{"title":"Propofol-Fentanyl versus propofol-ketamine sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Elliott N Rees, Lucy Ms Hoade, Luke Mattey","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_588_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_588_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The optimal procedural sedation and analgesic regime for gastrointestinal endoscopy is uncertain. Ketamine and fentanyl are commonly used analgesic agents alongside propofol but both have significant side effect profiles.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the efficacy and safety of propofol-ketamine (PK) to propofol-fentanyl (PF) sedation for patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched to identify all comparative studies comparing PF to PK sedation. Nine randomized control trials (RCTs) met inclusion criteria. The primary outcomes were procedure time and recovery time. Secondary outcomes included adverse effects. All outcome data analyses were conducted using random-effects modeling.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Nine RCTs with a total of 1006 patients were analyzed (508 (50.5%) PF, 498 PK). Sedation-analgesia regimes with PF were associated with both shorter procedure times (mean difference (MD) = -1.670 minutes (95% CI, -2.890, -0.450); <i>P</i> < 0.01) and recovery times (MD = -1.215 minutes (95% CI,-2.131, -0.300)) compared with PK. In the PF group, there was a higher incidence of desaturation (PF: 18.03% vs PK: 7.84%, OR = 3.163 (95% CI, 1.552, 6.444); <i>P</i> < 0.01) and hypotension (PF: 17.20% vs PK: 8.33%, OR = 2.501 (95% CI, 1.296, 4.824); <i>P</i> < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is moderate certainty evidence that PF reduces procedure time and low certainty that it improves recovery time compared to PK for gastrointestinal endoscopy. The risk of potentially life-threatening hypotension and desaturation was significantly greater in the PF group.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"292-302"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Successful management of a pediatric cardiac patient with Bombay blood group and leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II: A case report and literature review.","authors":"Ahmad Abuzaid, Ahmed Abdalwahab","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_605_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_605_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bombay blood group is a rare blood phenotype, frequently misinterpreted as \"O\" blood group, and sometime causes severe hemolytic transfusion reactions. We are reporting a 4-year-old cardiac patient with congenital heart disease. During routine intraoperative evaluation, the patient was confirmed as having Bombay blood group and leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II. As this condition is extremely rare in Saudi Arabia, matched blood donors were secured from outside the country. The patient underwent bilateral peripheral artery stenosis reconstruction. Successful intraoperative management was done using one unit of matched blood transfusion, acute normovolemic hemodilution strategy, intravenous injection of antifibrinolytic agents, and regular antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged from the hospital 1 week later. Correct and preoperative identification of Bombay phenotype, patient labeling and flagging, maintaining records for rare blood groups, and collaborations with other blood banks are necessary strategies for safe management of patients with Bombay blood group.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"413-415"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240529/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Suzetrigine (VX-548): Bidding goodbye to opioids: The latest oral non-opioid analgesic for acute pain.","authors":"Konica Chittoria, Ankur Sharma, Nikhil Kothari, Kamlesh Kumari","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_366_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_366_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Suzetrigine is the first and only FDA-approved non-opioid oral medication designed to be used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain. It represents a significant step forward in pain treatment by providing excellent relief without the hazards associated with opiate usage. Its approval transforms postoperative pain care, meeting a key public health need while lowering addiction concerns. While the adverse effect profile requires additional investigation, its distinctive mechanism and safety feature represent a game-changing potential in the area of analgesia.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"384-386"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240521/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating the efficacy of serratus posterior superior ıntercostal plane block as an optimal technique in breast cancer surgery: A case series.","authors":"Mihrican Sayan, Ozan Sayan, Mesut Erbas","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_592_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_592_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The wide spread of the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block in the hemithorax and axilla suggests it can provide sufficient postoperative analgesia for breast cancer surgery. This case series aims to present the data of five patients who underwent SPSIP block. Patients received preoperative SPSIP block as part of a multimodal analgesia protocol. Our findings indicate that Numeric Rating Scale pain scores remained below 3/10 in all patients, the time to mobilization was shortened, and postoperative opioid requirements were minimal. These data indicate that the SPSIP block might be an efficient choice for pain control in breast cancer surgeries.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"410-412"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240491/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Monitoring nociception in patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.","authors":"Salvatore Fabrizio Favitta, Danilo Santolamazza, Ersilia Luca, Roberto De Cicco, Paola Aceto","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_661_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_661_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bariatric surgery is a rapidly developing field and presents a challenge for anesthesia management, especially in the treatment of acute postoperative pain. Severely obese patients have a greater risk of intra and postoperative complications due to their cardiovascular and respiratory pathophysiological alterations. Excessive fat also alters the normal metabolism of analgesic drugs, in particular opioids, thus reducing their therapeutic range and increasing the risk of reaching toxic doses with accumulation and overdose effects. Nociception, in contrast to pain, is not a subjective experience but a physiological response to a nociceptive stimulus, which manifests as objective modifications in vital parameters. An increasing number of monitoring methods have been approved in recent years, especially developed for the detection of intraoperative nociception to enable better control of opioid titration. This review aimed to provide an overview of the main monitoring systems commercially available devices, which could be used to monitor nociception during bariatric surgery. Eighteen studies evaluating the most widespread nociception monitoring systems were analyzed. These studies were mostly conducted on patients undergoing abdominal laparoscopic surgery, which is comparable to bariatric surgery in terms of pain stimulation. Intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption were compared between patients subject to nociceptive monitoring and those in whom analgesia was guided by their changes in vital parameters. Although the devices seem able to optimize the anesthetic management of these patients, studies on bariatric populations are scarce and do not allow us to state whether the routine use of these tools can modify the patient's clinical outcome.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"368-374"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pierfrancesco Fusco, Gian Marco Petroni, Francesca De Sanctis, Chiara Maggiani, Emanuele Nazzarro
{"title":"Nerve block or fascial block: This is the question.","authors":"Pierfrancesco Fusco, Gian Marco Petroni, Francesca De Sanctis, Chiara Maggiani, Emanuele Nazzarro","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_682_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_682_24","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"447-448"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240489/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francisco Machado, Henrique Gouveia, Sara Freitas, Filipa Rodrigues
{"title":"Anesthetic challenges in a pregnant patient with Von Hippel-Lindau disease: A case report.","authors":"Francisco Machado, Henrique Gouveia, Sara Freitas, Filipa Rodrigues","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_839_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_839_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHLD) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the development of highly vascularized tumors, including central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas, pheochromocytomas, and renal cell carcinomas. Pregnancy in patients with VHLD presents unique anesthetic challenges due to tumor-associated risks and physiological changes. This report describes the anesthetic management of a 31-year-old woman with VHLD and twin gestation during active labor at 35 weeks of pregnancy. Despite the advantages of neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery, general anesthesia was selected due to the unavailability of recent imaging and the potential risks of neuraxial techniques in such cases. The case emphasizes the importance of individualized planning, hemodynamic stability, and multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize outcomes for both mother and neonates.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"443-445"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240510/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Breathing new life: Cutting-edge anesthetic strategies for whole lung lavage in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.","authors":"Anita Chouhan, Simran Kaur, Manoj Kamal, Nishant Kumar Chauhan, Alok Kumar Sharma, Goverdhan Dutt Puri","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_375_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_375_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare condition where surfactant accumulates in the lungs' alveoli, causing respiratory failure. Whole lung lavage (WLL) is the primary treatment, requiring careful perioperative management due to potential complications. We present the case of a 38-year-old man with severe PAP who underwent WLL with cardiopulmonary bypass standby. Preoperative assessment revealed severe hypoxemia and respiratory alkalosis. During surgery, he experienced desaturation and hemodynamic instability, necessitating noradrenaline support and real-time lung ultrasound monitoring. Postoperatively, significant improvements in oxygen levels and radiographic findings were observed. Diagnosis relies on Broncho alveolar lavage fluid analysis, and WLL is effective for patients with impaired gas exchange, improving symptoms and survival. This case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care and meticulous perioperative management in achieving positive outcomes in PAP treatment with WLL.</p>","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"400-402"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comment on: \"Modified lumbar-sacral erector spinae plane block for the treatment of low back pain\".","authors":"Pranjali Kurhekar, Raghuraman M Sethuraman","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_21_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_21_25","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"456-457"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240492/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marco Giudice, Riccardo Pulitanò, Francesca La Verde
{"title":"Suprainguinal fascia iliaca block combined with a sacral erector spinae plane (S-ESP) block is a valid alternative for hip fracture surgery in frail patients.","authors":"Marco Giudice, Riccardo Pulitanò, Francesca La Verde","doi":"10.4103/sja.sja_813_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/sja.sja_813_24","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21533,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia","volume":"19 3","pages":"449-450"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240525/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}