Summary The STOP‐BANG questionnaire screens for obstructive sleep apnoea. We retrospectively analysed the independent association of pre‐operative variables with postoperative critical care admission using multivariable logistic regression for patients undergoing elective surgery from January to December 2011. Of 5432 patients, 338 (6.2%) were admitted postoperatively to the critical care unit. In multivariate analysis, the odds ratios (95% CI) for critical care admission were: 2.2 (1.1–4.6), p = 0.037; 3.2 (1.2–8.1), p = 0.017; and 5.1 (1.8–14.9), p = 0.002, for STOP‐BANG scores of 4, 5 and ≥ 6, respectively. The odds ratio was also independently increased for: each year of age, 1.015 (1.004–1.026), p = 0.019; asthma, 1.6 (1.1–2.4), p = 0.016; obstructive sleep apnoea, 3.2 (1.9–5.6), p < 0.001; and for ASA physical status 2, 3 and ≥ 4, 2.1 (1.4–3.3), 6.5 (3.9–11.0), 6.3 (2.9–13.8), respectively, p < 0.001 for all.

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Concern has been expressed that prolonged preoperative fasts can lead to occult hypoglycaemia and it has been recommended that dextrose-containing solutions be administered during surgery to prevent this 1. This rationale has led to elective surgical patients at our institution receiving 500 ml of intravenous 5% dextrose in 0.9% normal saline at the start of anaesthesia, followed by further fluid replacement with non-dextrose-containing crystalloids. However, this practice may not be justified, given the capacity for endogenous glucose production in a healthy adult 2. Coupled with the metabolic response to surgical stress, intravenous dextrose infusion may in fact cause significant hyperglycaemia. At present though, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of either dextrose-containing or non-dextrose-containing solutions when initiating intravenous fluid replacement in the adult elective surgical population. We therefore conducted a prospective randomized trial to compare the effect of infusing 500 ml of 5% dextrose in 0.9% normal saline with that of two other commonly used intravenous crystalloids (lactated Ringer's solution, and 0.9% normal saline) on plasma glucose levels in non-diabetic adults presenting for elective surgery, within a period of one hour following completion of the infusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Following approval by the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent, we recruited 60 adult patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) physical status 1 or 2 who

: A range of peripheral nerve blocks is available to treat hip fracture pain, leaving clinicians confused on choice. No single block appears to be outstanding. The study described the relevant anatomy, technical approach, risk associated, and practicability to facilitate a better understanding of the various approaches available. The clinician should be able to make an informed decision based on local requirements and logistics.