Background Evidence suggests that there are substantial inconsistencies in the practice of anesthesia. There has not yet been a comprehensive summary of the anesthesia literature that can guide future knowledge translation interventions to move evidence into practice. As the first step toward identifying the most promising interventions for systematic implementation in anesthesia practice, this scoping review of multicentre RCTs aimed to explore and map the existing literature investigating perioperative anesthesia-related interventions and clinical patient outcomes. Methods Multicenter randomized controlled trials were eligible for inclusion if they involved a tested anesthesia-related intervention administered to adult surgical patients (≥ 16 years old), with a control group receiving either another anesthesia intervention or no intervention at all. The electronic databases Embase (via OVID), MEDLINE, and MEDLINE in Process (via OVID), and Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from inception to February 26, 2021. Studies were screened and data were extracted by pairs of independent reviewers in duplicate with disagreements resolved through consensus or a third reviewer. Data were summarized narratively. Results We included 638 multicentre randomized controlled trials (n patients = 615,907) that met the eligibility criteria. The most commonly identified anesthesia-related intervention theme across all studies was pharmacotherapy (n studies = 361 [56.6%]; n patients = 244,610 [39.7%]), followed by anesthetic technique (n studies = 80 [12.5%], n patients = 48,455 [7.9%]). Interventions were most often implemented intraoperatively (n studies = 233 [36.5%]; n patients = 175,974 [28.6%]). Studies typically involved multiple types of surgeries (n studies = 187 [29.2%]; n patients = 206 667 [33.5%]), followed by general surgery only (n studies = 115 [18.1%]; n patients = 201,028 [32.6%]) and orthopedic surgery only (n studies = 94 [14.7%]; n patients = 34,575 [5.6%]). Functional status was the most commonly investigated outcome (n studies = 272), followed by patient experience (n studies = 168), and mortality (n studies = 153). Conclusions This scoping review provides a map of multicenter RCTs in anesthesia which can be used to optimize future research endeavors in the field. Specifically, we have identified key knowledge gaps in anesthesia that require further systematic assessment, as well as areas where additional research would likely not add value. These findings provide the foundation for streamlining knowledge translation in anesthesia in order to reduce practice variation and enhance patient outcomes.

Background and Purpose Volumetric and densitometric biomarkers have been proposed to better quantify cerebral edema after stroke, but their relative performance has not been rigorously evaluated. Methods Patients with large vessel occlusion stroke from three institutions were analyzed. An automated pipeline extracted brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and infarct volumes from serial CTs. Several biomarkers were measured: change in global CSF volume from baseline (ΔCSF); ratio of CSF volumes between hemispheres (CSF ratio); and relative density of infarct region compared with mirrored contralateral region (net water uptake [NWU]). These were compared to radiographic standards, midline shift and relative hemispheric volume (RHV) and malignant edema, defined as deterioration resulting in need for osmotic therapy, decompressive surgery, or death. Results We analyzed 255 patients with 210 baseline CTs, 255 24‐hour CTs, and 81 72‐hour CTs. Of these, 35 (14%) developed malignant edema and 63 (27%) midline shift. CSF metrics could be calculated for 310 (92%), while NWU could only be obtained from 193 (57%). Peak midline shift was correlated with baseline CSF ratio (ρ = –.22) and with CSF ratio and ΔCSF at 24 hours (ρ = –.55/.63) and 72 hours (ρ = –.66/.69), but not with NWU (ρ = .15/.25). Similarly, CSF ratio was correlated with RHV (ρ = –.69/–.78), while NWU was not. Adjusting for age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, tissue plasminogen activator treatment, and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, CSF ratio (odds ratio [OR]: 1.95 per 0.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52‐2.59) and ΔCSF at 24 hours (OR: 1.87 per 10%, 95% CI: 1.47‐2.49) were associated with malignant edema. Conclusion CSF volumetric biomarkers can be automatically measured from almost all routine CTs and correlate better with standard edema endpoints than net water uptake.

Introduction: Observational studies have found an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation and worse functional outcomes in patients with higher systolic blood pressure variability (BPV). However, the time-varying behavior of BPV after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and its effects on functional outcome have not been well characterized. Patients and methods: We analyzed data from an international cohort of patients with large-vessel occlusion stroke who underwent EVT at 11 centers across North America, Europe, and Asia. Repeated time-stamped blood pressure data were recorded for the first 72 h after thrombectomy. Parameters of BPV were calculated in 12-h epochs using five established methodologies. Systolic BPV trajectories were generated using group-based trajectory modeling, which separates heterogeneous longitudinal data into groups with similar patterns. Results: Of the 2041 patients (age 69 ± 14, 51.4% male, NIHSS 15 ± 7, mean number of BP measurements 50 ± 28) included in our analysis, 1293 (63.4%) had a poor 90-day outcome (mRS ⩾ 3) or a poor discharge outcome (mRS ⩾ 3). We identified three distinct SBP trajectories: low (25%), moderate (64%), and high (11%). Compared to patients with low BPV, those in the highest trajectory group had a significantly greater risk of a poor functional outcome after adjusting for relevant confounders (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2–3.9; p = 0.008). In addition, patients with poor outcomes had significantly higher systolic BPV during the epochs that define the first 24 h after EVT ( p < 0.001). Discussion and conclusions: Acute ischemic stroke patients demonstrate three unique systolic BPV trajectories that differ in their association with functional outcome. Further research is needed to rapidly identify individuals with high-risk BPV trajectories and to develop treatment strategies for targeting high BPV.

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Introduction: High blood pressure after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) can cause cerebral hyperemia and disrupt the blood-brain barrier. However, its role in cerebral edema development is incompletely understood. In this study, we examined the relationship between post-EVT systolic blood pressure (SBP) trajectories and cerebral edema. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with large-vessel occlusion stroke who underwent EVT. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume was measured using a deep-learning algorithm on CT images at baseline, 24 hours, and 72 hours after stroke. The ratio of CSF volumes between hemispheres was calculated. Automated segmentation of infarct regions on follow-up scans was used to measure net water uptake (NWU), the ratio of density within infarcted tissue relative to the mirrored contralateral region. Latent variable mixture modeling (LVMM) divided patients into SBP trajectory groups during the first 72 hours post-EVT (Fig. 1A). Measures of edema (change in CSF ratio, NWU) were compared between groups. Results: One hundred patients (mean age 70 ± 16, mean NIHSS 15) were analyzed. Edema was assessed by a gradual increase in NWU (20.5, 27.0) at 24 and 72 hours, respectively, and by a reduction in CSF ratio (0.95, 0.78, 0.68) in the affected hemisphere at baseline, 24 hours, and 72 hours, respectively. LVMM identified five SBP trajectories. Higher SBP trajectories were associated with higher NWU (Fig. 1B) but not lower CSF ratio at 24 hours (p<0.001 and p=0.343, respectively). After adjusting for age, admission NIHSS, and TICI score, the moderate-to-high and high-to-moderate trajectory groups were independently associated with higher NWU (aOR 11.40, 95% CI 2.14-20.66) and (aOR 10.97, 95% CI 0.12-21.82), relative to the low and moderate groups. Conclusions: Higher SBP trajectories are associated with an increase in NWU post-EVT. NWU is a promising radiographic biomarker for measuring cerebral edema during the early phase after stroke.