Background Literature suggests that nonobstetric surgery during gestation is associated with a higher risk of spontaneous abortion, prematurity, and a higher cesarean section rate, but the direct impact on fetal outcomes is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy is associated with negative fetal outcomes by analysing a nation-wide database in Taiwan. Methods This population-based retrospective observational case–control study was based on the linkage of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, Birth Reporting Database, and Maternal and Child Health Database between 2004 and 2014. For every pregnancy with nonobstetric surgery during gestation, four controls were randomly matched according to maternal age and delivery year. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of adverse fetal outcomes with the non-surgery group as the reference. The primary outcomes involved stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight, low Apgar scores, and neonatal and infant death. Results Among 23,721 identified pregnancies, 4,747 underwent nonobstetric surgery. Pregnancies with nonobstetric surgery had significantly higher risks of prematurity (aOR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.31–1.62), lower birth weight (aOR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.33–1.67), Apgar scores < 7 (1 min, aOR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.33–1.86; 5 min, aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.03–1.74), neonatal death (aOR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.18–3.42), and infant death (aOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.12–2.54) than those without nonobstetric surgery after adjustment for socioeconomic deprivation, hospital level, and other comorbidities. Surgery performed in the third trimester was associated with a significantly increased rate of prematurity (aOR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.03–1.85), but lower rates of stillbirth (aOR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.01–0.75) and Apgar score < 7 at the 5th minute (aOR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.05–0.82), than surgery performed in the first trimester. Conclusions Pregnancies with nonobstetric surgery during gestation were associated with increased risks of prematurity, low birth weight, low Apgar scores, neonatal and infant death, longer admission, and higher medical expenses than those without surgery. Furthermore, surgery in the third trimester was associated with a higher rate of prematurity than surgery performed in the first trimester. Trial registration Not applicable.

BackgroundTo evaluate the analgesic efficacy and risk of low-to-medium dose intrathecal morphine (ITM) (i.e., ≤0.5 mg) following cardiac surgery.MethodsMedline, Cochrane Library, Google scholar and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to February 2022. The primary outcome was pain intensity at postoperative 24 h, while the secondary outcomes included intravenous morphine consumption (IMC), extubation time, hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and ITM-associated side effects (e.g., respiratory depression). Subgroup analysis was performed on ITM dosage (low: &lt;0.3 mg vs. medium: 0.3–0.5 mg).ResultsFifteen RCTs involving 683 patients published from 1988 to 2021 were included. Pooled results showed significantly lower postoperative 24-h pain scores [mean difference (MD) = −1.61, 95% confidence interval: −1.98 to −1.24, p &lt; 0.00001; trial sequential analysis: sufficient evidence; certainty of evidence: moderate] in the ITM group compared to the controls. Similar positive findings were noted at 12 (MD = −2.1) and 48 h (MD = −1.88). Use of ITM was also associated with lower IMC at 24 and 48 h (MD: −13.69 and −14.57 mg, respectively; all p &lt; 0.05) and early tracheal extubation (i.e., 48.08 min). No difference was noted in hospital/ICU LOS, and nausea/vomiting in both groups, but patients receiving ITM had higher risk of pruritus (relative risk = 2.88, p = 0.008). There was no subgroup difference in IMC except a lower pain score with 0.3–0.5 mg than &lt;0.3 mg at postoperative 24 h. Respiratory depression events were not noted in the ITM group.ConclusionOur results validated the analgesic efficacy of low-to-medium dose ITM for patients receiving cardiac surgery without increasing the risk of respiratory depression.

Background: Despite the demonstrated analgesic efficacy of scalp block (SB) during the immediate postoperative period, the impact of SB on pain outcomes at postoperative 24 and 48 h in adults receiving craniotomy remains unclear. Methods:The databases of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register were searched from inception to January 2022 for available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was the severity of pain at postoperative 24 and 48 h, while the secondary outcomes included morphine consumption, hemodynamic profiles after surgical incision and in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and risk of postoperative nausea/vomiting (PONV).Results: Meta-analysis of 12 studies revealed a lower pain score [MD = −0.83, p = 0.03, 375 patients, certainty of evidence (COE): low] and morphine consumption (MD = −9.21 mg, p = 0.03, 246 patients, COE: low) at postoperative 24 h, while there were no differences in these pain outcomes at postoperative 48 h (COE: low). The use of SB significantly decreased intraoperative heart rate (MD = −10.9 beats/ min, p < 0.0001, 189 patients, COE: moderate) and mean blood pressure (MD = −13.02 mmHg, p < 0.00001, 189 patients, COE: moderate) after surgical incision, but these hemodynamic profiles were comparable in both groups in the PACU setting. There was also no difference in the risk of PONV between the two groups (RR = 0.78, p = 0.2, 299 patients, COE: high). Conclusion:This meta-analysis demonstrated that scalp block not only provided hemodynamic stability immediately after surgical incision but was also associated with a lower pain score and morphine consumption at postoperative 24 h. Further studies are needed for elucidation of its findings.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but life-threatening genetic disorder of the skeletal muscles triggered by inhalation anesthetics or succinylcholine. A 49-year-old female developed symptoms of MH shortly after a lumbar surgery. Despite being insidious, MH was diagnosed based on the clinical grading scale. We incidentally discovered fine fasciculations in extremities while inserting an ultrasound-guided arterial catheter. On receiving dantrolene, her symptoms improved within 20 minutes; a subsequent ultrasound revealed no fasciculations. Although halothane contracture testing was not available, the fasciculations that resolved with dantrolene administration in a MH suspected patient opens up a new potential avenue of diagnostics. (A&A Practice. 2022;16:e01651.) GLOSSARYABG = arterial blood gas; ALS = amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ATP = adenosine triphosphate; BP = blood pressure; CK-MB = creatine kinase MB; CK-total = creatine kinase total; EQUATOR = Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research; ICU = intensive care unit; IVCT = in vitro contracture testing; MH = malignant hyperthermia; NMS = neuroleptic malignant syndrome; PACU = postanesthesia care unit; TSH = thyroid stimulating hormoneFigure. Timeline of the episode of malignant hyperthermia. ABG indicates arterial blood gas; BP , blood pressure; CK-MB, creatine kinase MB; PACU, postanesthesia care unit.

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