Remifentanil-induced alterations in neutrophil numbers after surgery

The impact of opioids on the hallmarks of ageing

Opioids rank among the most hazardous substances of abuse, leading to opioid use disorders (which greatly diminish life quality) and contributing to the highest drug-related mortality rates. Nonetheless, both the therapeutic and recreational use of opioids is escalating globally. Interestingly, chronic opioid users often exhibit signs consistent with accelerated ageing, suggesting that they likely interfere with well-characterized ageing mechanisms (e.g., telomere shortening, epigenetic changes, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence). Here, we review the most recent advances regarding the impact of opioids on well-characterized hallmarks of ageing, to ascertain a potential association between opioid use and accelerated ageing. Our findings indicate that there is accumulating evidence supporting a close association between the use of opioids and the early onset of some ageing hallmarks, namely mitochondrial dysfunction, genomic instability, or telomere shortening. However, there is still limited data available regarding how opioids specifically impact other ageing hallmarks, like nutrient sensing, cellular senescence, or loss of proteostasis. Taking into consideration the high prevalence of opioid use, strengthening the understanding of the mechanisms underlying opioids' impact on ageing assumes utmost relevance, both in terms of improving risk assessment, as well as to help researchers and clinicians prevent or mitigate these effects in clinical settings.

Clinical features and significance of leukopenia occurring immediately after endovascular surgery

PURPOSE

Inflammation after stent graft surgery is known as postimplantation syndrome (PIS) and it causes leukocytosis. However, we have experienced leukopenia in the very early postoperative phase of endovascular surgery at our institution. We investigated leukopenia, an under-recognized phenomenon that occurred after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

METHODS

Records of patients who underwent TAVI, EVAR, and TEVAR between March 2018 and February 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcomes were the decline rate of white blood cell count (DR-WBC) in the immediate postoperative period and its differences among surgical procedures. The secondary endpoint was the relationship between DR-WBC and infectious complications. Furthermore, the incidence of PIS and its differences among the procedures and associations with DR-WBC were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 108 patients (TAVI 41, EVAR 37, TEVAR 30) were included. DR-WBC immediately after surgery was higher in the TAVI group when compared with other groups (TAVI, 43.1 ± 22.6%; EVAR, 27.6 ± 17.3%; TEVAR, 25.4 ± 27.4%; P < 0.01). DR-WBC was not significantly different regardless of postoperative infection (P = 0.45) or PIS (P = 0.62). The incidence rate of PIS was higher in the EVAR group compared with the TAVI group, and was not associated with DR-WBC.

CONCLUSIONS

Leukopenia was a common phenomenon immediately after endovascular surgery, especially TAVI. It resolved a day after surgery and was not associated with PIS or infectious complications. Therefore, it seems to be a transient abnormal hematological finding and a self-limiting condition.

Opioids and Cancer Mortality

OPINION STATEMENT

Opioids are the gold standard for the treatment of cancer-related pain. Preclinical studies have associated opioids with cancer progression and overall survival. In mice models, opioids have been shown to possess pro-tumor activity secondary to immunosuppression, migration of tumor cells, increased activity of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, and angiogenesis leading to tumor progression. In contrast, opioids have also been associated with having antitumor activity by activation of apoptosis and phagocytosis. However, high-quality randomized controlled trials in humans that are focused on the association between opioids and survival in cancer patients are lacking, which underscores the importance of being cautious when interpreting the results of the preclinical studies. Cancer-related pain is complex and multifactorial and may worsen as the disease progresses leading to higher opioid utilization. Moreover, cancer pain by itself has been associated with poor survival. The survival in these advanced cancer patients taking opioids may be more likely to be associated with cancer progression and not the opioid use. Adequate treatment of cancer pain has the potential to improve quality of life and performance status, highlighting the importance of continuing to use opioids to manage pain efficiently. More research is clearly needed.

Opioid-induced immunosuppression and carcinogenesis promotion theories create the newest trend in acute and chronic pain pharmacotherapy

Opioids are the main group of pharmacological agents used during the perioperative period and provide a sedative and analgesic component. The observations of opioid consumption in West Europe indicate that this group of drugs is widely used in chronic noncancer pain therapy. Nearly 20 years ago, the first publications indicating that opioids, as an element of perioperative pharmacotherapy in oncologic patients, increase the risk of tumor recurrence and affect further prognosis were presented. The actual publications suggest that there are multifactorial, complex mechanisms underlying the immunological impact and carcinogenesis promotion of opioids and that the intensity varies depending on the type of opioid. There are also questions about the immunosuppressive effects among patients receiving opioids in the treatment of chronic noncancer pain. The aim of the review article is to present information about the action of opioids on the immune system in carcinogenic settings and to define the clinical usefulness of this pharmacological phenomenon.

[The effects of remifentanil used during cesarean section on oxidative stress markers in correlation with maternal hemodynamics and neonatal outcome: a randomized controlled trial]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Remifentanil is used to attenuate maternal hemodynamic response to intubation and surgical stress during Induction-Delivery period of cesarean section. The goal was to compare the effects of two remifentanil dosing regimens on oxidative stress level, in correlation with its hemodynamic and neonatal effects.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients, 17 per group, enrolled for elective cesarean section were randomly divided by computer-generated codes into three parallel groups: (A) patients received a 1μg.kg^-1 remifentanil bolus immediately before induction, followed by 0.15μg.kg^-1.min^-1 infusion, that was stopped after skin incision; (B) patients received a 1μg.kg^-1 remifentanil bolus immediately before induction; (C) (control), patients did not receive remifentanil until delivery. Maternal venous blood samples were taken at basal time, at extraction and 30minutes after the end of operation for spectrophotometrical determination of malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products concentration. The same was conducted for umbilical venous sample.

RESULTS

Systolic blood pressure and heart rate remained significantly lower in group A compared to B and C during entire Induction-Delivery period (p<0.001, p=0.02 after intubation; p=0.006, p=0.03 after skin incision; p=0.029, p=0.04 after extraction; respectively). Malondialdehyde concentration was lower at time of extraction in maternal blood in group A compared to B and C (p=0.026). All neonatal Apgar scores were ≥ 8 and umbilical acid-base values within normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

The remifentanil dosing regimen applied in group A significantly attenuated lipid peroxidation and maternal hemodynamic response during entire I-D period, without compromising neonatal outcome.