing the risk assessment system, this study explored how in-hospital healthcare professionals perceive the potential utility of access to individualised chronic postsurgical pain risk profiles for clinical practice.

Methods: This qualitative study included seven focus groups with 39 healthcare professionals from postanaesthesia care units, surgical units and orthopaedic wards across two hospitals in Norway. Data were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Our analyses yielded two overarching themes: (1) Lack of fit of risk predictions and (2) potentials of knowing risk profiles. Participants questioned the applicability of chronic postsurgical pain predictions in the in-hospital settings, highlighting role boundaries, time constraints, and limited influence over long-term outcomes. However, they also identified the benefits of risk awareness, including improved clinical reflection, more cautious decision-making, and an enhanced potential for individualised treatment and care.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals expressed a balanced view of chronic postsurgical pain risk profiles, recognising both scepticism about them and their potential benefits. Effective implementation will require predictive validity, clear guidance, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Education and training will be essential to support clinicians in interpreting and acting on risk information.

This retrospective study explores the prognostic significance of the frequency and persistence of Neurological Pupil index (NPi) differentials (NPi-d) in patients with acute brain injury admitted to the intensive care unit. A total of 57 patients with traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or intracerebral hemorrhage were included, all of whom underwent serial quantitative pupillometry. An NPi-d was defined as a difference of ≥ 0.7 between the NPi of the two pupils, while the persistence of the differential (pNPi-d) captured sustained asymmetry over time, regardless of whether the threshold was reached. The analysis revealed that both the number of NPi-d events and the pNPi-d were significantly associated with unfavorable neurological outcomes and mortality at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Multinomial logistic regression showed that an increased number of NPi-d was associated with a more than threefold increased risk of poor outcome and death. Similarly, higher pNPi-d values correlated with greater odds of poor outcome, death, elevated need for therapeutic interventions to manage intracranial hypertension, decompressive craniectomy, and longer ICU stay. These findings suggest that, beyond static NPi thresholds, dynamic measures such as the frequency and persistence of NPi asymmetries provide valuable prognostic information. Incorporating these pupillometry-based metrics into routine neuromonitoring could enhance early risk stratification and guide treatment strategies in critically ill neurological patients.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a byproduct of cellular metabolism, with the human body storing approximately 120 liters in various chemical forms across different compartments. Through gas exchange and tidal ventilation, arterial CO₂ and blood pH are tightly regulated within the narrow ranges required for cellular function. Not all tidal ventilation, however, contributes to CO₂ elimination: the portion of each breath that does not participate in gas exchange is defined as dead space. First described in 1891 by Christian Bohr in his seminal work "Über die Lungenatmung", the concept gained practical applicability in 1938 when Enghoff proposed replacing the unmeasurable alveolar partial pressure CO₂ (PACO₂) with the arterial partial pressure of CO₂ (PaCO₂) in the calculation. Since then, dead space has become a cornerstone parameter for quantifying the severity of respiratory failure. Recent advances in lung imaging have expanded the possibilities for assessing dead space distribution by integrating anatomical and functional information. Techniques such as contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), dual-energy CT (DECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and, increasingly, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) now offer novel opportunities to visualize and quantify regional ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. In this narrative review, we outline the mathematical foundations of dead space computation and examine the role of each variable in the calculation. We then explore derived indices such as the ventilatory ratio and standardized minute ventilation. Finally, we discuss recent technological innovations, including EIT, MRI, and CT, and present clinical cases to illustrate the practical application of dead space assessment in daily clinical practice.

Background: Septic shock is a fatal infection-induced syndrome causing severe organ dysfunction and high mortality. The study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of continuous versus intermittent bolus hydrocortisone treatment in patients with septic shock, addressing all relevant primary and secondary outcomes.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception to June 1, 2025, with additional manual sources. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies of adults with septic shock comparing continuous infusion versus intermittent bolus hydrocortisone. This review followed PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I for cohort studies. Certainty of evidence was graded via the GRADE framework. Primary outcomes were ICU, hospital, and 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included 7-day shock reversal, ICU-acquired weakness, ICU and hospital length of stay, vasopressor-free days, duration of vasopressor therapy, and metabolic complications.

Results: This study included 14 studies comparing continuous infusion and intermittent bolus administration of hydrocortisone in patients with septic shock. The findings indicated no significant differences in ICU mortality, hospital mortality, or 28-day mortality between the two groups. However, continuous infusion was associated with significantly improved 7-day shock reversal, reduced risk of hypokalemia, and lower glycemic variability. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of ICU and hospital length of stay, insulin requirements, and other variables.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that continuous infusion may provide clinical benefits in specific aspects of the management of septic shock patients.

Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD420251069956.

Background: Prone positioning is recommended for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome not only to improve oxygenation, but also to reduce lung stress, and lower mortality. The association between improved oxygenation during prone position and reduced mortality is still controversial. In previous studies, oxygenation improvement during the first prone positioning cycle was linked to lower intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, especially with prolonged duration. However, physiological data during subsequent cycles were lacking. This study aims to explore the association between ICU mortality and physiological responses to prone positioning-such as arterial oxygenation, dead space, and respiratory mechanics-and to assess how the cumulative time spent in prone or supine positions across all studied cycles influences outcomes.

Methods: International registry including adult patients who underwent prone positioning for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19. We measured the difference for arterial partial pressure of oxygen to inspired fraction of oxygen ratio (PaO2/FiO2) and ventilatory ratio between baseline supine position and at either the end of cycle of prone position (Delta-PP) or re-supination (Delta-PostPP), focusing on the cycles following the first one.

Results: We included 1523 patients from 53 centers. Both Delta-PP and Delta-PostPP for PaO2/FiO2 were significantly higher in ICU survivors than in ICU non-survivors for all the analyzed prone positioning cycles (p ≤ 0.001 for all comparisons). Delta-PP and Delta-PostPP for ventilatory ratio were significantly lower in ICU survivors than in ICU non-survivors for all the analyzed prone positioning cycles (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). No difference in the overall time spent in prone position was found between ICU survivors and non-survivors [61 (38, 84) h vs 58 (32, 85) h, respectively, p = 0.175]. The cumulative length of prone position was associated with ICU mortality only for the second prone positioning cycle [OR (95% CI) 0.986 (0.978, 0.994)]. No significant association was observed between the time spent in supine position and ICU mortality for all the analyzed prone positioning cycles.

Conclusions: ICU survivors consistently demonstrated better oxygenation and more stable ventilatory ratio across studied prone positioning cycles, whereas non-survivors showed worsening oxygenation when returning supine and increased ventilatory ratio. Additionally, extending the duration of prone position beyond the second cycle may not significantly impact mortality.

Background: Accurate nociception monitoring may optimize opioid administration during total knee arthroplasty. We aimed to evaluate whether the quantium nociception index (qNOX)-guided remifentanil infusion reduces opioid consumption and improves postoperative analgesia.

Methods: In this single-blind randomized trial, 84 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty received either qNOX-guided (M group, n = 42) or conventional remifentanil infusion (R group, n = 42). Primary outcome was the incidence of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ≥ 5 within 40 min postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative remifentanil/propofol consumption, Quality of Recovery (QoR)-15 questionnaire, postoperative nausea and vomiting, hospital stay, and hemodynamic stability.

Results: M group demonstrated the following: Lower resting VAS ≥ 5 incidence (16.7% vs. 55.6%; relative risk [RR] 0.30, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.63; P = 0.023). The qNOX-guided strategy also led to a significant reduction in intraoperative remifentanil consumption (0.071 vs. 0.083 µg·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; P = 0.001) and a faster time to extubation (median 16 vs. 18 min; P = 0.009). No differences were observed in propofol consumption, QoR-15 scores, or the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Conclusion: qNOX-guided analgesia reduces intraoperative remifentanil requirements, accelerates recovery, and improves early postoperative pain control without increasing adverse events.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2500107430. Registered August 11th, 2025, retrospectively registered.

Background: Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) during non-cardiac surgery is associated with increased risk of postoperative complications, including acute kidney injury, myocardial injury, stroke, and mortality. Artificial intelligence-based predictive hemodynamic monitoring using the Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI), combined with goal-directed therapy (GDT), has been proposed to reduce IOH. However, its effectiveness in major maxillofacial and otolaryngologic surgery remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to assess whether HPI-guided management or classical GDT reduces IOH compared to standard care in patients undergoing major maxillofacial and otolaryngologic surgery.

Methods: In this randomized controlled pilot trial at a university hospital, 75 patients were allocated to one of three groups: control (n = 25), HPI-guided GDT (n = 25), or classical GDT without HPI (n = 25). In the control group, the advanced hemodynamic monitoring was blinded to the anesthesiologist. IOH was defined as mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg for > 1 min. Primary endpoints were the number and total duration of IOH episodes. Secondary endpoints included the time-weighted average MAP < 65 mmHg (TWA65) and postoperative complications.

Results: Seventy-four patients were analyzed. The HPI group showed significantly fewer IOH episodes (median 3.0 vs. 7.0; p = 0.02) and shorter IOH duration (7.0 min vs. 46.0 min; p < 0.01) compared to control. No significant difference was observed between the classical GDT and control groups. Secondary outcomes were comparable across all groups.

Conclusions: HPI-guided hemodynamic management significantly reduces the frequency and duration of IOH in major head and neck surgery. Larger studies are needed to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes.

Trial registration: The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04151264) on 14th October 2019.

Background: High cervical spinal diseases (C1-C4), resulting in paralysis of the respiratory muscles, makes the person dependent on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for life support. Although effective from a ventilatory point of view, IMV is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; ventilated patients have higher rates of respiratory complications, a significant reduction in life expectancy, and above all, a serious psychological repercussion with estrangement from the world. Diaphragmatic pacing system (DPS) is a well-established technique capable of restoring paraphysiological ventilation.

Aim of the study: A narrative review of the case history and their follow-up of 13 patients dependent on life support ventilation who have been implanted since 2011 in the Neurocritical Care Unit of the Niguarda Hospital, Milan.

Results: Diaphragmatic pacing system was successful implanted in all the patients: of them 9 were affected by traumatic cervical SCI, 2 by Arnold Chiari sequelae, 1 due to a spontaneous ischemia. One patient with Pompe disease was included although his pathophysiology primarly affects the diaphragm instead the high cervical spine tract. During the 14 years follow-up, 92% of patients (12/13) used DPS and in 42 % of them (5/12 patients) we were able to be disconnected from IMV for at least 12 h. One of the patients (7.7%) was completely weaned from IMV and the tracheostomy was finally removed. One patient needed hospitalization for a respiratory complication. All the patients perceived their quality of life to be excellent or good.

Discussion: The long-term follow-up of 13 patients with DPS suggests that the implant could be a potential long-term alternative to IMV, particularly in terms of quality of life. The diaphragmatic stimulator protects from IMV associated respiratory complications, therefore reducing hospitalization. Allowing spontaneous breathing for a variable number of hours enables the caregiver to support the individual more effectively, facilitating their reintegration into daily social and work activities. Diaphragmatic pacing system does not eliminate the disability but allows for more independent years of life with a greater possibility of social reintegration.