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This guidance is about the care and treatment of people who are at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) while in hospital in the NHS in England and Wales.
The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care and treatment that should be offered to all adults (aged 18 and over) who are admitted to hospital as inpatients (including those admitted for day-case procedures).
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By C Woodruff , P Wieczorek, T Schricker, B Vinet and S Backman
Airway anaesthesia using atomised lidocaine for awake oral fibreoptic intubation in morbidly obese patients was evaluated using two doses of local anaesthetic. In this randomised, blinded prospective study, 40 ml of atomised 1% (n = 11) or 2% (n = 10) lidocaine was administered with high oxygen flow as carrier. Outcomes included time for intubation, patient tolerance to airway manipulation, haemodynamic parameters, the bronchoscopist’s overall satisfaction, and serial serum lidocaine concentrations. Patients receiving lidocaine 1% had a longer mean (SD) time from the start of topicalisation to tracheal tube cuff inflation than those receiving lidocaine 2% (8.6 (0.9) min vs 6.9 (0.5) min, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients in the 1% cohort demonstrated increased responses to airway manipulation (p < 0.0001), reflecting lower bronchoscopist’s satisfaction scores (p < 0.03). Haemodynamic responses to topicalisation and airway manipulation were similar in both groups. Peak plasma concentration was lower in the 1% group (mean (SD) 1.4 (0.3) and 3.8 (0.5) μg.ml−1, respectively; p < 0.001). Airway anaesthesia using atomised lidocaine for awake oral fibreoptic intubation in the morbidly obese is efficacious, rapid and safe. Compared with lidocaine 1%, the 2% dose provides superior intubating conditions.
by P Chassot, A Delabays, D Spahn
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2007; 21:241–256
Performing a surgical procedure on a patient undergoing anti-platelet therapy raises a dilemma: is it safer to withdraw the drugs and reduce the haemorrhagic risk, or to maintain them and reduce the risk of myocardial ischaemic events? Based on recent clinical data, this review concludes that the risk of coronary thrombosis on anti-platelet drugs withdrawal is much higher than the risk of surgical bleeding when maintaining them. In secondary prevention, aspirin is a lifelong therapy and should never be stopped. Clopidogrel is mandatory as long as the coronary stents are not fully endothelialized, which takes 6–24 weeks depending on the technique used, but might be required for a longer period
By B Veering
Curr Op Anaesthes 2008;21:616-618
Patients undergoing major vascular surgery are at increased risk for postoperative complications due to the high incidence of comorbidities in this population. Epidural anaesthesia provides potential benefits but its effect on morbidity and mortality is unclear.
Recent findings
Existing studies fail to demonstrate improved clinical outcome and reduced mortality for epidural anaesthesia or combined epidural/general techniques compared with general anaesthesia. Postoperative epidural analgesia provides better pain relief and reduces the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation.
Summary
Optimization of perioperative care rather than the anaesthetic technique may have potential benefit in improving postoperative outcome.
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