Dex Linked to Lower Delirium Incidence After Cardiac Surgery

TOPLINE: Administration of dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium by 38% but was associated with an increased risk for hypotension. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 3904 patients undergoing any type of cardiac surgery. They compared the use of dexmedetomidine with … Read more

A Safer Sedation for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation?

TOPLINE: The combination of remimazolam and ketamine for deep analgosedation during pulsed-field ablation for atrial fibrillation was associated with fewer adverse events than propofol-based methods, with the regimen significantly reducing hypoxemia and hypotension. METHODOLOGY: Czech researchers conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 127 patients (mean age, 62.9 years; 35.1% women) with an indication for … Read more

The ACNES Diagnosis That Wasn’t: It Was Herpes Zoster

Key Takeaways Herpes zoster (HZ) can initially present with pain before the appearance of a rash, leading to diagnostic confusion. Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) may be mimicked by other conditions, including HZ. Positive pinch test and Carnett’s sign may indicate abdominal wall neuralgia but do not exclude the possibility of HZ. The Patient … Read more

Remimazolam-Flumazenil Combo Cuts Extubation Time in TAVI

TOPLINE: Compared with sevoflurane, a combination of remimazolam and flumazenil significantly reduces extubation time and use of ephedrine, while maintaining similar hemodynamic stability, in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODOLOGY: Researchers in Japan conducted a prospective, open-label, single-center clinical trial between June 2022 and August 2023 to compare emergence times with sevoflurane or … Read more