The field of oral anticoagulation has evolved with the arrival of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) including an anti-IIa agent (dabigatran etexilate) and anti-Xa agents (rivaroxaban and apixaban). The main specificities of these drugs are predictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics but special attention should be paid in the elderly, in case of renal dysfunction and in...

BACKGROUND/AIM The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes and complications of bilateral videothoracoscopic sympathicotomy without using single-lung ventilation in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 154 consecutive patients (70 females and 84 males) who underwent bilateral sympathicotomy for palm...

Hypothermia in the perioperative setting can have serious consequences, including increased risk of infection or adverse cardiac events. Forced-air warming units commonly are used to prevent hypothermia. This study examined the impact of adding preoperative warming (Bair Paws, 3M) to conventional intraoperative forced-air warming modalities. Thirty patients received both preoperative and intrao...

Within traditional clinical care, the postoperative recovery after pelvic/rectal surgery has been slow with high morbidity and long hospital stay. The enhanced recovery after surgery program is a multimodal approach to perioperative care designed to accelerate recovery and safely reduce hospital stay. This review will briefly summarize optimal perioperative care, before, during and after surger...

BACKGROUND Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols consist of a set of perioperative measures aimed at improving patient recovery and decreasing length of stay and postoperative complications. We assess the implementation and outcomes of an ERAS program for colorectal surgery. METHODS Single center observational study. Data were collected from consecutive patients undergoing open or ...

This review provides an overview of the present knowledge on the aspects of preoperative fasting with the assessment of the evidence quality. A systematic research was conducted in electronic databases in order to identify trials published between 1990 and 2014 concerning preoperative fasting, early resumption of oral intake and the effects of oral carbohydrate mixtures on gastric emptying and ...

BACKGROUND Immobilisation, blood loss, sleep deficiency, and (concomitant) medications during perioperative periods might lead to acute exacerbation of symptoms in patients with the restless legs syndrome (RLS). Continuous transdermal delivery of the dopamine agonist rotigotine provides stable plasma levels over 24 h and may provide RLS patients with a feasible treatment option for perioperativ...

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of the off-pump technique in preventing stroke development during the early perioperative period after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). METHODS Patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery were enrolled from 21 Spanish cardiac-surgery centres. Baseline variables related to perioperative stroke risk were recorded in the preoperative (age, gender, dia...

Highlights The article describes the first conducted pseudorandomized comparative study of mitral valve replacement using either traditional or “valve-in-valve” techniques. Abstract Aim. To compare short-term (perioperative) and medium-term (6 months) outcomes surgical treatment bioprosthetic dysfunction methods. Methods. included 18 patients undergoing (open replacement) chosen according to fo...