The implications of HIV for the anaesthetist and the intensivist

From cholera to COVID-19: How pandemics have shaped the development of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine

The infectious pandemics and epidemics of the past 200 years have caused millions of deaths. However, these devastating events have also led to creative thinking, imaginative experimentation and the evolution of medical care. As a result, the history of critical care medicine is entwined with the story of these global disasters. This article will take case studies from recent pandemics and epidemics and examine their impact on the development of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine.

Management of Infection for the Obstetrician/Gynecologist

Pregnant women have an increased morbidity and mortality for certain illnesses owing to the physiologic and immunologic changes in pregnancy. Certain infections are common during pregnancy, including urinary tract infections and pneumonia. Others are uncommon, but yield increased severity, including influenza. Human immunodeficiency virus, although it does not increase in pathogenesis during pregnancy, requires specific attention and management in the context of pregnancy.

Wounds in patients with HIV

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality among patients who are HIV-positive. A retrospective review of the authors' data separated subjects into cohorts based on HIV status and matched them for age and gender. The authors' data reveal a higher fraction of venous ulcers compared with a lower fraction of pressure ulcers in the seropositive population.

Occupational HIV risk for health care workers: risk factor and the risk of infection in the course of professional activities

Virtually created panic among health care workers about pandemic acquired immune deficiency syndrome prompted us to review the scientific literature to investigate the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in the daily works of health care workers, especially surgeons and anesthesiologists. In this review, we report worldwide valuations of the number of HIV infections that may occur from unsafe daily work in health care. We also present how to minimize the risk of infection by taking precautions and how to utilize postexposure prophylaxis in accordance with the latest reports of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV-infected patients will be aging, and most of them will become the candidates for procedures such as major vascular reconstruction and artery bypass grafting, where the risks of blood contact and staff injury are high. For these reasons, all health care workers need to know how to prevent, and fight following the accidental exposure to HIV.

The potential anesthetic threats, challenges and intensive care considerations in patients with HIV infection

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a pandemic with ever looming danger of its transmission in health professionals. The number of AIDS patients has increased tremendously over the last two decades, who present for surgical procedures as well as who get admitted in intensive care unit for their critical condition. As such anesthesiologists and intensivists are exposed to potential risk of disease transmission on a daily basis from such patients. The guidelines and protocols formulated in the western world regarding prevention of disease transmission cannot be applied uniformly in the developing nations, such as India due to various factors and limitations. As such there is a continuous need felt in this arena to prevent the catastrophic consequences of AIDS in our medical fraternity while treating such patients in operation theatres and critical care units. This study reviews the various pathophysiological aspects, anesthetic considerations, intensive care implications, and various areas where current knowledge about AIDS can be applied to prevent its potential transmission in high-risk clinical groups.

A review of the use of blood and blood products in HIV-infected patients

Despite numerous publications on the appropriate use of blood and blood products, few specifically consider the role of transfusion in the management of HIV. This review is a synthesis of conditions encountered in the management of HIV-infected patients where the transfusion of blood or blood products may be indicated. A consistent message emerging from the review is that the principles of transfusion medicine do not differ between HIV-negative and -positive patients. The aim of the review is to provide clinicians with a practical and succinct overview of the haematological abnormalities and clinical circumstances most commonly encountered in the HIV setting, while focusing on the rational and appropriate use of blood and blood products for HIV patients. Important ethical considerations in dealing with both the collection and transfusion blood and blood products in the HIV era have also been addressed.

HIV-infected patients: the risks of surgery

There are increasing demands for surgical interventions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients as a consequence of antiretroviral therapy. This article will discuss various risk factors involved in the surgical management of patients with HIV infection including: anaesthetic and surgical risk to patients with HIV infection undergoing surgical procedures; risk to healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of HIV-infected patients; and measures taken to ensure a safe and optimal outcome from surgery.

The risks of surgery in HIV-infected patients

There are increasing demands for surgical interventions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients as a consequence of antiretroviral therapy. This article will discuss various risk factors involved in the surgical management of patients with HIV infection including: anaesthetic and surgical risk to patients with HIV infection undergoing surgical procedures; risk to healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of HIV-infected patients; and measures taken to ensure a safe and optimal outcome from surgery.

Neopterin as a marker of immunostimulation: an investigation in anaesthetic workplaces

Personnel working in operating theatres and recovery rooms are exposed to a variety of noxious substances. The results of studies of the effects of occupational exposure on immune parameters are conflicting. Neopterin is an acknowledged marker of immunostimulation. Urinary neopterin levels of 58 anaesthetists and anaesthetic nurses were measured over a 3-week period. Neopterin analyses were performed using high performance liquid chromatography. Neopterin levels were within the normal range for all subjects. Younger subjects (aged < or = 35 years) had significantly higher urinary neopterin concentrations than older subjects (aged > 35 years). The present study is the first to investigate the influence of anaesthetic exposure on neopterin levels. No evidence of immunostimulation was found.