{"title":"Self-assessment","authors":"Vijayanand Nadella","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.015","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 623-624"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pathophysiology and treatment of COVID and its perioperative management","authors":"Denis Chung Man Kwong, David Wai Tsan Ng","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed significant global challenges since 2019. Despite the subsequent emergence of the milder Omicron variant in November 2021, COVID-19 continues to cause significant morbidities and mortality, especially among the elderly and those with medical comorbidities. Its global impact necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its pathophysiology and management, particularly in perioperative settings. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the pathophysiology and clinical features of acute COVID-19 and long COVID, current evidence-based treatment strategies and perioperative consideration. This review, tailored for anaesthetists and intensivists, emphasizes individualized care and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes of COVID-19 patients undergoing surgery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 548-558"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perioperative allergy testing","authors":"Chris KH Li, Jane C Ko","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypersensitivity reactions are rare yet significant perioperative complications. Prompt referral of patients with previous perioperative hypersensitivity to the immunology service aids in the identification of the culprit agent and safe alternatives for future anaesthetics. Both in-vivo and in-vitro tests exist for the evaluation of perioperative hypersensitivity. Serum tryptase sampling is utilized to confirm the diagnosis of perioperative hypersensitivity reactions together with clinical history. Skin testing is the first-line investigation due to its well established profile. In-vitro tests such as specific immunoglobulin E quantification and basophil activation test have the advantage of sparing the patient from re-exposure. Drug provocation tests remain to be the gold standard yet require careful patient selection and closely collaborated anaesthetist–immunologist care in the perioperative setting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 559-565"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Postoperative pulmonary complications and their prevention","authors":"Christina T.Y. Cheung, Eva Y.F. Chan","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postoperative pulmonary complications are common. Despite advances in perioperative care for patients undergoing major surgery, they are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Strategies to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications include identification of patients at risk for respiratory complications, followed by risk stratification and perioperative optimization. This article evaluates current literature on the definition of postoperative pulmonary complications, their underlying biological mechanisms, contributing risk factors and preventative measures. Of note, the wide variability in the definition of postoperative pulmonary complications highlights the importance of identifying outcome measures and standardized end points as they affect the validity of clinical trials. Validated risk prediction models are useful tools for clinicians to stratify patients at risk, however there is still a lack of consensus over which model is the best one to use. Evidence for preventative measures including smoking cessation, correction of anaemia, perioperative respiratory physiotherapy and intraoperative management including lung-protective ventilation and goal-directed haemodynamic therapy are discussed. Most importantly, perioperative care bundles demonstrate the importance of multidisciplinary involvement during different time points when a patient undergoes surgery, and a combination of interventions are found to be more beneficial than individual interventions alone.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 566-573"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Physiology of the elderly","authors":"Craig Urquhart, Fiona Preston","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With an ageing population, the need to provide safe anaesthesia and intensive care for increasingly complex surgeries in elderly patients has become a priority. Older patients often have significant comorbidities and, therefore, experience much higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to younger adults. This discussion will explore the physiological and anatomical changes associated with ageing and how these may affect anaesthesia techniques and choices. Additionally, we will address perioperative risks in the elderly, emphasizing emergency surgery and optimizing outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 599-604"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perioperative brain health and postoperative neurocognitive disorders","authors":"Yuet Wong, Aaron KH Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postoperative neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) are common perioperative complications observed in elderly patients after undergoing either elective and emergency surgeries. They pose a great challenge to patient's health, medical professionals and the public health system as they cause increased patient morbidity, mortality, decreased patient quality of life and increased medical costs. In this article, we explore the basic science, definitions, prevalence and diagnosis of postoperative NCDs, as well as their pathogenesis, risk factors, perioperative preventive measures and possible treatment modalities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 543-547"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tracheal intubation","authors":"Joseph McGeary, Ellen P O'Sullivan","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tracheal intubation is the process of inserting a breathing tube into the trachea to provide airway patency and is primarily used to facilitate ventilation for the provision of surgery and critical care. It is the gold standard in airway protection from gastric aspiration or soiling from oropharyngeal secretions. With appropriate assessment and preparation, the vast majority of tracheal intubations are safe and uneventful, however patients can present with anatomical and physiological variations creating a difficult airway scenario. It is therefore of the highest importance that anaesthetists and airway management teams are familiar with the signs of a potentially difficult airway and are appropriately trained in the application of equipment that can increase the chance of a first attempt intubation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 9","pages":"Pages 535-542"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dhaneesha Navin Sannasgala Senaratne, Michael Serpell
{"title":"Electricity and the operating theatre: hazards and uses","authors":"Dhaneesha Navin Sannasgala Senaratne, Michael Serpell","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.05.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.05.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electricity is a dangerous tool. When used carefully it can substantially improve safety, outcomes and efficiency within the operating theatre; but if used without due caution it can cause significant harm or death. Understanding the principles and practicalities of electrical supply, equipment design and safety mechanisms helps us identify and mitigate the risks to ourselves, our colleagues and our patients. Specific medical devices that apply current directly to the body for therapeutic effect (e.g. surgical diathermy, defibrillators) can be the most dangerous; if appropriate practices are not followed then the risk of electrical injury is high. In this article we cover the principles and knowledge required to ensure basic electrical safety within the operating theatre.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 8","pages":"Pages 459-466"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144723689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Airway management in the intensive care unit","authors":"Daniel Edelman, David. J. Brewster","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Airway management practices in the intensive care unit (ICU) are still evolving, evidenced by an increasing proliferation of guidelines/algorithms in recent years as well ongoing studies focusing on equipment choices such as videolaryngoscopes. Specific considerations relate to the out-of-theatre environment and the physiological state in this patient population. Airway management in ICU is ultimately a multifaceted process spanning team training, simulation, preassessment, preparation, positioning of the patient, equipment decisions and guidelines/algorithm adherence including those covering the management of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Emergency front-of-neck access (FONA) should be taught to all staff and standardized equipment made available. This updated article highlights the growing evidence supporting the use of videolaryngoscopy in the critical care setting as well as the use of checklists, and highlights the factors a multidisciplinary team must navigate when approaching airway management in the ICU.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 8","pages":"Pages 472-476"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144723691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community-acquired pneumonia","authors":"Sjoerd HW van Bree, Shady Amer","doi":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.05.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mpaic.2025.05.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a condition characterized by inflammatory changes in the respiratory system caused by non-hospital pathogens. The symptoms and signs of a lower respiratory tract infection range from cough, dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, sputum with mucopurulent components, to systemic features such as myalgia, and fever. Patients in their older years are more likely to present with confusion or worsening pre-existing conditions and may lack fever. Severe CAP is a pneumonia that requires supportive therapy within intensive care settings, and is still associated with a high mortality and significantly morbidity, specifically amongst the elderly population with multiple comorbidities. Despite the improvement in supportive care by new modalities, such as high-flow nasal oxygen therapy, severe CAP remains one of the most common reasons for admission to a critical care facility. Correct diagnosis, risk stratification and early initiation of antibiotic treatment are key factors determining outcomes of patients with severe CAP. New developments will concentrate on diagnostics such as point of care microbiological tests and adjuvant non-antibiotic immunomodulating treatment strategies. Neither coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia nor pneumonia in immunocompromised patients are within the scope of this article.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":45856,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine","volume":"26 8","pages":"Pages 491-497"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144723693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}